Retail upgrade questions

I realize this is among the most basic of questions, but Windows 7 is the first time I'll be considering a legal purchase of my OS.

With the price points announced, I notice that there's the upgrade copy and the non-upgrade copy, with the latter for people "without Windows" to start. My question is whether the upgrade copy can be used for a reformatted fresh install, or if you have to boot it through an existing Windows partition.

Also, when a copy of Windows 7 is purchased, how many computers are you licensed to run it on? I'd quite like to tun W7 on my desktop and my laptop but I wouldn't want to buy two copies.

 

I believe you can do this by beginning with running the installer within your existing Windows instance, in which it will then ask if you want to do a clean install. It will restart the computer, wipe out the partition, and then proceed with the installation. Can someone confirm this is what happens?

Sadly, I don't think Microsoft will allow for this. I do want to give it a try though.

 

Depending on the licensing cost. You can use one copy to install on multiple comps, if the license states so. If not, then you are limited to ONE comp per license.

cheers ...

 

i havent actually read the licenceing to either xp or vista but i have installed them on several computers with the same keys so i dontknow (xp was oem and vista was upgrade) if vista and xp said you couldnt (and i could) then you would assume you could (ilegally) do the same with w7

btw i did this years ago when i was younger and didnt know that it was illegal(if it was?) and it was when vista was first released so vista could be different with new service packs? who knows?

 

Hmmm... I'm surprised you didn't run into activation issues if you used the same key on multiple computers. I do vaguely remember reading somewhere that if you get Vista Ultimate, you then get 3 Home Premium keys to install on other machines. Not sure on that.

 

I don't think this assumption logically follows. I expect activation will be required. Now it may be that if you install your one OS copy on a laptop and then a couple months later install it on your desktop the activation engine will allow it from the concept that you're re-installing or changed hardware, but I'd be very surprised if you could install one copy of Win7 on multiple computers with little/no delay.

*shrug* We'll all know the answer once the retail version hits the streets in October.

 

It's kind of disappointing Microsoft hasn't released any sort of official information on these issues already though, given that it will significantly impact my decisions for the pre-order.

 

i just wathced the video and i am really p!!$3d that the pre order is not available in australia, ms always screw us over...

 

I read on one blog that definitively said that you will not be able to do a clean install using the Upgrade key, no matter what. The upgrade install has to be initiated from within a fully activated copy of Windows and no option to Clean install. No mention on whether the Vista Upgrade work-around, whereby you install twice where on the second time you enter the upgrade key, works or not though.

Of course take the above with a grain of salt as no one knows for sure right now but it does seem to make sense.

 

does it mean that even if we buy a PC that is preinstalled with vista now (26th and after), and we get the windows 7 upgrade disk when it is available, we're unable to do a clean install??

 

Based on what I read, that is correct.

 

that is very sad!!! so if need to do clean install, must wait and buy the full version

 

You realize this is still largely based on conjecture and assumption? Until October 22 when the real deal hits the streets, that's about all we'll know for sure.

While entertaining to discuss, it's fundamentally pointless to really worry about this sort of stuff until four months from now.

 

I wonder on if Microsoft will allow people to download ISO's of the upgrade/full installations ahead of the general release date on October 22nd. It's an awfully long time for me .

 

i agree i really want to load the RC on both my laptop and desktop but dont want to have to do two clean installs

also btw MS have kinda confirmed that you can do a clean install with W7 they have stated (not a quote btw) that you will only be able to upgrade RC to GA by doing a clean install, and it had also been asked on the site(cant remeber site, but this is fact) will the upgrade work with the rc and MS replied with yes this is kind of like our way of saying thanks for your help...

know i doubt someone thats comunicating with RC users(on the first day of its release) would lie this bad, but then again its M$(sorry for more doubt lol)