windows 7 upgrade disc

Senteaf · 07 Apr 2011

I bought upgrade disc to ultimate...
is it the same as the installation windows 7 disc?

can I use it to install from XP? or from an OEM windows 7?
for example how do i reinstall windows 7(using the upgrade disc) on my OEM windows 7 laptop?? I have recovery parition here.
I am confused...

i dont want to use the revocery partition...
but on the other hand if I can make a clean-install(or whatever) I do not need that recovery partition...
my question is: will i be able to use my OEM windows 7 key for as many as I want?

please help!!

NavyLT · 07 Apr 2011

If you want to keep everything - all your programs and data - put the upgrade disc in and run it from within Windows.

If you want to wipe everything, including the ability to wipe the recovery partition - boot the computer from the upgrade disc.

You should be using the product key that came with the upgrade disc instead of the OEM product key that came with the computer.

Ooops - you cannot upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 - you will use your upgrade disc to perform a clean install and you will lose your programs/data.

You can use the upgrade disc to do a clean install by booting the computer from the upgrade disc.

Also it is impossible to do is upgrade from a 32bit operating system to a 64bit operating system - that will always require a clean install.

alphanumeric · 07 Apr 2011

You can only use your OEM product code on one PC. Also once you activate it on said PC it will tied to that PC and you cannot move it to another PC. I've installed Windows 7 from XP using the custom install option. All the windows XP files and folders were saved to a windows.old folder and the windows 7 install ended up essentially being a clean install. This was with a full OEM version not an upgrade version. If you decide to upgrade your current windows 7 install try running the anytime upgrade option and entering your upgrade product code. If the new product code is accepted all the features of ultimate will be unlocked and you won't have to even insert the DVD.

gregrocker · 07 Apr 2011

To upgrade a Win7 lesser version to Ultimate, you can use Anytime Upgrade. Type Anytime in Start Search box, insert your Product Key and it will unlock the extra features in a few minutes.

But be sure you want to use your Upgrade on a Win7 lesser version as there aren't that many features unlocked and you might not even want any of them. Here's a chart to compare: Compare Windows 7 Editions

It might be a better value to upgrade XP or Vista by clean installing using the Upgrade version installer: Clean Install Windows 7

If you want to get rid of your Recovery Partition, boot the Win7 installer to use Custom install Drive Options to delete the partitions, repartition, then Format before install.

But I would not waste the license which came with your factory OEM computer unless you know for sure that you need the extra features, instead I would unlock all versions in the installer ISO to burn an all-versions DVD to reinstall the licensed version with Product Key on COA sticker. Reinstalling Windows 7

mjf · 07 Apr 2011

The final Windows 7 installation will be tied to the OEM PC. However, MS advised me that you can transfer the upgrade component to another PC. That is you can upgrade another OEM PC (losing your current Win 7 license of course).

I would recommend you make an image of your recovery partition using Macrium Reflect free. You can also make the factory restore DVDs.
So if you upgrade to a new PC you can return the old to it's OEM status and use your upgrade on the new one.