When I install Win 7, I will do a clean install. I prefer not to format, so that my old files will be located in the old files folder. It has been stated (and I agree) a clean install is better than an upgrade; but is there any reason that a clean install without a format (computer purchased in December) is beneficial? Current OS Vista Home Premium.
Less clutter for one! You also see a fresh primary to work with as well as removing any traces of the previous installation being the present one you have now as long as you have all of your important files already backed up.
Once I have the retail inhand here I'll simply delete the partition right off of the drive entirely to insure a totally clean install. That will insure there's no problems while a little more effort then required. If the partition information is intact and there are no other problems you should be able to see a good replacement install of 7.
i think it isn't so important that fomat your partition or not but if u do it is better becuase installer has a fresh partition and can do it faster than a partition that hasn't formated.
Actually that would be a primary that hasn't been reformatted. When going to install any new OS here I plan on nuking the partition or even drive from the start.
Generally a fresh wipe of the existing primary for a fresh clean install is what to aim for rather then contending with any leftovers. For a preinstalled OS using an upgrade disk to move up from Vista's Home Premium you will want to follow the upgrade path correctly while a full system sweep with the original recovery disk or option for a fresh install of Vista would be preferred for the upgrade to 7 there.
Since I run custom builds I naturally use the full version rather then upgrade disks. The last time I used an upgrade disk for my own system was an old 95 upgrade disk to move up from 3.1! That wasn't too last too long however since 98SE took it's place with a full retail disk there.
Is there any reason why you can't put Win7 on a different partition (other than Vista)?
Or do you have only one partition, because of a 'small' HDD?
If the HDD is big enuf, you could 'shrink' the single partition and create a new partition, using Win7 Diskpart, booted from install DVD.
That -should- give you a dual-boot, I believe, with your Vista and apps intact.
Win 7 can go onto a nice freshly formatted partition, clean install, and that -should- be that...
I believe richc46 is more interested in replacing Vista with 7 not setting up any dual boot at this time.
The 7 installer will easily pack everything into the Windows.old folder. You still may want to back things up from the drive before proceeding just the same. Then if the need to reformat the drive comes up your files are safe and can copied back onto the drive after you have Windows up and running.
I am not interested in a dual boot system. I am hoping to use my computer knowledge (just enough to get into trouble) to update to Windows 7. Most of the members of this forum may not understand this, due to their extensive knowledge of computers, but changing an OS, is a bit intimidating to me, since this is the first time I have attempeted such a procedure and really do not know what to expect. All of your help is making it a lot easier. I am sure that you will be hearing from me, again.
Experience is the best real teacher!If you never try you never learn!
That's kind of the simple formula to remember.
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