New Info release from MS on UPGRADE

Windows 7 RC To Final Upgrade Possible was posted on Saturday, July 11, 2009

I’m pretty excited about the upcoming launch of Windows 7, Microsoft’s next operating system. Not only because I’m running a very successful Windows 7 blog but also because I finally have the opportunity to install and use a new operating system Windows 7 has seen lots of praise since its first announcement and it is very likely that it will be a good – if not great – operating system that combines the best of Windows Vista and Windows XP. Many users are already running a beta or release candidate build of Windows 7. Some even on their main computer system as Windows 7 has proven to be very stable and reliable. These users might be interested in the following news. Microsoft is offering Windows 7 Upgrades to give users running specific Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems the opportunity to upgrade. Windows XP users will have to do a clean install but can purchase the Windows 7 Upgrade editions which are cheaper than the full retail editions.
Microsoft recently confirmed that it is also possible to upgrade a pre-RTM version of Windows 7 with a Windows 7 Upgrade edition. This means that users who are already running Windows 7 RC (or another build) can buy a Windows 7 Upgrade edition and get a full installation of Windows 7 this way.
There are some limitations on the other hand. No data will be taken over. The installation will move the old data into the folder windows.old from where the files are accessible. Most programs on the other hand will not work unless they are portable.
It also has to be noted that a clean install at a later time requires a Windows XP or Windows Vista installation (or a new installation of a pre-RTM build of Windows 7).

Info from GHACKs.

In so much as to what this says... RUMORS are it is TRUE and FROM MS.

So as long as we keep a RC version of Windows 7, we can use that and always be able to Upgrade? Not too bad.

I remember with Vista, after buying an Upgrade version and then months later running into a problem needing a re-install. I didnt have an original XP OS anymore so I ran into problems trying to reinstall the Upgrade of Vista.

I still think I might purchase the Full version of Win7 Professional rather than an Upgrade though.

BucSox79 said:

So as long as we keep a RC version of Windows 7, we can use that and always be able to Upgrade? Not too bad.

I remember with Vista, after buying an Upgrade version and then months later running into a problem needing a re-install. I didnt have an original XP OS anymore so I ran into problems trying to reinstall the Upgrade of Vista.

I still think I might purchase the Full version of Win7 Professional rather than an Upgrade though.

No, all you needed to do was while booted into Vista, insert the original upgrade disk and click REPAIR or UPGRADE. If you would also carefully read the POPUP when ask for a key say NO, then say YES Im sure I do not want to insert a KEY> READ THE POPUP CAREFULLY. HONESTLY 99.6% OF THE PPL READ THAT POPUP WRONG... Thats OK, I only charge $35.00 for the first hour of a house call. When we get there I ask DID YOU READ THIS. and they say YES, but your popup is different.

HAHAHAHAHA no it is not.

Certainly you will be able to do a clean install after you have the RTM installed, whether it validates itself or asks for a qualifying disk, right? I can't believe you would need to install one OS in order to upgrade to another, that's silly.

Lordbob75 said:

Windows 7 Release Candidate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It seems that MS still says you can't. That page was updated TODAY (July 11th, 2009)

~Lordbob

Yes it has always said that on the F.A.Q, but the the engineering windows blog says otherwise.

fakeasdf said:

Yes, you can't do the actual upgrade process, but the thread is referring to using the activated RC as an old OS to which you can use your upgrade license on for installing the upgrade of Windows 7. It would force you to do a clean installation, similar to Windows 2000 and XP, but it wouldn't have issues with the licensing...

Yes you can do the actual upgrade process from RC to RTM if you upgrade to ultimate.