'Upgrade or Full' What is the difference..

Snufffed · Jun 26, 2009

foojoo said:
Hi Bob,
Thanks so much for the info. But one quick question.. This trick was found on Vista's upgrades, right? Who's to say that the upgrades shipping in October will actually still allow this? Does anyone have like a pre-shipping copy of the upgrade who would be able to confirm that it stills works?

Thanks in advance!

If you have a CLEAN install the upgrade will not function that way... only a OEM or RETAIL Key... per instruction in the UPGRADE Manual sent by MS.

sup3rsprt · Jun 26, 2009

foojoo said:
I guess my question boils down to:
Could I theoretically buy a XP home edition OEM Key and upgrade it to 7 Professional? I heard of upgrades being restrictive to editions (pro->pro etc.)

It's probably not even necessary to own Windows XP. But it's just my guess, and I suppose it would be cheating to use the Windows 7 upgrade media when you never owned a copy of Windows to begin with.

I don't know that anyone will know the real answer to your question besides Microsoft themselves.

dmb219 · Jun 26, 2009

I used an upgrade disc a few years ago and did clean installs with it, don't remember for sure, I think it was XP. At some point it just asked you to put the disc from the required OS in the tray to verify. That was it. The upgrade page on newegg says all copies of XP and Vista qualify you for the upgrade.

sup3rsprt · Jun 26, 2009

Good info dmb219. +Rep

SIW2 · Jun 26, 2009

Here's your answer:

* Running Windows Vista?
* If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You can do a clean install (back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an in-place upgrade (Windows 7 installs over Windows Vista).

* Running earlier versions?
* If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. But you must back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications.

Bottom of this link:

Windows 7 - Buy and download from Microsoft Store

SteveO · Jun 26, 2009

Upgrade versions are for people that own a previous qualifying MS operating system. (XP or Vista) Full version is for people who don't own one. (Let's say someone who get's their first computer and doesn't have a licensed copy of XP or Vista) In a sense it's like $500 customer loyalty rebate on buying a new car from the same manufacturer as your current one.
Some of the other posts about installing twice and and the disc swap (albeit last I remember the later of which was quite some time ago) are both correct too. Since you can't upgrade from XP you're have to clean install it. I think a single install and then activating would work fine too.

Arkhan · Jun 26, 2009

Another option when installing the upgrade media as a clean install.

Install it once without a key, as a clean temporary install, using the DVD to boot. Go all the way until the desktop. Reboot.

Boot the DVD again, use the upgrade key this time, then format the partition (under advanced options) that you installed the temporary copy to. You can now install a clean copy to this partition, using the upgrade key, and it will activate merrily.

You can do this 2nd step regardless of what the original install is; so if you have an xp install, a vista install, you can do this 'format and clean install' into its partition (or a 2nd new partition alongside) using the upgrade key, without having to do an inplace upgrade, along with all the cruft that accumulates.

SIW2 · Jun 26, 2009

Clean install from upgrade is fully explained and covered in post 15 and 11.

To save having to read the whole thread, Here it is ( with screenshots) again:

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista - Vista Forums

ken9122 · Jun 26, 2009

The way I have done a clean installs with an update version is to start installing with the new Update Version and you be told that it can't find the qualifying software and requests you insert the previous software's CD/DVD. It confirms it's existence and goes on installing the new software. But this only works if the old software CD/DVD is a full version. I have done several times with MS Office and I believe Vista.

This may not work on operating systems

Lordbob75 · Jun 27, 2009

A lot of you seem to be really in doubt about this.

It is legal, and it was INTENTIONALLY put there by M$. I don't know why, so don't ask. Someone here might, but I don't. However, it has been verified by many sources, and was PUT THERE by M$, so it is legal. I believe the intention of it is that you own the previous version, but can still do a clean install with it to help prevent problems. I actually didn't even think of that until someone somewhere mentioned it. I figured I could just buy an Upgrade disk and get the full version for less...... :/
But I have TechNet, so no need.

Also, this (probably, I have no means to verify) WILL NOT be going away.

~Lordbob

Snufffed · Jun 27, 2009

Lordbob75 said:
A lot of you seem to be really in doubt about this.

It is legal, and it was INTENTIONALLY put there by M$. I don't know why, so don't ask. Someone here might, but I don't. However, it has been verified by many sources, and was PUT THERE by M$, so it is legal. I believe the intention of it is that you own the previous version, but can still do a clean install with it to help prevent problems. I actually didn't even think of that until someone somewhere mentioned it. I figured I could just buy an Upgrade disk and get the full version for less...... :/
But I have TechNet, so no need.

Also, this (probably, I have no means to verify) WILL NOT be going away.

~Lordbob

Again I say, You have been able to use UPGRADE and do a clean install even back in WHISTLER DAYS. (oh sorry XP).
I am sure it will stay and yes it is 1000% LEGIT.
It is only some folks want to beleive UPGRADE is less than FULL RETAIL or FULL OEM. Also DELL OEM is different than HP OEM or ACER OEM and OEM from TigerDirect or EGGHEAD are still different. Branded OEM has junk trial test only and lots of (manufacture CRAP installed.)
My Uncle Forrest Smith use to say: No better not say that here.

grouchpunk08 · Jun 27, 2009

If the upgrading the installation without a cd key doesn't work, Im not saying it wont, im just saying just in case, wouldn't it be just as good to reinstall vista with my OEM disk and then do the upgrade with the win7 disk? I mean since I would have just clean installed vista, wouldn't it basically be a clean install of 7 when I were to upgrade?

EDIT- I just called microsoft, and they said that clean installing from the upgrade disk is actually the recommended way of performing upgrades, and they said once youve got 7 installed, if you ever wanted to do a reistall of 7 from the upgrade disk, all you would have to do is insert the vista DVD to verify you own win vista during the setup process of win7, so you don't necessarily even need vista installed, so long as you have the DVD for vista. And I've got my OEM home premium

harpua · Jun 27, 2009

Considerable confusion caused by sloppy use of the term "upgrade." Upgrade in the context of installing an OS, is a term of art which means an upgrade installation, as opposed to a clean install. An "upgrade" installation from Vista to W7 is not "just as good" as a clean install because of the differences between Vista and Win 7.

But if you have a preexisting Vista installation, you can do a clean install of W7 over that Vista install using the W7 "upgrade" media.

grouchpunk08 · Jun 27, 2009

harpua said:
Not "just as good" because of the differences between Vista and Win 7. An upgrade install to W7 from a Vista installation is not going to be as good as a clean install or upgrade to W7 from an unactivated W7 install, imo, but it will "work."

Yeah, Check out my Edited comment. I called and thats what they told me, so it looks like im set, I wouldn't even need my vista installed, in case of reintalls of 7 in the future.

TBolt · Jun 28, 2009

grouchpunk08 said:
EDIT- I just called microsoft, and they said that clean installing from the upgrade disk is actually the recommended way of performing upgrades, and they said once youve got 7 installed, if you ever wanted to do a reistall of 7 from the upgrade disk, all you would have to do is insert the vista DVD to verify you own win vista during the setup process of win7, so you don't necessarily even need vista installed, so long as you have the DVD for vista. And I've got my OEM home premium

Thank you very much for this, grouch. This eases my concern about the buying the 'upgrade' DVD.

I2aMpAnT · Jul 6, 2009

apollo911 said:
between the versions? And where are the OEM prices?

Upgrade Disks and Full Versions are EXACTLY the same. However, the Upgrade disks come with a key that only allows you to upgrade. The Full Versions come with a key for a clean installation.

Windows Vista DVD's worked the same way.

nate42nd · Jul 6, 2009

I wish I could do this. I have a new build and need 7 for it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate downloaded from the botched Technet fiasco. I would not dare use that (although I have been running one key or two I got since then with no problems) and also an OEM upgrade Vista disc good only on that machine I assume. I could probably use the key I got from Technet but don't want to risk everything on a copy MS didn't want me to have. Complicated stuff. I will probably take the $100 hit and just get the 7 Ultimate full and be done with it. If anyone sees a different option please let me know.

I2aMpAnT · Jul 6, 2009

nate42nd said:
I wish I could do this. I have a new build and need 7 for it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate downloaded from the botched Technet fiasco. I would not dare use that (although I have been running one key or two I got since then with no problems) and also an OEM upgrade Vista disc good only on that machine I assume. I could probably use the key I got from Technet but don't want to risk everything on a copy MS didn't want me to have. Complicated stuff. I will probably take the $100 hit and just get the 7 Ultimate full and be done with it. If anyone sees a different option please let me know.

Well there's 3 ways of doing either OS.
1. Legit - buy the OS you want and use it
2. Buy or borrow the cheapest Vista or 7 disk you can find and just install Ultimate and reinstall Windows every 30 days
3. Illegaly - Not going to go into detail about this on the forums.

Burgurne · Jul 6, 2009

I2aMpAnT said:
Upgrade Disks and Full Versions are EXACTLY the same. However, the Upgrade disks come with a key that only allows you to upgrade. The Full Versions come with a key for a clean installation.

Windows Vista DVD's worked the same way.

Not quite true. I have both an upgrade XP (Study licence) and a Retail version of XP Pro. A file to file compare showed a single file "can't_remember".ini has a different value, and as other wrote, under a clean install with the upgrade disk, XP stops and ask for a full version of another Windows license, put this older CD in your drive, and 15 seconds after the installation continues from the new upgrade disk. This upgrade disk does that nomatter if you are using the "upgrade key" or the "retail key". The "retail cd" can install with the upgrade key without a problem, but it can't be activated.

The confusion is (I think) because people think of it as an upgrade of their system, where in fact it is an upgrade of your LICENSE to run the system.

I2aMpAnT · Jul 6, 2009

Burgurne said:
Not quite true. I have both an upgrade XP (Study licence) and a Retail version of XP Pro. A file to file compare showed a single file "can't_remember".ini has a different value, and as other wrote, under a clean install with the upgrade disk, XP stops and ask for a full version of another Windows license, put this older CD in your drive, and 15 seconds after the installation continues from the new upgrade disk. This upgrade disk does that nomatter if you are using the "upgrade key" or the "retail key". The "retail cd" can install with the upgrade key without a problem, but it can't be activated.

The confusion is (I think) because people think of it as an upgrade of their system, where in fact it is an upgrade of your LICENSE to run the system.

Actually I was quite right indeed as I never mentioned XP, I did day Vista and 7. The reason for this is the Anytime Upgrade option so that every edition is on every DVD but you still need to purchase a license.

'Upgrade or Full' What is the difference..

Expelled

Sr. Member & Programmer

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Sr. Member & Programmer

My Computer

YTS GEEK

My Computers

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

YTS GEEK

My Computers

New member

My Computer

Computer Voodooist

My Computer

Expelled

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

United States Marine

My Computer

Learning every day

My Computer

United States Marine

My Computer

Danish Viking

My Computer

United States Marine

My Computer