Windows 7 RC & RTM...

AstaLaVista

AstaLaVista

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I am using Win 7 RC build 7100 but I also have a good (read: Legit) working copy + serial of RTM...

1.- Can I just do an upgrade on top of the RC or

2.- Do I need to do a fresh install?

If 1 or 2, and since 7 is already out, would I be able to activate the RTM or is MS going to force me to buy the newest one.

Thanks
 

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Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)Intel i5-4670K8GBs Ripjaws 2133MhzAsus GTX660 (2GBs)
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Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built... Intel/Nvidia/ASRock
OS
Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
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Intel i5-4670K
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ASRock Z87 Extreme 6
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8GBs Ripjaws 2133Mhz
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Acer AL2216W
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1 & 2. Clean install!
3. If you have the RTM version of Windows 7 do you have a key with it?
 

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Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2400 MHz4 GBATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
Computer type
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Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Bruce ... somewhere in his 40's
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1
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Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2400 MHz
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INTEL/D975XBX2
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4 GB
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ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
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Samsung SyncMaster 914v
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2/500GB each ... ST3500630AS ATA Device.
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1. yes you can

2. always better to do a clean install

I believe you can activate the RTM but don't quote me on that, I went from Win XP to Win 7 HP
 

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Windows 7 Home Premium x64AMD Bulldozer FX-8 8120 Black Edition @ 4GHzCorsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHzMSI nVidia Geforce GTX 670 OC 2048MB GDDR5
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Me
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
AMD Bulldozer FX-8 8120 Black Edition @ 4GHz
Motherboard
Asus Crosshair V Formula 990FX
Memory
Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz
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MSI nVidia Geforce GTX 670 OC 2048MB GDDR5
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Sound Blaster X-Fi 2 MB 2
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Samsung SyncMaster SA350 22" LED HDMI
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
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Seagate Barracuda SATA II 500GB 16MB Cache 7200.12
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Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 (1200Watts)
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Antec 1200 Ultimate Gaming Case
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Antec Kuhler H20 620
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Logitech G510
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Upto 40Mb/s Fibre Optic Broadband
Yes you can upgrade install from the RC with the RTM (assuming your RTM is also Ultimate) and then activate the RTM by inputting a valid retail key (full or upgrade) for your version of the RTM. If your version of the RTM is not ultimate, you can still upgrade but I believe it must be done as clean install.

To do it as an upgrade instead of a clean install, there is a little workaround (published by MS) required.

If you don't have a lot of apps installed on the RC version, it probably would be better to do a clean install, but if that would be very time consuming, you may want to give an upgrade install a try and just see how it works out. It seems to have worked out pretty well in my case. Anyway, there is nothing to stop you later on from doing a clean install if it doesn't work out to your satisfaction so you really don't have much to lose by giving an upgrade install a try.

Of course, whichever route you take, it's always a good idea to have a complete back up on external media of all important stuff you don't want to lose, just in case something goes terribly wrong with in the install process.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)i7-Q 7206 GBnVidia GeForce GT 230M (1GB)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP DV8t quad
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)
CPU
i7-Q 720
Motherboard
Motherboard Chipset Intel Ibex Peak-M PM55, Intel Lynnfield
Memory
6 GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GT 230M (1GB)
Sound Card
IDT High Definition Audio CODEC
Monitor(s) Displays
18.4 inch HP Infinity FHD (Samsung 184HT03-001)
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Hitachi 500GB 7200 rpm (x2)
Seagate FreeAgent 1.5 TB External USB (x2)
Thermaltake BlacX eSATA/USB 2.0 3.5/2.5 HD dock
Cooling
Zalman NC-2000 notebook cooling pad
Keyboard
laptop
Mouse
Logitech VX Revolution
Other Info
Backup Unit: Lenovo T61p
Jacee said:
1 & 2. Clean install!
3. If you have the RTM version of Windows 7 do you have a key with it?
Click to expand...
Yes, I stated working serial instead of Key... sorry :p

harpua said:
Yes you can upgrade install from the RC with the RTM (assuming your RTM is also Ultimate) and then activate the RTM by inputting a valid retail key (full or upgrade) for your version of the RTM. If your version of the RTM is not ultimate, you can still upgrade but I believe it must be done as clean install.

To do it as an upgrade instead of a clean install, there is a little workaround (published by MS) required.

If you don't have a lot of apps installed on the RC version, it probably would be better to do a clean install, but if that would be very time consuming, you may want to give an upgrade install a try and just see how it works out. It seems to have worked out pretty well in my case. Anyway, there is nothing to stop you later on from doing a clean install if it doesn't work out to your satisfaction so you really don't have much to lose by giving an upgrade install a try.

Of course, whichever route you take, it's always a good idea to have a complete back up on external media of all important stuff you don't want to lose, just in case something goes terribly wrong with in the install process.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help harpua... much appreciated.

I forgot to mentioned one other thing, which I believe, is also very important and part of why I made this post.

I dual boot with Vista Ultima x64 as well and the reason why I was having reservations about a clean install (which BTW, is what I usually do in cases like this) is because I don't know if a clean install with botch or mess up my dual booting.

Logic tells me that it should not interfere but I also wanted to be sure... hence, why I ask about the Upgrade in the first place but forgot to mentioned :(
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)Intel i5-4670K8GBs Ripjaws 2133MhzAsus GTX660 (2GBs)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built... Intel/Nvidia/ASRock
OS
Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
CPU
Intel i5-4670K
Motherboard
ASRock Z87 Extreme 6
Memory
8GBs Ripjaws 2133Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Asus GTX660 (2GBs)
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek HD
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer AL2216W
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 SSD 120GBs
Samsung 750GB 32MB cache
1.5 TB
PSU
PC Cooling 750w Silencer
Case
Thermaltake Spedo Advance
Cooling
Std Cooler
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
Comcast 20Mbit
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Firefox
Installing W7 in a dual boot situation might briefly mess up your start up but it's usually a super easy thing to fix. You either can use something like EasyBCD which makes it super easy to edit the boot menu or you can boot from the W7 installation disk and just run startup repair and that will usually fix things right up.

(Btw, if you find any posts by anyone here helpful to you, you might consider "repping" those posts by clicking on the middle icon in the upper right hand corner of the helpful post.)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)i7-Q 7206 GBnVidia GeForce GT 230M (1GB)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP DV8t quad
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)
CPU
i7-Q 720
Motherboard
Motherboard Chipset Intel Ibex Peak-M PM55, Intel Lynnfield
Memory
6 GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GeForce GT 230M (1GB)
Sound Card
IDT High Definition Audio CODEC
Monitor(s) Displays
18.4 inch HP Infinity FHD (Samsung 184HT03-001)
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Hitachi 500GB 7200 rpm (x2)
Seagate FreeAgent 1.5 TB External USB (x2)
Thermaltake BlacX eSATA/USB 2.0 3.5/2.5 HD dock
Cooling
Zalman NC-2000 notebook cooling pad
Keyboard
laptop
Mouse
Logitech VX Revolution
Other Info
Backup Unit: Lenovo T61p
Harpua, again... Thanks a lot for the help

Yes, I have EasyBCD and if this is that simple I will go ahead an try it this weekend.

Regarding "Repping" helpufl members... Yes, you are also correct and I, for the most part, forget to do so.

I just don't put a lot of stress on the repping thing, one way or another but I know that it is big on this and many other forums I visit... I will try to make an effort in the future.

Thanks fellas
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)Intel i5-4670K8GBs Ripjaws 2133MhzAsus GTX660 (2GBs)
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built... Intel/Nvidia/ASRock
OS
Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
CPU
Intel i5-4670K
Motherboard
ASRock Z87 Extreme 6
Memory
8GBs Ripjaws 2133Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Asus GTX660 (2GBs)
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek HD
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer AL2216W
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 SSD 120GBs
Samsung 750GB 32MB cache
1.5 TB
PSU
PC Cooling 750w Silencer
Case
Thermaltake Spedo Advance
Cooling
Std Cooler
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
Comcast 20Mbit
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Firefox
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