clarify: can fresh install from vista to windows 7 using upgrade?

hi folks

i've read that for winXP machines to upgrade to win7, a clean install will be needed. clean install means after win7 is installed, there will be no traces of winXP left, right?

that's fine - my desktop is currently on winXP and i've ordered a (discounted) win7 upgrade disc already.

but for my new lappy (coming soon) i'm still a bit puzzled after all the reading around... it'll come with windows vista, but with all the bloatware from lenovo. when the (free) win7 upgrade comes, i would want to clean install win7 on it. so, can i clean install using the win7 upgrade disc?

Or do i have to clean install win vista first, and then install win7 over it? it seems like there are news that an activated copy of vista is necessary to install win7 upgrade?

really confusing man.

 

If it does turn out that you need an installed XP/Vista to upgrade install with the upgrade disk, you may be able to get around it by just installing to a blank drive without entering a key during setup, then manually adding your key once it's up and running.

 

just use the upgrade disc for a fresh install. you start the install process choose custom install NOT upgrade and when it finally asks for a lic key you uncheck the "activate online" box and LEAVE THE LINE BLANK then click next and etc.. finish the install..

once it hits windows 7 restart the system. once again start the install and go through it again this time you do enter your lic key and finish the install.

 

According to Microsoft that same trick used for Vista won't work with 7.

As long as you install it without the key though you can still manually add one post install via slmgr.

 

Yes an activated copy of Vista or XP is required to upgrade but...

Once the OS disk recognizes an authentic Vista OS, it will give you the option of a custom install. From there you can format the disk, remove or add partitions and perform a clean install.

 

there are tons of people that said they have done the upgrade the vista way..

ill try it tonight fr you to be 100% sure and ill let you know.

 

Don't you need an actual upgrade product key to really test this correctly, though...?

 

- If you have Windows 2000 or XP -> the Win7 Upgrade disk will do a clean install.
- If you have Windows Vista 32-bit -> the Win7 64-bit Upgarde will do a clean install.
- If you have Vista and you go DOWN in edition (example: Vista Ultimate down to Win7 professional) -> Win7 upgrade will do a clean install.

How the upgrade system works? (this is just based on my observation)
- All files are backup in a folder.
- All files on the partition is erased (except the backup folder).
- Windows 7 is installed
- Programs and files from the backup folder is transfer back to Windows 7.
- Registry is scanned, and anything that is not part of Vista is exported, and merged to the Win7 registry.

Security software (A/V, anti-spyware, etc..) and drivers will need to be re-installed. Default Windows 7 drivers via disk (internal) and Windows Update will be used.

 

yes but he was talking i believe about doing a fresh install with upgrade disc and key, which im almost sure can be done the same as vista as most have reported it working fine around the net

 

Any update on this?

 

Just to inform you, all we are doing here are smart guess based on rumors, Vista, and some vague responses from Microsoft. We will not know for sure until Win7 comes out on October 22.
If you pre-ordered Win7 already, I think the big price cut you had will compensate any downside that you may face, as not even OEM disk will be as cheap (based on Vista, OEM disk are close to the upgrade disk cost of Vista) that is my opinion.

 

I know that. That is why I had asked before if this would really be a reliable test, as no one has upgrade-specific product keys. I was merely asking if zfactor's test was completed, as there has been no update.

 

well it does technically work but without a upgrade key i cant be 100% sure. but if i install without a key i can then do a upgrade after that and it also asks for the key

 

Again, no need to install twice.

Install without key then add your upgrade key via slmgr.

 

How does one do that?

 

What is SLMGR???

So your saying with upgrade disc you can clean install once, then just enter your upgrade key after install into this "SLMGR" and it will work?

can you provide steps for this proccess? would be nice not to have to install twice.

 

Just install without a key, then:

Insert the key:
slmgr -ipk YGR45-THIS9-WONT5-0WORK-D7667 (Obviously with your actual key).

Activate:
slmgr.vbs -ato

Check activation status:
slmgr.vbs -dlv

As long as nothing has just changed this should work fine with 7 since you can still install without entering a key.

 

Wow that is less hassle than doing the double upgrade method... why doesn't everyone do it this way?? This will seriously work with an upgrade disc on vista for a clean install?? lol great.
Thanks.