Does upgrade require proof of prior version?

[Nosmo]

The didital river download on Thursday and matching key they sent out , turned out to be a full retail install by mistake (?) so when this installs perfectly on a Virgin disc, please do not do around telling everyone how marvelous the upgrade is, because you a one of the lucky ones with a full retail install key and not an upgrade.

 

[Lebon14]

I guess being a computer techie just makes this clean install process seem a lot less daunting. Backup some data, take 15 minutes to reinstall, plus install a dozen or so apps, but data back. Less than 2 hours total and a clean and great running system. I just don't see why this is such an ordeal for some.

Bold part is the problem. Think about it this way : user has a XP/Vista install on a 500GB hard drive. There is about 100GB of data to save and they have NO other hard drives to save the data to and no extra money to buy an extra internal/external drive. On top of all, they have no one with that extra external that they could lend. This is really problematic.

So, this important that they do an in-place upgrade to keep their data.

It's not everyone that has a setup like mine (4 HDDs on my part). Even me, backing up the data I have on my system partition takes a little while (30-40min for the single user folder).

FYI, I have about 650GB of music, videos, documents & personnal matters. This is really not easy to backup to somewhere safe. Now, imagine someone that needs to backup a full big HDD to DVDs. You'll feel the pain

 

[Iknewitwin7]

Man...first off, I would like to thank folks for the info...but wow...I am still confused as to what the definitive answer is.

I have done an Install of Windows 7 Pro Upgrade ... went like a full copy, didn't ask for a previous version .. I have no clue why people are stating that you need to follow "special" steps for an upgrade version.

 

[kegobeer]

Bold part is the problem. Think about it this way : user has a XP/Vista install on a 500GB hard drive. There is about 100GB of data to save and they have NO other hard drives to save the data to and no extra money to buy an extra internal/external drive. On top of all, they have no one with that extra external that they could lend. This is really problematic.

So, this important that they do an in-place upgrade to keep their data.

It's not everyone that has a setup like mine (4 HDDs on my part). Even me, backing up the data I have on my system partition takes a little while (30-40min for the single user folder).

FYI, I have about 650GB of music, videos, documents & personnal matters. This is really not easy to backup to somewhere safe. Now, imagine someone that needs to backup a full big HDD to DVDs. You'll feel the pain

[Blatent plug for WHS]
Just build a Windows Home Server! You'll have daily backups and also have a centralized place for all of your music, photos, videos, etc.
[/End Blatent plug for WHS]

 

[oblio98]

I did a clean install on a new SSD hard drive in my laptop (took the Vista drive out for archive storage) and I installed from W7 Ultimate Upgrade disc without any activation issues.

I don't understand what all of the fuss is about. On Line activation went fine!

 

[pparks1]

I guess being a computer techie just makes this clean install process seem a lot less daunting. Backup some data, take 15 minutes to reinstall, plus install a dozen or so apps, but data back. Less than 2 hours total and a clean and great running system. I just don't see why this is such an ordeal for some.

Bold part is the problem. Think about it this way : user has a XP/Vista install on a 500GB hard drive. There is about 100GB of data to save and they have NO other hard drives to save the data to and no extra money to buy an extra internal/external drive. On top of all, they have no one with that extra external that they could lend. This is really problematic.

#1) 2 partitions on the hard drive could eliminate this problem. Say, an 80GB for the C drive and 420GB for the D drive and they could make sure their 100GB of data is on the D drive and no extra hardware needed

#2). External hard drives are CHEAP. 1TB external Western Digitals are $99 at NewEgg. Newegg.com - Western Digital Element 1TB 3.5" Black External Hard Drive - External Hard Drives. Everybody should always have an external drive anyway to back up their data anyway. Hard drives do fail.

FYI, I have about 650GB of music, videos, documents & personnal matters. This is really not easy to backup to somewhere safe.

Sure it is. It's simple. 1 external hard drive. You can use the robocopy command which comes free with Windows, or you can download SyncToy which is free. It simply mirrors what you have on the source, with what is on the backup. And it only gets files which have changed, so the first backup takes awhile and subsequent backups usually take about 1-2 minutes.


Now, imagine someone that needs to backup a full big HDD to DVDs. You'll feel the pain [/QUOTE]

 

[Nosmo]

I did a clean install on a new SSD hard drive in my laptop (took the Vista drive out for archive storage) and I installed from W7 Ultimate Upgrade disc without any activation issues.

I don't understand what all of the fuss is about. On Line activation went fine!

Your upgrade version is actually a full retail. Trust me......an upgrade disc booted to a virgin SSD with no previous OS in evidence, would fail to install
and accept your Key.

 

[oldspook]

Many users are having their key rejected for the following reason.

If you have purchased an 'Upgrade' you MUST run setup from within Vista or XP.

You purchased an upgrade so you must have something to upgrade from.

Trying to boot to a virgin drive with no memory of a previous OS will not work.

Yes there are hacks but its only been 3 days and we don't know how MS will handle installs that are not legal.

It is not true that "If you have purchased an 'Upgrade' you MUST run setup from within Vista or XP". I purchesed an Upgrade disk and did a clean install on an unformated partition by booting from the upgrade disk. I did have XP installed on another partition so w7 upgrade must have detected it. It created a multiboot system with a boot menu to choose the OS from.

I do have a question though - What if a person did a custom install from within XP and wipped out XP - then later had a HDD crash and had to do a reinstall? There would be no XP on the computer to verify.

 

[richc46]

You could call MS, and if you are believed, they will let you reinstall.

 

[joel406]

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE ANYTHING (XP VISTA OSX) ON YOUR HD IN ORDER TO USE THE UPGRADE!!!

I have done 7 (no pun intended) installs of Win7 Ultimate. ALL were clean, full, boot from the Win7 DVD and reformat the drive installs that worked perfectly.

Probably a glitch in the upgrade that makes it possible, I don't know. I do know I saved about $150 USD buying the upgrade instead of the full version.

I am loving it.

 

[zrtom]

It is not true that "If you have purchased an 'Upgrade' you MUST run setup from within Vista or XP". I purchesed an Upgrade disk and did a clean install on an unformated partition by booting from the upgrade disk. I did have XP installed on another partition so w7 upgrade must have detected it. It created a multiboot system with a boot menu to choose the OS from.

I do have a question though - What if a person did a custom install from within XP and wipped out XP - then later had a HDD crash and had to do a reinstall? There would be no XP on the computer to verify.

MS told me you'd have to reinstall the prior OS. Here's what I posted on that as well as a copy of their email to me.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...pgrade-installation-process-4.html#post307199

However, clean installs have been activated successfully (activated but not yet validated since Windows Activation Technologies (formerly WGA) is not up and running completely). Either MS misinformed me or they will be making changes to their activation servers to close the loophole of upgrade key activation on clean full installs.

I'm hoping MS misinformed me.

 

[oldspook]

It is not true that "If you have purchased an 'Upgrade' you MUST run setup from within Vista or XP". I purchesed an Upgrade disk and did a clean install on an unformated partition by booting from the upgrade disk. I did have XP installed on another partition so w7 upgrade must have detected it. It created a multiboot system with a boot menu to choose the OS from.

I do have a question though - What if a person did a custom install from within XP and wipped out XP - then later had a HDD crash and had to do a reinstall? There would be no XP on the computer to verify.

MS told me you'd have to reinstall the prior OS. Here's what I posted on that as well as a copy of their email to me.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...pgrade-installation-process-4.html#post307199

However, clean installs have been activated successfully (activated but not yet validated since Windows Activation Technologies (formerly WGA) is not up and running completely). Either MS misinformed me or they will be making changes to their activation servers to close the loophole of upgrade key activation on clean full installs.

I'm hoping MS misinformed me.

It looks like I will always keep both XP and 7 on my computer anyway. Since both OS are now on the same drive, different partitions, a HDD crash would wipe out both of them. I have made an image of that HDD with both OS. It would be a simple matter to restore it to a new HDD.

 

[Sonixmon]

It is not true that "If you have purchased an 'Upgrade' you MUST run setup from within Vista or XP". I purchesed an Upgrade disk and did a clean install on an unformated partition by booting from the upgrade disk. I did have XP installed on another partition so w7 upgrade must have detected it. It created a multiboot system with a boot menu to choose the OS from.

I do have a question though - What if a person did a custom install from within XP and wipped out XP - then later had a HDD crash and had to do a reinstall? There would be no XP on the computer to verify.

MS told me you'd have to reinstall the prior OS. Here's what I posted on that as well as a copy of their email to me.
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...pgrade-installation-process-4.html#post307199

However, clean installs have been activated successfully (activated but not yet validated since Windows Activation Technologies (formerly WGA) is not up and running completely). Either MS misinformed me or they will be making changes to their activation servers to close the loophole of upgrade key activation on clean full installs.

I'm hoping MS misinformed me.

I hope they misinformed you too, because think of the consequences for their customers! In my situation that would be awful, I installed 3 pre-ordered copies this weekend. I installed my wifes laptop (in true upgrade fassion, second I installed my Gaming rig, dual boot (XP, Win7 RC) booted from CD installed and activated without a hitch (I assumed it may have seen the XP os?), Three, last night (mainly because I was so curious) I went ahead and put my other HD in my laptop (removing the XP os), booted to windows 7 RC, of course couldnt do the upgrade install so I ran the custom install. Put in the key when asked and no issues at all.

Also another thought, if infact the cd key determines if it will let you do a new install, why would they wait until it has renamed your old os or formated the partition to then tell you it doesnt qualify for a clean install? If I remember right in the past my installation disc asked me for an old cd or the windows dir before it would proceed!

If MS comes back and deactivates 2 of my three computers after I have installed all my programs and files, they can have their OS' back and will be getting a BBB complaint LOL.

 

[riojanitoperez]

Hi,
Then I can install windows 7 without having below vista?,
I am waiting for the upgrade and i have not installed yet windows vista yet,i notice yesterday microsoft that i sent in 15 days,but i have windows vista without installing, can make a instalacion clean?



I am sorry if this bad writing, i am spanish and I use a translator
thanks
a greeting

Hello rio: Your hard drive can be new...Totaly blank!

You can have Vista or XP installed and delete your partitions during setup and create new ones and format them and still perform a CLEAN INSTALL.

You do not need to rearm or any of that stuff just follow what I posted earlier.

I am starting my 6th Win7 ultimate install using that method.

It works every time.

I will never pay full version price again as long as MS keeps making it this easy.[/QUOTE
Thank you for the response so fast you and all,the hare as telling me
a greeting

 

[riojanitoperez]

Hi,
Then I can install windows 7 without having below vista?,
I am waiting for the upgrade and i have not installed yet windows vista yet,i notice yesterday microsoft that i sent in 15 days,but i have windows vista without installing, can make a instalacion clean?



I am sorry if this bad writing, i am spanish and I use a translator
thanks
a greeting

Hello rio: Your hard drive can be new...Totaly blank!

You can have Vista or XP installed and delete your partitions during setup and create new ones and format them and still perform a CLEAN INSTALL.

You do not need to rearm or any of that stuff just follow what I posted earlier.

I am starting my 6th Win7 ultimate install using that method.

It works every time.

I will never pay full version price again as long as MS keeps making it this easy.

Thank you for the response so fast you and all,what settle as contais me to do a greeting to all

 

[riojanitoperez]

Hi,
Then I can install windows 7 without having below vista?,
I am waiting for the upgrade and i have not installed yet windows vista yet,i notice yesterday microsoft that i sent in 15 days,but i have windows vista without installing, can make a instalacion clean?



I am sorry if this bad writing, i am spanish and I use a translator
thanks
a greeting

Hello rio: Your hard drive can be new...Totaly blank!

You can have Vista or XP installed and delete your partitions during setup and create new ones and format them and still perform a CLEAN INSTALL.

You do not need to rearm or any of that stuff just follow what I posted earlier.

I am starting my 6th Win7 ultimate install using that method.

It works every time.

I will never pay full version price again as long as MS keeps making it this easy.

Thank you for the response

 

[riojanitoperez]

Man...first off, I would like to thank folks for the info...but wow...I am still confused as to what the definitive answer is.

I have done an Install of Windows 7 Pro Upgrade ... went like a full copy, didn't ask for a previous version .. I have no clue why people are stating that you need to follow "special" steps for an upgrade version.

This is proof that he needed,thanks

 

[Tews]

This question has been definitely answered by MS and is reflected in Brinks updated tutorial on using the Windows 7 Upgrade disc to do a clean install -=> Here

 

[Sonixmon]

This question has been definitely answered by MS and is reflected in Brinks updated tutorial on using the Windows 7 Upgrade disc to do a clean install -=> Here

Kind of stupid that they did it that way, but I guess I am glad! I happen to install it as mentioned (uncheck the activate automatically) and activated it 3 days later (after running all updates) with no issue.