Clean Install via Win 7 Upgrade

[Cage22]

Great forum. Just found it via Google.
Question:

I'm currently running Vista Home Premium 32-bit.
I'm going to buy Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit upgrade.
I want to do a clean install on a new hard drive I just bought.
I'm going to put the current Vista hard drive on SATA 1
The new hard drive for Win 7 will be on SATA 0
I can't figure out what procedure to use so Win 7 Upgrade sees the old activated Vista to activate Win 7.
In short, I want a clean install via Win 7 upgrade media on a seperate hard drive.
Can anyone help with this?

 

[mickey megabyte]

hi Cage22, and welcome to sevenforums - the best forum on the planet (possibly),

you could try cloning the vista drive to the new drive, then clean installing 7 on top of it.

i think this will work, although haven't tried myself. you may have to play about to get the bootloader working...

is your plan to have a dual-boot system?

 

[Orbital Shark]

I believe it is possible to do a 'Custom' install of Windows 7 Upgrade but you will need the Vista DVD in order for the install to verify that you have got Vista. It should then continue to install as if you had the non-Upgrade version.

 

[mickey megabyte]

thanks for that mr Shark.

so you don't actually have to have an os installed - you can just show it a disc?

 

[Orbital Shark]

I think you can just insert the disk. I'll try & find the info I read about it

 

[SIW2]

Take your pick:

Windows 7 Upgrade Editions Will Require an Activated Copy for Verification Each Time its Installed | Maximum PC

Harold Wong's Blog Site : Can I do an In-Place upgrade from Windows 7 Release Candidate To Release Code??

Microsoft Source Suggests Win 7 Won't Require Activated OS Before Upgrade - PC World


Nobody seems to know for sure.

 

[Orbital Shark]

I like this bit

2. Todd: If you purchased the Windows 7 Upgrade, you only need the original media (CD / DVD) of Windows XP or Windows Vista. The Upgrade media will ask you to insert the media from XP or Vista so it can perform a check of the physical media before proceeding. Of course, if you already have Windows Vista installed on the machine, it will just allow you to perform an in-place upgrade.

Seems I wasn't wrong then :shock:

 

[SIW2]

I heard, Harold hasn't been able to get confirmation of that from the MS higher ups. Probably will be the case - makes sense.

Here's what he said later:

The requirements for using the Windows 7 Upgrade Media seems to not be fully documented and publicized. I received emails from folks who have said a Microsoft representative had told them that an activated copy of Windows must already be installed onto the computer. I had stated that the original media would be required. Since I cannot get a solid answer internally at this point, I’m going to take the egg on my face and say that I may be wrong in my previous statement. I am not sure yet. Since I don’t have access to the Upgrade Media myself, I cannot test it to know for sure so I am waiting for the Windows 7 Team to post an update to their blog that states all the requirements. Just like the rest of you, I will have to wait for further “official” news. I am very sorry for jumping the gun on this one and stating what I heard were the requirements for using the Upgrade Media.

 

[Cage22]

Thanks for all the replies - and so quick. I was hoping that when I clean install on the new drive, it would scan all drives - including my old one with Vista activated and acccept this. I guess we'll have to wait until someone can verify this with upgrade media. Again, thanks to all.

 

[Cage22]

Good idea Mickey. If we don't find an absolute answer, I'll try cloning.