Installing Windows 7 over Windows 7

I would like to know if there is any way to upgrade my current Windows 7 (build 7000) to the newer one that was recently released, without loosing all of my files and settings.

Thanks in advance.

You can do a clean install of windows 7 RC over windows 7 beta, all of your files(desktop / program files / drivers / other stuff) will be put into a folder called Windows.OLD. You can then navigate to that file and move things to the proper locations you want them at. There's no reason to back up data, as "clean install" won't reformat the harddrive.

As for settings, and program files you'll have to setup and reinstall them all over again (you can't simply move them over as the registry files attached to them won't work with the new system). Don't believe there is a way around that.

Thanks for the prompt responses...

I'll just "clean" install it and move all the files over.

YupYup said:

You can upgrade if you follow the instructions here, it is not recommended though.

The link "here" doesn't seem to work for me. Can you help please? I too want to install RC build 7137 over RC build 7000 without reinstalling all my programs.

The link is fixed now.

Thanks.

daj said:

You can do a clean install of windows 7 RC over windows 7 beta, all of your files(desktop / program files / drivers / other stuff) will be put into a folder called Windows.OLD. You can then navigate to that file and move things to the proper locations you want them at. There's no reason to back up data, as "clean install" won't reformat the harddrive.

As for settings, and program files you'll have to setup and reinstall them all over again (you can't simply move them over as the registry files attached to them won't work with the new system). Don't believe there is a way around that.

I thought a "clean" install meant reformatting the hdd then install the OS?
If I want to upgrade from 7100 to 7137, should I follow your way or reformat the hdd first?
thxs
d

A Clean Install of windows 7 rc or beta doesn't reformat the hard drive. Your old windows will be in a file called windows.old.000 once the new windows is set up. You'll still need to install all of the programs/software you used on the previous windows, as they won't work if you simply just move them over, but all personal files and setting files are easy to move over.

Link to more about this: http://www.to-tech.com/blog/2009/05/...-reformatting/

I would consider both ways to be a clean install as the OS would be fresh not upgraded. Reformatting will be more optimized as the files will not be scattered all over the disk like they will be if you choose the other option. Of course if you have a SSD then it would not really matter either way as long as you have room on the drive.