If you are on Windows XP and planning to UPGRADE...

YOU MUST DO A CLEAN INSTALL. There is no upgrade path. There are user migration tools you can use, but you will need to backup your files and do a clean install. I have seen several threads about this and just want to clarify. The upgrade from Windows Vista is a valid upgrade path, but Windows XP to Windows 7 is not.

So it would be useless to buy a Win7 upgrade disc if you have XP?

Originally Posted by fugno

So it would be useless to buy a Win7 upgrade disc if you have XP?

You can use the upgrade disc to replace XP with Windows 7, you just have to do a clean install.

There is a terminology conflict between Microsoft and common usage. Microsoft calls changing from an older to a newer operating system as an "upgrade" regardless of the specific procedure required. You may do an "in-place" upgrade, or you may do a "clean install" upgrade. Common usage only applies the term "upgrade" to an "in-place" upgrade. (You can perform an "in-place" upgrade from Vista to 7, but you must perform a "clean install" upgrade from XP to 7. Either of these operations can be performed from the Windows 7 upgrade disc.)

So, it is a true statement to say that you can upgrade from XP to Windows 7 with an upgrade disc, but you must do a "clean install" upgrade. You cannot, however upgrade from Windows 2000 or Windows 98 for instance to Windows 7, you would have to have a full version disc.

Thank you that clears up a lot.

Not if you put in rc version of windows 7 correct? If you had windows 2000 and then put in the beta windows 7 you could still purchase the upgrade version and install. In fact now that I think about it if you put in a new hard drive you could still use the upgrade version and do a clean install

Question: Who would buy the full version except somebody that doesn't know the difference?

Originally Posted by confused

Not if you put in rc version of windows 7 correct? If you had windows 2000 and then put in the beta windows 7 you could still purchase the upgrade version and install. In fact now that I think about it if you put in a new hard drive you could still use the upgrade version and do a clean install

Question: Who would buy the full version except somebody that doesn't know the difference?

I may be not clear on what would happen in this case. You can no longer download either beta or RC versions. I don't believe the beta version will activate now and I don't believe the RC version will activate after January 2010, however any RC versions already installed on the January date will continue to work until June 2010.

I have not tested this, but I believe that if you attempted to update ANYTHING with a beta DVD, you would get an "expired" error message. There may be "tricks" to get Windows 7 installed on certain "unauthorized" combinations, but there is no advertised upgrade path directly from 2000 to 7.

p.s. I like my installation of Windows 2000 and have no intentions of upgrading it to Windows 7 (or any other OS), so I cannot test your suggestion posed here.

Okay, I think that I understand. I am now running the Win7RC version. I have preordered the Win7 Home Premium Edition. Upon receipt of "New OS" i presume that i should slick my HDD and then install. Or do i just insert DVD in my drive and follow instructions for a "clean install"? I presume that it will be the same as other MS installs. best regards to all in the forum. cheers and beers.

Well stated Drew. Should put this next to the windows logo to eliminate this question which comes up over and over.

OK, so I currently have XP Pro (OEM) installed on one partition, and Win 7 RC on another. I've ordered Win 7 Pro Upgrade which I'm going to install over my current Win 7 install (which looks like it can't be converted to full?). So to perform the 'upgrade' and upgrade validation check which I assume it does, will it ask my for my XP key, disc or search for a previous installation?

Usually it will search for a previous installation. If it can't find one then it will ask you to place a windows os disk in the drive to validate. Once done it will then continue to upgrade..