Upgrade dvd: vista to 7 in different language using custom install

[Johnfisher]

I have two simple questions, but I cannot find definitive answers .

>I have windows vista business 64bit (language: Dutch)
>I want windows 7 professional 64bit (language: English)

I am going to use upgrade media to upgrade vista to 7.

1. Can I change the language from Dutch to English if I do a custom installation? Answered: yes

2. Is it a 100% clean installation if I do a custom installation and format during this procedure? Answered: read thread

Ad 1
If you do a custom install, formatting the drives, the language difference between vista and 7 is not a technical obstacle. So it comes down to licensing: does Microsoft accept this?

Ad 2
I do not want to use any 'registry workarounds'. But since people are using them, I'm wondering if a custom installation (with formatting during this process) indeed is a fully clean installation. The different tutorials are very confusing on this matter.

 

[Wishmaster]

You can inplace upgrade or Clean install.

If you want a clean installation:
Boot from the Windows 7 Upgrade disc, and at the install screen Choose "Custom" Installation.

Once you get to the install screen, you can format the drive Vista is on, delete and create new partitions .. however you desire to do it.

This is considered an Upgrade Install, even if you wipe the drive before installing, because you have an existing Windows installation when you booted from the Win7 disc.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Johnfisher, welcome to Seven Forums!



Here's another option in this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Johnfisher]

You can inplace upgrade or Clean install.

If you want a clean installation:
Boot from the Windows 7 Upgrade disc, and at the install screen Choose "Custom" Installation.

Once you get to the install screen, you can format the drive Vista is on, delete and create new partitions .. however you desire to do it.

This is considered an Upgrade Install, even if you wipe the drive before installing, because you have an existing Windows installation when you booted from the Win7 disc.

So your answer to question 2 is that, when you format the drive during the custom install, this will be a 100% clean installation without preserving any data (such as windows old or hidden stuff..)?

Hello Johnfisher, welcome to Seven Forums!

Thanks .

Here's another option in this tutorial at the link below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

This tutorial regarding the custom installation (option 2) preserves windows old. I do not follow option 1 and 3 .

 

[gregrocker]

How to get a perfect clean install (based on hundreds)

Back up your files externally, make your Recovery Disks so you have a path back to factory condition, or save a Backup Image of the entire HD first. Back up installed drivers from windows/system32/drivers, run an audit of installed hardware and software including keys using Belarc Advisor. Gather your program installers.

Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7

You will not need a workaround to use Upgrade Key if you don't wipe the HD first, as the DVD will see the previous installation and accept Key even if you use Drive Options to delete/create/format.

If you Delete all partitions to create New ones and Format, the installer will issue a 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair Console (normally only on the DVD or Repair CD) on the F8 Advanced Boot Options menu. Partition as you wish and Format before installing to first OS partition.

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless driver on flash stick or CD so you can get online quickly. Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates several times.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device. Driver Install - Device Manager . As a last resort you can browse to the Vista drivers backed up from C:/Windows/system32/drivers.

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes after each. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. I only allow AV and gadgets. Startup Programs - Change

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials which works perfectly with Windows 7 Firewall. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

When it is finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner Disk and Registry tabs, then Puran boot-time defragger after adding it's Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab.
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
http://download.cnet.com/Puran-Defra...-75115626.html

Finally save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD (or replacement) using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[Johnfisher]

Wow, thanks.

You clearly state that, aside from the 100mb System Reserved boot partition, the installation method as you so nicely described is indeed a 100% clean install. Also Wishmaster's answer points into this direction.

Therefor, my second question has a clear answer. Thanks to both.

P.s.: please tell me you didn't write this post just for me. That it is a copy-paste that you use for these kind of questions!

 

[gregrocker]

please tell me you didn't write this post just for me. That it is a copy-paste that you use for these kind of questions!

..and Customize just for you!

Reinstalling Windows 7

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Johnfisher]

I seem to have found the answer to my first question (answer: yes): Upgrade from Windows XP/Vista to Windows 7: Product key & language version questions

So I will order the English upgrade media, and try it myself. If it works, I will confirm this here for a definitive answer.

Will be continued in a couple of days...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



If I may ask a question?


Do you want to save the old Vista settings into the new Windows 7 installs or do you want to start completely fresh with a clean, fresh install?

 

[SIW2]

Some odd answers on that thread :

You'll be unable to boot from a Windows 7 Upgrade DVD to perform a clean install.

The installer won't allow booting from install disk to install on a machine with no OS in place if the install key is an upgrade key.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/efc44bea-ee85-4111-8914-3a06da05f2a9

 

[Johnfisher]

Hello again.



If I may ask a question?


Do you want to save the old Vista settings into the new Windows 7 installs or do you want to start completely fresh with a clean, fresh install?

You may

I prefer a nice clean install. That always feels good .

So that's why I wondered if the custom installation with upgrade media, using the format option during this progress, is really a clean installation. As stated above, this indeed is the case .

 

[Johnfisher]

Some odd answers on that thread :

You'll be unable to boot from a Windows 7 Upgrade DVD to perform a clean install.

The installer won't allow booting from install disk to install on a machine with no OS in place if the install key is an upgrade key.

Yes there are some odd answers, although the second quote seems logic...

Also this link seems to confirm a positive answer to my first question: Windows 7 Upgrade Paths. It says 'Cross-language in-place upgrades (for example, en-us to de-de) are not supported.' A contrario, that could mean not using the in-place option (but clean install using custom install) is supported.

 

[SIW2]

Hi John,

You will be fine with what you want to do.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a thorough study of Option Three of this tutorial at the link below, all it requires is to download the MediaBootInstall.reg file and save it to the desktop, then a couple clicks to do the work-around, you don't have to actually do anything with/to the Windows registry.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Johnfisher]

Hi John,

You will be fine with what you want to do.

That's quite soothing .

Have a thorough study of Option Three of this tutorial at the link below, all it requires is to download the MediaBootInstall.reg file and save it to the desktop, then a couple clicks to do the work-around, you don't have to actually do anything with/to the Windows registry.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Thanks, I noticed this option and concluded it's a clean install.

But I wonder why you should choose this workaround if you can get the same result with just a custom install?

 

[SIW2]

John,

You won't need to do the option 3 - that is only if the installer doesn't see you currently have a qualifying version on the machine.

 

[Johnfisher]

John,

You won't need to do the option 3 - that is only if the installer doesn't see you currently have a qualifying version on the machine.

Yup I noticed:

If you get an activation error while doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above, then you will need to use this option instead documented by Paul Thurrott's Supersite Blog: Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media.

So I would suggest not to use this option if not needed. Custom install (with format) is much easier. But since Bare Foot Kid did, I wondered why he did so .

 

[SIW2]

He's just quoting from the tutorial.

I haven't seen the installer fail to recognize you already have windows on there - still , it might happen - you never know.

It is normally for if your existing HD dies and you need to reinstall from the upgrade dvd to a new blank HD.

Ideally you wouldn't need to do that even if your HD dies - you should have made backup images - surprising how many people don't.

 

[Johnfisher]

From that point of view, it's safe to suggest option 3; it works for any situation . And it's good to know that if anything fails, you still can manage the install.

It's a great tutorial by the way.

 

[Wishmaster]

Thats very good info to keep in mind though.

If for example ...

1) You do a Clean install on a new HD
2) You Clean the Drive prior to installation, or do a Secure Erase etc

In either case, the installer will not see any form of a previous installation.

When you boot from the disc now, youll have a unallocated drive, and according to Windows this is a NEW installation and no longer qualifies as a Upgrade.

The Workaround will be needed in this case.


So keep this in mind, if in the future you do something along this line.


If you just format the existing installation with Windows Installer, it counts as a upgrade, and will be a Clean install.