Windows 7: Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

pparks1 · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hi Parks,

Yes, that's what I am confirming.

I created a new unallocated 40GB partition, then proceded to do a clean install of the Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium. After installing, I manually activated it without a problem and got the Genuine Software logo.

Wow, that is just crazy. They left us clueless all this time as to exactly how this would work and just kept saying "it had to be activated"...but you don't even need the double install trick anymore. You don't need anything anymore. You just need an upgrade disc and a clean computer with no previous OS software from MS. Crazy.

I'm glad that I officially know.

mastman · 22 Oct 2009

Is the only difference between my situation and your last reply to Parks caused by my using the RTM instead of the upgrade version? If so, jumping the gun by a few days is really gonna cost me a lot of time.

Nosmo · 22 Oct 2009

Shawn,
With the greatest respect, I still feel there is confusion in how to use the full and upgrade media.

To make matters worse, some upgrade downloads today have turned out to have 'full retail' keys with media that is labeled 'Update'.

MS says that you must direct the upgrade install to the partition that has the original OS on it. Have you found this to be true?

Brink · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Nosmo

Shawn,
With the greatest respect, I still feel there is confusion in how to use the full and upgrade media.

To make matters worse, some upgrade downloads today have turned out to have 'full retail' keys with media that is labeled 'Update'.

MS says that you must direct the upgrade install to the partition that has the original OS on it. Have you found this to be true?

Hello Nosmo,

This was done with a boxed retail Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium version bought off the shelf at Best Buy. I can 100% confirm that a clean install was done with it. I tested it myself as described above. I cannot confirm if the download versions were actually upgrade or OEM or what though.

gregrocker · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by pparks1

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hi Parks,

Yes, that's what I am confirming.

I created a new unallocated 40GB partition, then proceded to do a clean install of the Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium. After installing, I manually activated it without a problem and got the Genuine Software logo.

Wow, that is just crazy. They left us clueless all this time as to exactly how this would work and just kept saying "it had to be activated"...but you don't even need the double install trick anymore. You don't need anything anymore. You just need an upgrade disc and a clean computer with no previous OS software from MS. Crazy.

I'm glad that I officially know.

I believe he says he has Vista on the computer and created a new partition for the Upgrade, which we have known all along can be done.

The question we are waiting to have answered is if he accomplished this by booting from the Upgrade install media, or was it run from Vista as MS says must be done.

So you still need "previous OS software from MS" to proceed with the Upgrade, otherwise all Upgrade disks would in effect be full versions.

gregrocker · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by mastman

Similar query to SilverGator's, but I am a few steps further down the road. Have a fully-licensed XP machine. Decided to also install a new larger hard drive. Disconnected XP drive while I installed Build 7600 on the new one. Tried to activate when I got the MS email today for the upgrade I bought during the half-price special in June. Of course MS says no go 'cause it's a clean install. Doh, I should have know better.

Do you see a work around, or do i need to backtrack quite a bit? Sorry in advance if this should have been in a separate post.

BTW i read the entire "clean install" link above and saw nothing that would help.

mastman

You have to start the Upgrade disk from the qualifying activated OS in order to install Windows 7 Upgrade disk via clean install to the separate HDD. Then you can dual boot, or change the boot order in the BIOS, mark Windows 7 install HDD active and run startup repair to get rid of the dual boot.

Brink · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker

Quote: Originally Posted by pparks1

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hi Parks,

Yes, that's what I am confirming.

I created a new unallocated 40GB partition, then proceded to do a clean install of the Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium. After installing, I manually activated it without a problem and got the Genuine Software logo.

Wow, that is just crazy. They left us clueless all this time as to exactly how this would work and just kept saying "it had to be activated"...but you don't even need the double install trick anymore. You don't need anything anymore. You just need an upgrade disc and a clean computer with no previous OS software from MS. Crazy.

I'm glad that I officially know.

I believe he says he has Vista on the computer and created a new partition for the Upgrade, which we have known all along can be done.

So you need "previous OS software from MS" to proceed with the Upgrade, otherwise all Upgrade disks would in effect be full versions.

No Vista was installed. This was a fresh clean install of a retail Upgrade Windows 7.

zigzag3143 · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by SilverGator

But does that "clean" installation also REFORMAT your hard drive?

I am on Windows Vista HP 32-bit and have the Upgrade disc for Windows 7 HP 64-bit. What I WANT to do is reformat the drive and then install a clean, fresh copy of Windows 7.

Is that possible? If so, please explain how (not step-by-step, just what method I should use).

Thank you. (PS - My first post, so be kind!

)

Hi and welcome SilverGator

The answer is Yes!!

Boot from the dvd (not from inside windows) run setup. It will ask you where you want it to go, and if you point it at a partition with a OS in it , pick custom, chose format, then sit back.

It really isnt that bad UNLESS you have a raid (if you dont know what it is you probably dont have it) or are overclocking.

Tips of the trade. Get your wifi driver before just in case so you arent left without a way to get it.
Upgrade BIOS, and the video driver after if necessary.

If all goes smooth think about how you are going to backup just in case

Ken

pparks1 · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker

I believe he says he has Vista on the computer and created a new partition for the Upgrade, which we have known all along can be done.

That is not what he said and not what he is describing and not what he is confirming.

He came from a 100% blank slate.

Quote: Originally Posted by gregrocker

So you need "previous OS software from MS" to proceed with the Upgrade, otherwise all Upgrade disks would in effect be full versions.

Exactly, all versions are full versions. That's exactly it.

gregrocker · 22 Oct 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Nosmo

Shawn,
With the greatest respect, I still feel there is confusion in how to use the full and upgrade media.

To make matters worse, some upgrade downloads today have turned out to have 'full retail' keys with media that is labeled 'Update'.

MS says that you must direct the upgrade install to the partition that has the original OS on it. Have you found this to be true?

Is it possibly those claiming to get full retail keys have construed them that way because they accomplished something they didn't expect (install to separate partition or HDD). We need confirmation that a clean install from boot with activation has been accomplished with the Upgrade media.

Windows 7: Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version problems?