Windows 7: Vaio with Win7 RC Build 7100 upgrade to release version

I bought a Sony Vaio laptop with Vista and a promised upgrade to Windows 7 when officially released. To jump start, I installed Windows 7 RC Build 7100 from Microsoft over the shipped Vista OS.

I just received the promised Windows 7 upgrade fulfillment from Sony but when I try to install it it tells me that Windows 7 is already installed (duh.)

Is the RC based Windows 7 installation that I've built up over the last few months now junk bits or is there a way to use the serial number on the proof of license sticker on the fulfillment install disk Sony sent me and associate it with my current RC installation to make it legal and avoid any future trouble?

I'd ask Sony but they haven't responded to anything else I've asked about so I'm not sure there are any actual people left in their "service" arm.


Thanks,

Bob

Is this a Sony branded Windows 7 Upgrade disk, or a MS 7Upgrade disk which SONY sent you?

RC qualifies as an upgradable OS. I haven't heard of anyone getting such an error since the Upgrades were released, so I am suspicious it is Sony's version, probably with all the bloatware since that is where makers get their profit nowadays.

You are entitled to support for your Windows 7 UPgrade from SONY tech support, period. MS requires this of any vendors who provide their software since you would otherwise get MS excellent tech support.

That said, manufacturers are going to such extremes to enforce their bloatware nowadays that most won't any longer support clean installs and void their tech support (not hardware) warranty if you clean install on your own, which you have. So you can't really approach them with your exact situation now with that RC on there. If you decide after considering all the options to approach them it would be best to tell them your OS just won't start, so they would send you recovery disks and/or walk you through recovery and then your Windows 7 Upgrade. JUST DO NOT TELL THEM YOU PUT RC ON THERE. Say it won't start O.S.

However, if it is a standard Windows 7 Upgrade disk we might be able to get it to work by booting from it, choosing CUstom Install>Advanced tools>Delete all partitions>Create a new partition of full space available>format>install. If it is a standard disk it will detect the RC on the disk and proceed. If not, then you are back to calling Sony to have them support you through it. They may have a lock on the BIOS or configured these disks to control how you can install it, to be sure they get their bloatware on your new Windows 7.

But there are workarounds, so let us know what exact disk they sent, and what you already have. Did you try to run the Upgrade from RC or boot?

Anyone else gotten a manufacturer's upgrade yet? This could possibly be a problem

Welcome to Seven Forums arcanemethods,

Do you still have the Sony recovery partition?
Did you make the DVD before installing Win7RC?
You might want to save that or just not delete it. Even if you can't access it now, it can be recovered. See Access Sony Vaio Recovery Partition, for two ways to get it working.

If you decide to sell the laptop you can put the original OS back on it.
Some OEMs may require the original OS be installed for any warranty work, check with Sony or if they don't like to answer, scan the warranty for it.

How many partitions do you have on your HD?
Just the recovery and the C:/ drive or did you add more?

Always backup your entire HD before any installation, regular backups should be part of your Disaster Recovery Plan. This is very useful if you have any problems after the install or just want to retrieve some files.

As gregrocker mentioned, did you run install from Windows 7 RC or did you boot the DVD?
It should accept Win7RC as a OS to upgrade from, unless Sony has changed something, sounds like they did.
If you haven't already, try to boot from the DVD, as described in this tutorial Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version.

Try Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers, this will transfer all your user settings, you will still need to install all your programs.

You should be able to get this installed by the method in the tutorial, worst case scenario you will need to re-install Vista but, that's not likely.

Let us know how it's going, we haven't heard from many people trying the OEM upgrade and would like to know how they are working.