how upgrade works on top of vista

[aamcz]

i have 64bit vista home premium and will want to upgrade to windows 7.
but am unsure it get the windows 7 upgrade or full.

my vista has been having all kinds of issues (at least i think its vista and not the computer). been getting errors with media center tv (which i dont use anyways), and windows programs sometimes running slow and/or freezing up (which i dont think it should being that i got 4GB ram). i have even done full reinstallations of the OS back to factory condition a couple of times (thinking it might have been a virus or to wipe away corrupted files and essentially start over), yet the same problems persist.

if i do a windows 7 upgrade, does that put windows 7 on my computer as it would if i had done a full clean install?? (i know the upgrade leaves my programs and personal files in place). i am just worried that if my problems are the vista OS and i upgrade to windows 7, that the upgrade will "recycle" vista files it needs, and that if those files are the ones causing me problems now, that my problems will persist with windows 7.

 

[zigzag3143]

i have 64bit vista home premium and will want to upgrade to windows 7.
but am unsure it get the windows 7 upgrade or full.

my vista has been having all kinds of issues (at least i think its vista and not the computer). been getting errors with media center tv (which i dont use anyways), and windows programs sometimes running slow and/or freezing up (which i dont think it should being that i got 4GB ram). i have even done full reinstallations of the OS back to factory condition a couple of times (thinking it might have been a virus or to wipe away corrupted files and essentially start over), yet the same problems persist.

if i do a windows 7 upgrade, does that put windows 7 on my computer as it would if i had done a full clean install?? (i know the upgrade leaves my programs and personal files in place). i am just worried that if my problems are the vista OS and i upgrade to windows 7, that the upgrade will "recycle" vista files it needs, and that if those files are the ones causing me problems now, that my problems will persist with windows 7.

No it doesn't the only way to clean install is to format and clean install, anything else transfers something.
Just remember to back up before (just in case), and remember you are going to have to re-install all your apps and settings. also helps if you get the drivers you are going to need before hand but its no critical.

Hope this helps

Ken

 

[Tews]

No... an upgrade is not the same as a clean install ... and in your case, I would definitely not recommend upgrading. You are already having problems with Vista, and upgrading may well bring those problems with you.

So, to answer your main question, I would get a full retail version, format your drive during the install process, and start off fresh..

Welcome to the forums...

 

[harpua]

Actually you can get the upgrade version and still do a CLEAN INSTALL from it.

 

[Snufffed]

quote=aamcz i have 64bit vista home premium and will want to upgrade to windows 7.
but am unsure it get the windows 7 upgrade or full. You can do both with the UPGRADE VERSION. It also will save you some $$$$$.
my vista has been having all kinds of issues (at least i think its vista and not the computer). been getting errors with media center tv (which i dont use anyways), and windows programs sometimes running slow and/or freezing up (which i dont think it should being that i got 4GB ram).
Several things can cause that: corrupt files run cmd(as admin) sfc /scannow (fixes corrupt files) this also can be caused by lack of defragmentation. i have even done full reinstallations of the OS back to factory condition a couple of times (thinking it might have been a virus or to wipe away corrupted files and essentially start over), yet the same problems persist.
That sounds more like HARDWARE - Drivers

if i do a windows 7 upgrade, does that put windows 7 on my computer as it would if i had done a full clean install?? (NO) (i know the upgrade leaves my programs and personal files in place) (NO.) i am just worried that if my problems are the vista OS and i upgrade to windows 7, that the upgrade will "recycle" vista files it needs,(Actually Win7 over writes the Vista files) and that if those files are the ones causing me problems now, that my problems will persist with windows 7.[/quote] Yes, it is possible that your problems will still persist. Windows x64 since PRE_XP days has had problems.
Clean install will ( if you boot from DVD) will wipe your old windows via FORMAT. If you want to keep all your file/data intact. while booted into Vista.
insert the DVD it will ask for UPGRADE or Advanced Option. your choice. you do understand "UPGRADE" the other way, clean install on the same HDD partition will cause Vista to be renamed Windows.old. 100% intact.
The main thing is TIME, upgrade from Vista to Win7 -average time is 2h30m to 3h. Clean install of Windows 7 is 25m to 35m.

You also have the option to CLEAN install Win7 x86. apply the 4GB Memory patch. and have a much more stable OS.= (IMHO)

 

[poin2]

The upgrade discs just need to see a prior genuine version of the OS.

You can then "upgrade" OR do a fresh install with them.

Unless you're installing to a blank hard drive, you should be fine with the upgrade discs.

But yes, I'd do a fresh install with them with the problems you're having.