Changing OS!

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barsim

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Hi,

  • Questions of mine relate to a situation where the PC's HHD has been viped and the previous OS ie. was Vista with a COA supplied, can I install a new OS, ie. Win 7 full version or of its OEM version will suffice?

  • Will I be limited to 32bit or 64bit by the previous OS?
Thank you
barsim
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Compaq dc5800
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 2820h
Memory
6.00 GB, usable: 5.92 GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series
Sound Card
(1) High Definition Audio Device (2) HD Webcam C270
Monitor(s) Displays
HP
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
ST3500418AS ATA Device
Fixed hard disk media
Partitions: 2
Size: 465.76 GB
Other Info
BIOS: Hewlett-Packard
Default System BIOS
Version: 786F2 v01.51
Release Date: 8/1/2008
You won't be limited because the hard drive has been formatted and therefore will appear to be completely empty to Windows (that is, from Windows' perspective). Therefore, you can install whatever you want.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
TwoCables said:
You won't be limited because the hard drive has been formatted and therefore will appear to be completely empty to Windows (that is, from Windows' perspective). Therefore, you can install whatever you want.
Click to expand...

Let me see if I understand it correctly; even if the previous OS was Vista in the case of example I mentioned Win 7 x 64 OEM could be installed, couldn't it?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Compaq dc5800
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Motherboard
Hewlett-Packard 2820h
Memory
6.00 GB, usable: 5.92 GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series
Sound Card
(1) High Definition Audio Device (2) HD Webcam C270
Monitor(s) Displays
HP
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 x 60 hertz
Hard Drives
ST3500418AS ATA Device
Fixed hard disk media
Partitions: 2
Size: 465.76 GB
Other Info
BIOS: Hewlett-Packard
Default System BIOS
Version: 786F2 v01.51
Release Date: 8/1/2008
you can install Vista or Windows 7 x32.
For x64 of both, do you have x64 hardware?
 

My Computer

OS
ME/XP/Vista/Win7
If you had Vista on the PC or a retail copy that you don't plan to use again, then it qualifies to use Win7 Upgrade version. If there's no OS on the HD for the installer to see when booting to do install leave the key blank then after install do the quick registry workaround in Option 3 of Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a wiped or clean HD.

Always boot the Win7 installer to do the install, delete all partitions to create and format new as shown in step 7 of Clean Install Windows 7
 
Last edited:
barsim said:
TwoCables said:
You won't be limited because the hard drive has been formatted and therefore will appear to be completely empty to Windows (that is, from Windows' perspective). Therefore, you can install whatever you want.
Click to expand...

Let me see if I understand it correctly; even if the previous OS was Vista in the case of example I mentioned Win 7 x 64 OEM could be installed, couldn't it?
Click to expand...

Yes, because the hard drive is blank (from an OS's perspective). The reason I worded it that way is formatting a drive doesn't actually touch the data, but an OS will think that the hard drive has nothing on it. Therefore, you can install whatever you want regardless of what used to be on there. The only way this would be a problem is if you were upgrading from a version of Windows that's still on the drive. Only in the case of an actual upgrade are there certain impossible upgrade paths.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
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