Upgrade to Win7 using a clean install DVD

I am currently running genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit), which has been clean-installed. I have now got a Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit I think) clean install DVD. I want to install Win7, but instead of a clean install, I prefer to just upgrade. Yes I know a clean install is always better, but I don't really want to spend time re-installing software and reconfiguring the whole PC the way I like it.

When I try to run setup from within Vista I get "This installation disc isn't compatible with your version of Windows". I have done a Ghost image of my current Vista partition, so if anything goes wrong during upgrade, I am prepared to just do a full restore, like nothing ever happened.

Is there any work-around that I can use?

I don't believe you can do a upgrade install from a 32bit Vista to a 64bit Windows 7.....the only option available is a clean (custom) install

now if you wanted to go from Vista 32bit to Windows 7 32bit the inplace upgrade is an option

upgrade installs are not a good idea imho...just backup your data and do a clean install

here are a couple of great posts:

Upgrade Install with Windows 7

Clean Install Windows 7

both have links with information and other helpful tutorials at the end of the posts that should answer any questions you have about installing Windows 7

two hours should be all the time to install and do updates, how many applications are u installing. i did like 3 days ago

Microsoft has never permitted an upgrade-in-place (which preserves installed applications) from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit one. I have never read of any work-around for that.

I believe that a full retail license can be used to perform an upgrade when an upgrade is possible. It's not possible for you.

Windows Easy Transfer may help you a little. I've never bothered with it myself - I copy my files manually, and setup my preferences manually as well.

The deal-breaker here is 32 to 64 bit.

If you want to use 32 bit Home Premium (you are entitled to either 32 or 64 bit with each license) then there is a workaround to "downgrade" from Ultimate to Premium.

The disks are all the same once you unlock all versions, whether Full retail or Uprade, Retail or OEM.

The key determines which version you can use.

You can indeed in-place Upgrade using full Retail version.

But you cannot run a 32 bit installer from 64 bit, or vice versa, so that is what make this impossible.

Thanks for your replies everyone. Yes I did not think it was possible, at least it wouldn't have been easy, but I thought it might be worth asking around... just in case there is someone out there who has hacked it. I suppose I'll just hold on to Vista Ultimate for little longer (I just love the DreamScene, which, I believe, is not available in Home Premium editions).

mohsie said:

I am currently running genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit), which has been clean-installed. I have now got a Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit I think) clean install DVD. I want to install Win7, but instead of a clean install, I prefer to just upgrade. Yes I know a clean install is always better, but I don't really want to spend time re-installing software and reconfiguring the whole PC the way I like it.

When I try to run setup from within Vista I get "This installation disc isn't compatible with your version of Windows". I have done a Ghost image of my current Vista partition, so if anything goes wrong during upgrade, I am prepared to just do a full restore, like nothing ever happened.

Is there any work-around that I can use?

NO WORKAROUND POSSIBLE.

when going from 32 bit to 64 It must be a clean install with a disk format