Windows 7: Question about Ultimate

After using the site search engine and reading the results, I think I've come to a conclusion but I'm still not too sure. I would like some clarification though.

If I was to purchase Windows 7 Ulitmate Upgrade, and perform a clean install over top of XP Pro totally erasing the HD to start clean, I would be ok. Right?

Now, if I was to purchase Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade System Builders OEM, and do the same, I'd be ok, as long as I don't change any major hardware. Correct?

Thanks,

D.

Hello,

Yes to both. Don't worry about the hardware part, though. At worst you may have to reactivate.

Hope this helps,
~Jonathan

Once you install a Builder's OEM copy of Windows 7, then it becomes locked to the hardware and is unable to migrate as a normal retail copy can.

Some have reported exceptions being made by MS, but it clearly goes against the EULA which MS rarely does, so it cannot be counted on.

Whether using the OEM, or Windows 7 Upgrade version which can migrate in the future if desired, you would want to boot the DVD to do the cleanest possible install: Custom choice with Drive options to delete, Create New Partition(s) as you wish, then format and install Windows 7 to the first partition.

The DVD will scan the HD's at bootup, see the XP and allow use of the Upgrade key.

Hey, thanks a bunch. I kinda thought so.

D.

That's easy enough to answer. For an upgrade disk intended to null out a previous version you will likely need the XP Pro disk onhand when going to activate any installation. For the OEM disk that's a full install disk but licensed to one machine only according to the EULA.

As far as hardware changes you may have to see Windows reactivated or installed fresh all over once Windows is on. That depends on what type of hardware changes are made. A swap out of a video card or sound card or other addon device shouldn't effect that while swapping your OS drive or main board will.

With the full retail version of any edition you can install onto a new drive on the same machine at any time since that will still be seen on the same machine. PC die on you? Upgrade but dumping the present build? With the full retail product you can proceed onto the next macnine when the time comes there. The licensing is different for each.

Do we have any solid information yet how an Upgrade might "null out a previous version" or anyone who has been asked for qualifying key, which stopped with Vista?

Since many millions are using Dual Boots with the previous version, it would appear MS so far is using the honor system on this as they did by not requiring previous XP/Vista to be installed when 7Up version was installed.

Some speculation on Technet is that in the future reactivations of 7Up might require giving a MS phone agent the XP/Vista qualifying key, however no one has reported this yet that I've seen.

And of course if you save a Windows 7 backup image, you never have to reinstall again anyway.

I've already posted this one on a few threads direct from MS!

You can read through the rest of that at Microsoft SMB Community Blog : Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know.

Nothing I've read here daily since Windows 7 release has encouraged anyone to use Upgrade version without a qualifying XP/Vista to back it up.

The point of the blog post quoted is that just because you can clean install without XP/Vista being on the computer, doesn't mean you don't need XP/Vista on hand to back it up.

But you can indeed do it, MS itself handed out the reg workaround to avoid having to reinstall XP/Vista. Otherwise millions of beta testers would have been bothered to reinstall XP/Vista after they had helped MS make Windows 7 the best ever.

The question was if anyone has reported yet that XP/Vista is deactivated after Windows 7 installed, or had MS ask for their qualifying XP/Vista key?

Is there a utility program with Windows 7 for doing this, or do I need to purchase seperately?

There is a utility called Backup that is built-in to Windows 7.