Confused about upgreade and full

[Mitch656]

Hi im thinking of getting windows 7 but i dont really want to spend $292 for it. I was thinking of getting an upgrade for $171. But then it came into my head what if i need a new PC one day thats hasent got an OS on it. Will i have to install windows vista 1st then install 7? or what will i have to do




Soz if this question has already been ask this is my 1st post on here and just joined


Also is there only the 3 version as in: Home Premium, Professional, and ultimate

 

[sup3rsprt]

According to various reports (check the stickies), the upgrade version is basically the same as the full version.

Apparently you can do a clean install with the upgrade version just as you can with the full version.

If you don't own a previous version of Windows, you're supposed to buy the full version. But who is actually going to do that I don't know..

 

[sion]

^^
i brought the upgraded one, just so i could save money, and i installed windows 7, and it put my system back to factory settings,

3versions, depends on what you use it for... if everyday use just go for home prem

 

[fillup]

Hi im thinking of getting windows 7 but i dont really want to spend $292 for it. I was thinking of getting an upgrade for $171. But then it came into my head what if i need a new PC one day thats hasent got an OS on it. Will i have to install windows vista 1st then install 7? or what will i have to do

When you boot from the Upgrade disk, it will scan your computer for a pre-qualifying OS (XP, Vista). If it detects one, Windows 7 can install and activate straight away. You don't have to install Windows 7 to the same partition or even the same HD (as the one with the pre-qualifying OS)....you can clean install to a blank hard drive / partition, as long as the installation program detected a pre-qualifying OS installed somewhere on your system.

If it doesn't detect a pre-qualifying OS installed, you CAN still install Windows 7 using the Upgrade disk (without entering your product key), but you won't be able to activate it. It will be in 'evaluation mode' usable for 30 days. You can then do the old 'Double Install' trick (yes, it still works in Windows 7) to do an in-place upgrade and then you will be able to activate it.

 

[sup3rsprt]

FYI, you can avoid the double-install method

http://www.sevenforums.com/news/31275-clean-install-windows-7-upgrade-media.html

 

[TheSchaft]

There's also a great tutorial here about installing from an upgrade - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1818-upgrade-install-windows-7-a.html

Once installed and activated, make an image backup also

 

[fillup]

FYI, you can avoid the double-install method

http://www.sevenforums.com/news/31275-clean-install-windows-7-upgrade-media.html

Cool. That's good to know. I'll have to try that method next time.