Will I have to format?

MissKat · 04 Dec 2009

Can I get straight answer to my question?

Can I put my Windows 7 Ultimate DVD in my computer and install it without having to format it?

bobkn · 04 Dec 2009

MissKat said:

Well my laptop fan stopped working so I took it to Future Shop (had three year warranty) to be fixed. I had a stupid Acer, which they were unable to find parts for so they gave me a new computer. I got a ten times better computer then what I had before. I had gotten Windows 7 Ultimate (full version) before I had the problem and got a new computer.

To my point. My new HP came with Windows 7 Home but I want Ultimate. If I put Ultimate on will I have to format the computer first before I can install it? Or will it just upgrade my computer, keeping all the programs and drivers on? The reason why I ask is because I don't want to have to re-install all the drivers and what not. When I formatted my last laptop and put the drivers all back on, it never worked the same again: like the web cam never worked anymore, those media buttons at the top of the keyboard never worked again, and the button to turn off the touch pad didn't work. I installed all the drivers for them from the Acer wed site but still nothing.

I like all the programs and how every things work now but I want Windows 7 Ultimate.

I'm a bit confused as to what you have in hand.

If you don't have a retail Win7 Ultimate upgrade (or full) license, you could consider an Anytime Upgrade. (That's different from a regular upgrade. Apparently most of the higher version fetaures are already installed. The Anytime Upgrade just makes them available. That's how the process takes less than 10 minutes.)

If you have an Ultimate upgrade license, I'm fairly sure that you could do an upgrade-in-place to Ultimate.

gregrocker · 05 Dec 2009

MissKat said:

Can I get straight answer to my question?

Can I put my Windows 7 Ultimate DVD in my computer and install it without having to format it?

Yes. You can do an in-place Upgrade with your full-retail version of Ultimate.

I would uninstall all of the junk programs from the Control Panel>Programs and Features, delete any folders for them left in C: Program Files, then clean them out of the Registry's (regedit) HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software keys by right clicking and deleting. Ask here for help. Set a system restore point.

Then use the CCleaner disk and registry tabs to clean up the debris, and the free (state of the art) Auslogics disk/registry defraggers to put it in flawless order. Or the Windows Defragger if you must.

Run the DVD from the desktop and do an in-place Upgrade. Back up your files as this can fail and does regularly. Taking the steps above will reduce corruption but there will still be some level.

Cheers and best of luck!

zigzag3143 · 05 Dec 2009

MissKat said:

Can I get straight answer to my question?

Can I put my Windows 7 Ultimate DVD in my computer and install it without having to format it?

Yes as long as there are both either 32bit, or 64bit. But, you need to have the ULTIMATE license for it, and Both microsoft and most of us here dont recommend it.

Ken J+