Windows 7: Windows 7

I have Windows Vista Business on my laptop and wish to upgrade to Windows 7. The Microsoft site suggests that I have to swop like for like, but all I really need is the basic Home Edition - their customer support can't cope with this query or don't like dealing with senile pensioners! Please can anyone advise me in simple British English or similar. Thank you.

If you are asking can it be done yes it can. You cant do a downgrade, and have to do a clean install instead.

Ken J+

Thank you zigzag. If I can afford it, what is the equivalent Windows 7 version which WILL upgrade? Thank you.

I believe that would be Windows 7 Professional, in terms of the like to a like version.

the upgrade paths are listed here Windows 7 Upgrade Paths

Good luck and let us know if we can help


Ken J+

How important is it to do an in-place Upgrade from Vista Business to Windows 7 Home Premium? THe in-place Upgrade keeps all programs, files and settings but reinstalls the OS.

Normally in order to use that migration you would need to do a clean install which requires reinstall of your programs and files.

There is a workaround that will allow a cross-version in-place Upgrade if you want to try it, but perhaps now is the time to do a clean install anyway - with the arrival of the best OS ever?

Thank you all very much for the helpful information. I can now spend my "Winter Fuel Allowance" on getting rid of the dreadful Vista!

Diolch yn fawr