Upgrade Install with Windows 7

**Brink**

How to Do a Upgrade Installation from Vista to Windows 7

Information

A upgrade installation allows you to keep intact the files, settings, and programs from your current version of Vista SP1 or SP2. This will show you how to do a upgrade installation with a Upgrade version of Windows 7 from Vista. XP users will now be able to upgrade to Windows 7. XP users will instead have to do a clean install of Windows 7.

NOTE

For more information about how to get a Windows 7 Beta product key number, see: How to install the Windows 7 Beta

Do a Upgrade installation if:

Your computer is running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.
NOTE: To see if you are: Open the Start Menu, right click on Computer, and then click on Properties. Under Windows edition, look for Service Pack 1 next to your Windows Vista edition name. If you don’t have Vista Service Pack 1 installed, or your computer is running an earlier version of Windows, then you can’t perform an upgrade installation to Windows 7.
You DO want to preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.
You’re upgrading from either a 32-bit version of Windows Vista to a 32-bit version of Windows 7, or a 64-bit version of Windows Vista to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. You cannot upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit. You can only do a clean install from 32-bit to 64-bit, or from 64-bit to 32-bit.
You’re upgrading to the same Windows language. For example, from English to English.

Tip

Before doing this upgrade install, you should run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if you might have any issues before upgrading.

If everything checks out, then be sure to download and save all of your device drivers to DVD, or some other media, to have them handy to make setting up Windows 7 easier after the installation. Sometimes using the Vista drivers in Windows 7, you will need to use Compatibility Mode on the driver for it to install.

I would also recommend that you backup anything that you do not want to lose to be extra safe.

After you do a upgrade install, you will also see the option Files discarded by Windows upgrade option in Disk Cleanup. This would be for the C:\Windows.old , C:\$INPLACE.~TR , and C:\$WINDOWS.~Q files left over from the previous operating system.

WARNING

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements:
NOTE: See also: Windows 7 system requirements

1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
1 GB RAM for 32-bit Windows 7 OR 2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7
16 GB available disk space 32-bit Windows 7 OR 20 GB for 64-bit Windows 7
Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
DVD-R/W Drive
Internet access (to download the Beta and get updates)

Supported Upgrade Paths to Window 7 Without doing a Clean Install:
NOTE: You can only upgrade from a 32-bit (x86) Vista to 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 or 64-bit (x64) Vista to 64-bit (x64) Windows 7. Going from a 32-bit to 64-bit, or 64-bit to 32-bit, will require a clean install instead.

Windows Vista Home Basic (SP1, SP2) to Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate
Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, SP2) to Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate
Windows Vista Business (SP1, SP2) to Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate
Windows Vista Enterprise (SP1, SP2) to Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate (SP1, SP2) to Windows 7 Ultimate

RELATED LINKS:

Here's How:

1. Start Vista SP1, and log on to an administrator account.

2. Disable any 3rd party firewall, antivirus, or other security program to avoid it from possibly preventing the upgrade installation to Windows 7.

3. Place your Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive and click on the Run setup.exe option in the AutoPlay window from within Vista SP1. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.

4. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (See screenshot below)

5. Uncheck the I want to help make Windows installation better box (unless you want to), and click on the Go online to get the latest updates for installation option. (See screenshot below)

6. Windows 7 will now check online for and install any available installation updates. (See screenshots below)

7. Check the I accept the license terms box and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

8. Click on the Upgrade option. (See screenshot below)

9. The installation of Windows 7 Beta will now begin. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.

10. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (See screenshot below)

11. Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (See screenshot below step 12)

12. Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (See step 19 below)
If you chose to automatically activate Windows online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.

13. Click on Use recommended settings. (See screenshot below)

14. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

15. Click on the option for your computer's location to select the correct network location type settings to be applied for that location. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: It is best to select Public location for the best security.

16. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (See screenshots below)

17. Install all of your device drivers if needed, then all Windows Updates.

18. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.

19. When done, all you will need to do is to activate Windows 7. (See screenshot below)