Question about Windows 7 RC

[Pirson518]

When they close down the RC client and you are required to purchase the real Windows 7 are they going to have an update so you can keep everything on your windows 7 or will you be required to do a fresh install?

 

[linkboy]

You're going to have to do a full install. The final version won't upgrade over any of the beta's or the RC.

 

[MacDawg]

My understanding is you will be able to update XP or Vista to Windows 7, but not the Windows 7 Beta or RC versions. Mainly because they were free, and XP/Vista were not. In order to upgrade, you need a paid version to upgrade from.

Now some have said there are workarounds to this, but conventional wisdom says to play by the rules and keep your system legitimate.

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[Stridder44]

When they close down the RC client and you are required to purchase the real Windows 7 are they going to have an update so you can keep everything on your windows 7 or will you be required to do a fresh install?

Why on Earth would you want to upgrade? Always, always, always clean install.

 

[DataCabbitKSW]

Pirson, yes, you will have to do a fresh clean full install. There is no _supported_ method of doing an in-place upgrade from the Beta/RC/Pre-RTM builds to the final retail version. So keep your original OS disks around if you are going to be using the upgrade package to install Windows 7.

MacDawg; Yes you can use the upgrade package on Windows Vista, XP, and even 2000. However, only with Vista is there an "in-place" upgrade where it keeps all your programs/settings/etc intact. To upgrade from XP or 2000 they have an upgrade assistant method that helps you back up everything and port over settings. However, it is still basically a fresh install, and you will likely have to reinstall programs and such. Keep a nice external drive on hand if somebody is going from XP to Windows 7.

Stridder speaks the truth. The best option in the long run is to always do a fresh install. It takes more time to get up and running, but it is cleaner and faster this way.

Kurtis Whittington - Microsoft Windows Client Team

 

[Gav Mack]

It's quite an simple option to do a clean install in October- either on first setup of 7RC you create two partitions, one for Windows and another for data so when you purchase the final version you can run Windows Easy Transfer and backup your user settings to the second partition. The other option if you don't want two partitions is to Easy Transfer to an external hard drive (formatted in NTFS). You'll still have to reinstall your programs but all your files and settings will remain intact..

 

[coolbreeze]

Okay, I have a question.

I am about to install the 64-bit RC of Windows 7. I have also pre-ordered the upgrade version of Windows 7 form Amazon.com.

I also own Vista 32 & 64 bit discs, but didn't want to install it to my Macbook Pro. Instead, I'm going straight to Windows 7 64.

So when my Windows 7 upgrade disks arrive this year, I will not be able to install them on my Macbook? Sounds like I will have to do the following:

• Delete my Windows 7 RC partition
• Install Windows Vista to a new Bootcamp Partition
• THEN, install Windows 7 upgrade

Wow, that sounds like a terribly f*'d up method. If this is the case, I may as well install Vista now and just do a fresh install of Windows 7 when it arrives (clean install of course). I guess the Windows 7 installer needs to see a full version of Vista/XP before it will install. What a joke.

Why isn't there just an option to put in your Vista/XP license key during the Windows 7 upgrade disc install process to prove you are upgrading?

 

[Stridder44]

Okay, I have a question.

I am about to install the 64-bit RC of Windows 7. I have also pre-ordered the upgrade version of Windows 7 form Amazon.com.

I also own Vista 32 & 64 bit discs, but didn't want to install it to my Macbook Pro. Instead, I'm going straight to Windows 7 64.

So when my Windows 7 upgrade disks arrive this year, I will not be able to install them on my Macbook? Sounds like I will have to do the following:

• Delete my Windows 7 RC partition
• Install Windows Vista to a new Bootcamp Partition
• THEN, install Windows 7 upgrade

Wow, that sounds like a terribly f*'d up method. If this is the case, I may as well install Vista now and just do a fresh install of Windows 7 when it arrives (clean install of course). I guess the Windows 7 installer needs to see a full version of Vista/XP before it will install. What a joke.

Why isn't there just an option to put in your Vista/XP license key during the Windows 7 upgrade disc install process to prove you are upgrading?

Did you just now figure this out or something?

The Upgrade disc has always been like that. What did you expect? You're upgrading from an older version of Windows. Not checking a serial key number. You get the option to completely erase the disc and do a clean install but it has to have some way of checking for an older installation to upgrade from.

Unless you weren't already aware of how an upgrade disc works, you don't really have any room to complain.

 

[coolbreeze]

Did you just now figure this out or something?

The Upgrade disc has always been like that. What did you expect? You're upgrading from an older version of Windows. Not checking a serial key number. You get the option to completely erase the disc and do a clean install but it has to have some way of checking for an older installation to upgrade from.

Unless you weren't already aware of how an upgrade disc works, you don't really have any room to complain.

Lol. No, I didn't just figure this out. I've used Windows all my life (along with OS X).

I guess I was asking the best way to install Win 7 without having to go through all the steps I posted when my Win 7 upgrade discs arrive.

Oh well, it is what it is, thanks for the help.