Will I lose all of my files with upgrade?

I have just downloaded the new ISO image of the latest build of 7, 6956. the specific one I downloaded is "ULTIMATE_GB1CFRE_EN_DVD_6956.iso" I am planning on mounting it on a virtual drive with Daemon tools to install it.

My question is if I am going from Vista to 7 am I going to have to start from scratch when installing 7 or do I have the option to just upgrade and not lose all of my files and data? I know there will be this option with the final release but for these alphas can I still keep all my files?

it depends if you a 64 system then yes since this is a 32 bit iso
if your Vista is 32 bit you wont loose most configuration options

just one thing
do not use daemon tools burn it to a dvd...
such will cause errors....
since deamon tools is incompatible with 7


forgot to tell you there is an upgrade option available in windows 7 choose that one...

element4life3 said:

I have just downloaded the new ISO image of the latest build of 7, 6956. the specific one I downloaded is "ULTIMATE_GB1CFRE_EN_DVD_6956.iso" I am planning on mounting it on a virtual drive with Daemon tools to install it.

My question is if I am going from Vista to 7 am I going to have to start from scratch when installing 7 or do I have the option to just upgrade and not lose all of my files and data? I know there will be this option with the final release but for these alphas can I still keep all my files?

As this is a pre-beta I would recommend you dual boot and keep your existing Vista install untouched. Remember it will probably time-bomb in January and you could lose the lot.

Norm

Shoot....is there any way I can get 7 in my computer without having to burn the ISO to a dvd?

[Edit] Should I just wait for the public Beta to be released and scratch my idea for now? Does the public beta comeout in January?

napilopez said:

As far as I know, you cannot upgrade without starting fresh. I do not know how these virtual disk thingamajiggs work at all, as I've never used one.

However, what you could do is partition your hard drive if you only have one. This way you can dual boot the operating systems. You can easily partition your drive form Vista's disk manager. Once you do that, you will be able to simply install 7 onto the new partition, and once you perform a small tweak to allow 7 to recognize your vista partition, you will be able to access all of your vista files from there.

EDIT:

Wait, you can upgrade from vista to 7 darkassain? Is it only from different builds of 7 that you cannot upgrade?

yes you can upgrade from vista 6801 would the unversal for all....
i was able to upgrade from vista ultimate x64 to 6801 x64
it depends what os architecture you are using....
32 to 32 (meaning 6801/6956) 64 to 64 (6081, 6956)

eventually i reverted to a clean install because better speed and it is cleaner thank a upgrade...

element4life3 said:

Shoot....is there any way I can get 7 in my computer without having to burn the ISO to a dvd?

[Edit] Should I just wait for the public Beta to be released and scratch my idea for now? Does the public beta comeout in January?

no there is no way you can upgrade or even do an install without a disk...
well no im lying but its the easiest way...
other ways would be to use vm (virtual machine) and then only then can you install without burning a disc....

for a regular user i would just wait... (there isnt any support from ISV's or Third party software manufactures (only forums such as this))
but if you want the latest and greatest (AND HAVE A MACHINE TO SPARE) then go ahead and look for one...

The best way to do it is with a DVD on fresh install on a separate partition, but you can use the upgrade option if you are using 32bit Vista and you want to upgrade to the 32bit Windows 7 and when the public Beta comes out you should then be able to upgrade to that.

All upgrades need to be done from inside the OS and not from a Restart, load Vista and insert the disc and run the setup, choose the upgrade option and it will check to see what is compatible and then it will stop and give you a list of programs that will not be supported and under that it will tell you to do a restart and start the install again.

Once you Restart and start again it should then complete the Upgrade and depending on how much you have loaded onto the system that will directly affect how long the upgrade will take. I upgraded the 6801 build to the 6936 build both 64bit and it took about 1 hour.

Mr GRiM said:

The best way to do it is with a DVD on fresh install on a separate partition, but you can use the upgrade option if you are using 32bit Vista and you want to upgrade to the 32bit Windows 7 and when the public Beta comes out you should then be able to upgrade to that.

All upgrades need to be done from inside the OS and not from a Restart, load Vista and insert the disc and run the setup, choose the upgrade option and it will check to see what is compatible and then it will stop and give you a list of programs that will not be supported and under that it will tell you to do a restart and start the install again.

Once you Restart and start again it should then complete the Upgrade and depending on how much you have loaded onto the system that will directly affect how long the upgrade will take. I upgraded the 6801 build to the 6936 build both 64bit and it took about 1 hour.

yes thanks for mentioning that grim...
they need to so it can log all the config files needed to install....
and the reboot is the actuall install....
oh and remember to disable your anti-virus as this can interfere

actually this has occured to me ...
you can actually boot from a partition ala startup repair (remember everyone when you get a freshly partioned install you get a propmt that it will create 2 partitions???
well its more complicated (and frustrating for just an install)
if you 7 just burn it and upgrade....

I find partitioning and clean install the best.

A 500gb for my main Vista systems.

A 320gb for my Win 7 systems.

wysiwyg said:

I find partitioning and clean install the best.

A 500gb for my main Vista systems.

A 320gb for my Win 7 systems.

so what would you call that boot
certainly not quad booting???....lol
yes we all agree that a clean boot is the preffered way???