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#11
Perhaps you're new to Windows and installation procedures, but you could use the Windows XP upgrade edition to perform a clean install on a fresh hard drive. You just needed to insert a 98/2000 CD during the installation process.
The idea of being able to install Windows on a clean hard drive using upgrade media is NOT a new and radical idea. This is how it's always been done. Vista changed the game with the double-install bug. I'm hoping that Windows 7 goes back to "normal."
You must be referring to in-place upgrades, which couldn't be more irrelevant to this conversation.
If you already have the RC installed, MS has said that you will be able to do the double install only once... after that you will need to insert a disc with a qualifying version in order for it to work. So, be sure to image your drive immediately after activating..
I hope this answers your questions...
Still no definitive answer for the workarounds to clean install on blank drive from upgrade media.
There must be a way - MS just isn't letting on - yet.
With the upgrade media, your $49.95 version, you have to run setup and install from
within an activated legal copy of Vista or XP. You must click custom install if your OS is WinXP. If Vista, you can upgrade. Once you click custom install, you can re partition, format etc. and then install Win 7.
You are no longer allowed to put in an old disk for validation. That will NOT work.
Also the work around from Vista will not work as the requirement is that the
OS you are currently using MUST BE ACTIVATED. This is a change from Vista days.
What is still up in the air is how to re install after a hard drive failure.