What the Hell is MS Doing?

Muad Dib · 14 Jul 2009

Nil Einne said:

Is there really anything new here? Am I really the only one who remembers this from Windows 98 days? IIRC, in those days if you had a full install disc you couldn't even upgrade an existing install (and vice versa obviously)

I remember having to re-install Win95 - FULL. Upgrade to Win98 and THEN Upgrade to Win98SE to get a system back to the point at which the HDD failed. That I rememeber. It was a PIA then and it will be a PIA today!

Avien · 14 Jul 2009

Either way this sounds like a pain when you need to reformat. Guess when you reformat you must install an old OS first, then re install 7?

masterB · 14 Jul 2009

Muad Dib said:

Based on what I have read on Technet one cannot boot from the Upgrade disk and install usiong an Upgrade Product Key. An Upgrade install, whether an "overwrite" (dirty install) or a "clean" install can only occur from a running, activated system.

That was the abiguous point I was trying to make in the above posted solution link reference by K3Vl4R:

If Windows cannot run at all, you can reinstall Windows using the original installation disc.

Which ORIGINAL disk? MS needs to write some clear instructions.

The issue was so hotly debated on a Technet Plus site that they closed the thread because nobody knew the answer.

The one MS Rep just kept repeating that a user COULD NOT boot from an Upgrade disk with an Upgrade Product key and do a clean install. She also emphasized that the "double install" method used in Vista was not supported and would not work. Another said it may lead to an illegal activation. It was also emphasized that while ACTIVATED Win RC installs could be upgraded, should the HDD fail after the upgrade and a re-install be required, the user would have to reinstall the ORIGINAL legitimately licensed Vista or XP OS and repeat the Upgrade.

Soooo......

I have heard so many different explanations I have come to one conclusion, the upgrade is a good deal for legitimate users and those users had best protect their ability to re-install if the HDD fails.

Personally I suggest image backups, but I KNOW a lot of average user will not do that.

Original installation disk is referred to your OS you upgrade from.
Make sense.

Muad Dib · 14 Jul 2009

masterB said:

Original installation disk is referred to your OS you upgrade from.
Make sense.

Yes, that is what I think. MS is just not describing it explicitly.

J23 · 16 Jul 2009

As the starter of this thread how about a rep or 2

.What I have read in the ensuing pages since my post only confirms and deepens my frustration over how MS is going about this. Sure there is time to iron things out but jeez, I really thought MS would have learned from the debacle of price and version points that crippled Vista right out of the gate.
Windows 7 is imho the best OS ever. Let people get it. How they want it. When they want it. Let people understand something as basic but huge as releasing preorders and then the day b4 they end that it hits the blogasphere that there will be a Home 3 computer in place upgrade. I honestly have no idea, having pre purchased a few what on earth I even have. What I can do with it etc...
This is ridicoulous that MS is once again turning something great into a point of confusion and irratation.
J23

DJG · 16 Jul 2009

My money is on you'll need to enter your current XP or Vista key. Keys are unique and managed by MS, and they would be able to track which have been used and the Win 7 upograde key that replaced it. Disks are generic and can be copied, and not always available. I have a Lenovo tablet that came with no installation disk, but it does have the key on the bottom.

Of course this is all speculation, until Oct 22 or MS provides more insight ...