xp to 7 problems

skateva · 25 Jan 2010

Okay, so for Christmas I got a new laptop with Vista installed on it. Shortly after, Vista was already giving me problems so I booted the recovery disc, only to find out that the recovery disc that came with my VISTA laptop was for XP, so I ended up accidently installing XP. Today I got a Windows 7 upgrade disc that was free with my computer. After trying to install it, it told me I need to reinstall Vista first with the discs that came with my computer. Only problem is, my computer didn't come with any vista discs, just XP. Is there any way to install 7 to xp using the upgrade disc? I really don't have the money to go and buy Vista just to upgrade, there has to be an easier way.
thanks for any help.

severedsolo · 25 Jan 2010

is this what your looking for? Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version[3]=Installation%20and%20Setup

valtonray · 25 Jan 2010

if all else fails contact the system manufacturer, seems like you got the wrong disc with your laptop unless you selected a downgrade option

skateva · 25 Jan 2010

severedsolo, i have seen that page, i'm just confused as to whether i can use the upgrade disc or i need a setup disc. Also i couldn't find the boot from disc option at startup after pressing f8.

skateva · 25 Jan 2010

Oh and I already called Sony, they're trying to charge me for a vista disc..

valtonray · 25 Jan 2010

just argue with them for awhile and complain, you'll get it for free if it was their mistake.

skateva · 25 Jan 2010

They basically said its not their fault, that I should have made the backup disc myself.

severedsolo · 25 Jan 2010

ok well i agree with valtonray that they should give you a disk, but to get it to boot from disk, go into your BIOS (spam f2 as soon as you switch it on) and change boot order so cd/dvd is at the top of the list, save settings then when you restart it should say "press any key to boot from cd/dvd" do so and your sorted, failing that, if you feel confident enough to do so, make yourself a recovery partition Recovery Partition - Create (youll have to install the windows 7 MBR from easy bcd but windows XP will be an entry still)

just had a thought, doesnt it come with an OEM recovery partition?

gregrocker · 25 Jan 2010

Is there a Product Key on a MS Certificate of Authenticity with the Windows 7 upgrade you received? This means that if the Sony disk is not bootable or is some special Sony hybrid DVD, then you can still use a clean-copy Win7 installer to Upgrade. .

Next, try booting the Sony DVD: Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

If it will boot, then back up your files and do a Custom install using Drive Tools to format over XP. It should even accept the license key as the Win7 DVD will see XP at bootup to allow Upgrade key.

If it will not boot, please post back a screenshot of the files on the DVD so we can help you figure out how to boot it, or install it from XP without the Sony add-ons. MS requires these Upgrade Kits to have a clean-copy DVD of Win7. If not, then as long as you have the key, we can help you get it installed.
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...en-forums.html

skateva · 25 Jan 2010

thanks for all of the help so far, i've tried to boot from the cd, but it doesn't even give me the option to, even after changing the settings. is the oem recovery partition on a disc? because i only have the upgrade dvd, companion dvd, and the xp sp3 recovery dvd's that came with the pc.