Windows 7 on top of....Windows 7???

Hey guys,

I tried to search for this, but came up empty...

I just pre-ordered my copy of Windows 7 Pro Upgrade via Microsoft's fan-friggin-tastic $30 student discount. On my system I currently have a RTM build of 7. Can I do a full clean install with 7 currently on there, or will I have to throw my old licensed copy of Vista on there first? I really do NOT want to do that, as I have a SSD, and don't want to stress the drive with the multiple OS installs.

Thanks much in advance!

 

mh..

if you already have 7 installed, why do you wnat to reinstall it again?

 

Well, a few reasons... A, I want the completed retail version and not a beta version and also, the version I have stops working come 3/10, along with all other downloaded betas.

 

Windows 7 is cool, I like the virtual XP mobe which lets you run XP Pro on top of windows 7.

 

you have the beta build not the RTM (final).

as far as i know, you have to do a clean install from beta to final. meaning putting your vista in and then upgrade. i dont think you can a clean install to 7 with a upgrade key. i might be wrong, though.

 

No you cant do any full installs with upgrade keys. Yes I have the build 7600 final version. You will need a full install key to do a clean installation.

 

That's absolutely not true. You can do a clean or upgrade install with both full and upgrade media.

The ONLY difference between full and upgrade media is that upgrade media checks for a copy of a previous Windows installation.

 

...And will a previous beta 7 version count? That's my question.

 

A beta 7 version will NOT count. You'll need a copy of XP, Vista or Windows 7.

 

From what I heard upgrade keys wont work with a clean install. Try it to see I might be wrong.

 

THAT'S what I needed to know. Thanks!

 

Do you have an extra HDD? If so, I would suggest that you swap drives, install Vista on the HDD, upgrade that to 7, and then image the drive. Put the SSD back in, and transfer the image overwriting the current OS. That saves one reformat but takes a little more time.

But I really would not be overly concerned. Even though there is a limit to writes to an SSD, occasionally reinstalling the OS (or even two reinstalls which your Vista to 7 upgrade will require) will be OK. I just looked up the specs on the Supertalent drive I have, and they estimate that it can run for over 30 years with 50GB per day of write/erase. Even if they are overly optimistic, average use is nowhere near that much.

 

Great info. Thanks! I considered installing on a second drive and then overwriting... It did sound like too much work though! lol

I'll most likely do the double install

 

This is also true. If you are upgrading from XP, upgrading from an x86 to an x64, or you are downgrading from Vista Ultimate or Business to Windows 7 Home, you are required to precede with a clean install.

You can also choose to precede with a clean install instead of an upgrade after Setup detects a previous installation.

 

Not necessarily. Assuming the Vista Upgrade loophole is still intact, you'll be able to use upgrade keys on a fresh install provided you first install without using any keys, and then upgrade over that install (your key will authenticate then)

 

Eric can you confirm which version you are using? is it actually the beta or RC or is it the final RTM version? cos if it is actually RTM then you wont need to worry at all... whats the build number?

 

totally not true. first off the loophole still works for fresh install.

for a upgrade of what you have doesn't matter beta or not...

to change versions of win7 up or down you can simply edit the registry and do a "upgrade"

say you want to change from the beta ultimate to a student upgrade or retail professional...

Create a registry file by opening notepad and saving it as a .reg file i call mine upgrade.reg this will contain (everything below except the < and >)the following:
<
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"CurrentBuild"="7100"
"EditionID"="Professional"
"CurrentBuildNumber"="7100"
>

run this. reboot and now insert the Professional disk if you are using professional and run setup from WITHIN windows. Do an upgrade.

works the same for any version just modify the reg file to include the version you want. so instead of professional you would enter home premium etc..

 

Thanks! Currently, I have build 7077.

 

RTM is the complete 7 not beta,

I have both one from MSDN and one from torrents both Hash's are the same.

7600

if you have 7600 then you have the same win 7 you are getting difference is
the key

good luck

 

Yea beta you should upgrade, in fact I'm surprised you have not gotten messages since anything below 7100 was to expire before this.

 

Nope. The system continues to run great. On winver, it says expiration date is 3/01/10 @ 7:59pm.

What are the differences between my build and the retail release? Anyone care to share? Thanks!

 

You don't get certain updates, like XP mode.

 

I'm sure minor tweaks and bug fixes. More stability, security, behind the scenes type of stuff. No major differences.

 

One major difference is "Retail version doesn't expire". Hope you know the rest.

 

You can do a full install with your upgrade version. All you need is a Vista installation DVD. No need to go through any gyrations...

 

Would I need to install Vista first though??

 

I am not sure if this still works, but I read with Vista you were able to install it via the upgrade dvd. Vista's dvd technically also included a full version of Windows, but you just got the upgrade key. What user could do was a format install of Vista not using any keys, which gives you full trial install of Vista. Then from there you would just do an upgrade install/reinstall of Vista with your key, and there you go full install of Vista via upgrade dvd.

 

Still works with Vista. Not sure if it works with Windows 7. My bet is that it still does.

Edit:

Ok, I lied. The upgrade looks for a valid activated installation.

 

No, of course not.

 

why not just follow my directions it WILL WORK

 

Not doubting you. Just want to have as much input as I can before I begin tinkering is all. Thanks!

 

Interesting article.

http://windows7news.com/2009/10/22/how-to-clean-install-from-windows-7-upgrade-media/