I spent $150 for the XP upgrade and a $250 for the Vista Ultimate upgrade for a total of $400 for my Vista OS and now I have to spend another $200 for another upgrade for Windows 7 for a total of $600 for one OS. So my question is can I keep my Vista Ultimate and upgrade through my XP which is also an upgrade but I do have my Windows 2000 full?
The basic answer is yes
How exactly you will need to do this we will only know when the upgrade disks ship October 22nd - you may need to have an installed and activated XP to proceed or you may only need the key or the disk or a combination of them - I have heard all options quoted but I like everyone except Microsoft do not know
From this link: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
How to located here: Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration...And while we don't recommend it, should you choose to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7, we recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider. You'll need to back up your current files and settings, perform a custom (clean) installation, and then reinstall your files, settings, and programs.
Thanks for that John,
Unfortunately it goes back to January so we cannot be certain that this all still applies, though hopefully it does :)
I would have thought that by now Microsoft would have confirmed the actual specifics,of the upgrade processes, for IT pros who will have to advise the end users when they come to upgrade their XP systems.
I can see the sales of external drives and imaging software rising if the probable validity scheme is implemented,
For example take a hypothetical machine that has been in continual upgrade for the past few years ...
OS wise it started with XP then was upgraded to Vista and now to Windows 7.
following a disk failure under one variation of the upgrade process it would mean simply typing in the previous keys to allow install and activation of Windows 7, under the worst case it would require install, update and activation of the previous OS's to re-install.
This difference would tremendously affect the pricing structure I would have to use.
It will be far easier to image and store the Windows 7 Install to an external drive and re-image when required - the saving in time would easily cover the cost of the imaging media :)
The upgrade DOES NOT require you to have an installed version of Windows, and it provides a method for a clean install from the upgrade media.
I hope that's true.
However, most of the claims I've seen so far is that the Win7 upgrade license requires that the qualifying OS be installed and *activated*.
There was a loophole that Microsoft made in Vista: an unactivated evaluation copy of Vista could be used to install an upgrade copy, allowing anyone to install Vista without having an older OS in place. MS seems to have closed that for Win7.
In less than 2 weeks, we'll know for certain.
MS hasn't provided official info and instructions yet, but everything they've indicated recently indicates:
(1) They've closed the Vista loophole where you could "upgrade" it upon itself, and
(2) The Windows 7 upgrade discs DO need to see a prior genuine (activated) version of Windows to install.
It does NOT look like you can use the upgrade discs just by entering a prior key or disc. Everything indicates you DO have to install and activate the prior OS, but you can indeed fresh install after that step.
We'll get lots of info as soon as the upgrade discs start going in. Since some people have started receiving pre-orders, that should be sooner rather than later.
I think you might find yourself surprised when the actual Upgrade media is released. I believe you will have to not only have an installed version of Windows installed on the machine..I believe it will have to be activated. The ole double install Vista trick isn't going to work from what I have heard.
I saw a post recently by someone who had received their pre-order upgrade. They installed vista without activating and then upgraded to Win7. The report was that this process worked successfully.
Only time will tell and I would actually be surprised if Microsoft does indeed close the Vista dbl install method as they are looking for as wide an adoption of Win7 as they can get due to the lack of interest in Vista and this would actually negatively affect the uptake of Win7. Microsoft wins if people install Win7 no matter how the get there.
They might close it for Win8 if Win7 turns out to be as successful as Microsoft hopes or they might close it off in a later Service Pack depending on adoption rate.
I guess we will see soon. Waiting for my upgrades to arrive although all of mine are destined for actual upgrades from Vista or XP.
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