Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

[SilverGator]

OK, so I did everything last night - Windows 7 HP 64-bit is on and running like a dream. There were two issues that I ran into.

1) It did not recognize my (one year old and very very good) graphics card. Not sure if others had this issue with NVIDIA, but it actually took me an hour and 30 minutes!!! to download the driver from their site. (Not my connection speed, as I downloaded 10 other programs and transferred all my files over in the same time period simultaneously.)

2) When working on the partitions, it actually came up with FOUR lines. The C: partition that the OS was on, the D: partition that had the RECOVERY, some small unallocated space AND another partition that was like 1 GB that I had never seen before.

I was able to "expand" the unallocated space and extra partition into the main one, but the 10 GB "recovery" D: partition would not combine with the C: one no matter what I did. The "delete" button was greyed out. I was able to "format" it, but that was about it.

Not exactly sure why that happened. Tried everything I could including formatting both. Well, at least I have a 10 GB formatted partition now rather than one filled with the recovery BS. I suppose I can put my back-up image or whatever you guys were talking about on that along with some important files I want duplicates of. Too late now to fix it anyway.

 

[gregrocker]

Use a third party partition manager like Easeus, Paragon or Partition Wizard to delete the partition and gather your unallocated space for future use.

It might be an EISA partition used by some makers to lock recovery in place, but it shouldn't format if so. You can still try the diskpart override commands needed to get rid of it: Delete and Remove to Unlock EISA Hidden Recovery or Diagnostic Partition in Vista My Digital Life

Did you give Windows Updates a chance to deliver that graphics driver? It is normally one of the first to be delivered if not in the installer. Most Win7 Nvidia are WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) which were developed in partnership between MS-Nvidia). Between installer and Updates, I never have to go hunt drivers any more with Win7 unless I want to compare.

 

[gregrocker]

hello from a non-windows user. i am a student, and have been running ubuntu as my os for a few years now. generally i am very satisfied, but am very curious to check out windows 7 on my laptop. when i heard about the 30 dollar download deal, i rushed to sign up. i (quickly) read the info, and saw it said that you could do a custom install from other os. so far i have not had much success figuring out what to do here - i scanned through the others posts, but didnt see anyone in a similar position. am i just out 30 bucks? or is there some way get this done? thanks for any help

eta: would like to do this as a dual boot and not eradicate ubuntu.

“How to” Dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7 (Ubuntu installed first) - Ubuntu Forums

 

[SilverGator]

Use a third party partition manager like Easeus, Paragon or Partition Wizard to delete the partition and gather your unallocated space for future use.

Can I do that without disrupting the partition I have windows on now? Will it just add the extra space to it? I don't want to mess anything up at this point.

Did you give Windows Updates a chance to deliver that graphics driver? It is normally one of the first to be delivered if not in the installer. Most Win7 Nvidia are WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) which were developed in partnership between MS-Nvidia). Between installer and Updates, I never have to go hunt drivers any more with Win7 unless I want to compare.

I did. The issue was that it didn't recognize the graphics card as anything other than generic. I was mortified when I saw the "Windows 7 Basic" design and how ugly it was. I did windows update twice and tried to "update driver" on device manager and nothing worked. It wasn't a big deal - just took FOREVER!

 

[kuliddar]

191.07 is one of the latest from Nvidia.

Returning to my own question that wasn't really answered. I know the difference between both installs however what I am asking is does custom and clean install with upgrade give you the same performance on your computer? The steps are almost the same. Unless proven otherwise, looks like I'll be doing a custom install.

 

[Brink]

Small clarification on performance with an upgrade copy of Win7.

Is there really a performance difference between a Clean Install and Custom Install (when in OS already)? Don't both spit out a Windows.old folder?

If you do a Custom install you have the option to wipe out all partitions and create new ones, thus, you will not have any remnants of your old Windows when Win7 starts.

-HM

Hello Hollow Man,

Thus the difference between a Clean Install and a Custom Install.

191.07 is one of the latest from Nvidia.

Returning to my own question that wasn't really answered. I know the difference between both installs however what I am asking is does custom and clean install with upgrade give you the same performance on your computer? The steps are almost the same. Unless proven otherwise, looks like I'll be doing a custom install.

Kuliddar,

There is no performance difference at all between doing a clean or custom install. Only the custom install will give you a windows.old folder.

Hope this helps better,
Shawn

 

[kuliddar]

Thank you I also actually meant a clean install since, as Silver I have a Dell and want to get rid of the recovery partition.

 

[SilverGator]

Yeah. I mean, I wasn't able to get rid of it. I formatted it and cleaned it out - but it is still there. Not a big deal in the end, I guess.

 

[wilfj]

copy of drivers before install

I have copied the driver file from system32 to a DVD. Do i also copy the file in windows32 named DRIVERSTORE. I'm running rc7100 ??.

How do I print your excellent post on install?

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

I believe the system32 Drivers file holds you installed drivers, while driverstore/file repository holds all drivers on installer.

 

[gregrocker]

Use a third party partition manager like Easeus, Paragon or Partition Wizard to delete the partition and gather your unallocated space for future use.

Can I do that without disrupting the partition I have windows on now? Will it just add the extra space to it? I don't want to mess anything up at this point.

Did you give Windows Updates a chance to deliver that graphics driver? It is normally one of the first to be delivered if not in the installer. Most Win7 Nvidia are WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) which were developed in partnership between MS-Nvidia). Between installer and Updates, I never have to go hunt drivers any more with Win7 unless I want to compare.

I did. The issue was that it didn't recognize the graphics card as anything other than generic. I was mortified when I saw the "Windows 7 Basic" design and how ugly it was. I did windows update twice and tried to "update driver" on device manager and nothing worked. It wasn't a big deal - just took FOREVER!

Yes you would be collecting more unallocated space if you delete that recov partition but it would have no effect on the Win7 which has taken over. Even if it once worked in synch with Vista it was disabled during Win7 install, plus you have Vista disks in case you ever need to replace Vista.

Surprised that Nvidia graphics driver wasn't available. But you are ahead of most in knowing find it at Nvidia. Be on the lookout for incoming WHQL driver in the future.

 

[wilfj]

Thanks... but the Q was do I have to copy the DRIVERSTORE TO A DVD to have it ready for the install process? Would it be used to get my drivers loaded ?? Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks... but the Q was do I have to copy the DRIVERSTORE TO A DVD to have it ready for the install process? Would it be used to get my drivers loaded ?? Thanks

No need, as Win7 has those system32/driverstore drivers plus many more on its installer.

But I'd save the system32/drivers file as it has your specific drivers which might come in handy if you have a compatibility issue or somehow come up short.

 

[wilfj]

Thanks for the reply and while I'm still running rc7100 I want to be prepared for the install from the retail box.

 

[kuliddar]

Yeah. I mean, I wasn't able to get rid of it. I formatted it and cleaned it out - but it is still there. Not a big deal in the end, I guess.

I'm in the same boat as SilverGator (I have a Dell as well). I'm installing Win7 as I write this (doing one computer at a time lol) and the 10gb partition was there as well. I couldn't get rid of it. Everything just greyed out. A minor annoyment but would like to know what's in there (it looks like recovery to me).

 

[vice86]

I'm confused with all the "upgrade" discs available. There's Full, Upgrade and Upgrade from XXXX.

I'm on Build 7100 right now and want to upgrade. According to this thread, you can do a full clean install using an upgrade disc. Does that mean I can purchase an "upgrade from Home" Ultimate disc and successfully do a clean full install of W7 Ultimate?

Hello Vice.

Correct.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

nice...so technically I can get this?

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Anytime Upgrade from Home Premium - Operating Systems

And just do a clean install? I'm just curious cuz its $130 for the "upgrade from home premium" compared to $291 for the full and $209 for the upgrade.

 

[gregrocker]

Yeah. I mean, I wasn't able to get rid of it. I formatted it and cleaned it out - but it is still there. Not a big deal in the end, I guess.

I'm in the same boat as SilverGator (I have a Dell as well). I'm installing Win7 as I write this (doing one computer at a time lol) and the 10gb partition was there as well. I couldn't get rid of it. Everything just greyed out. A minor annoyment but would like to know what's in there (it looks like recovery to me).

The 100mb boot/repair partition contains the boot and the same Repair My Computer console that is available on the Installer and System Repair Disk which you can make when you create a Backup Image.

It makes these Repair tools available via f8, and auto-loads Startup Repair if needed at boot.

 

[Maxkhoon]

Hi, just want to know that is it legal to use the upgrade kit to do the clean installation for Window 7, will my Window 7 consider as not genuine because of this? I have my genuine Vista at my PC, I was wondering if the upgrade kit have the option for me to choose either upgrade or clean install or not? Since the faqs keep mention about install window 7 in the blank HD, I thought that if I have the genuine Vista OS preinstall in my PC, then I don't have to go through many trouble is it? or I have to do the tricks in order to do the clean install since the upgrade kit not allowing peoples to do the clean install.. Thanks for the reply

 

[gregrocker]

Hi, just want to know that is it legal to use the upgrade kit to do the clean installation for Window 7, will my Window 7 consider as not genuine because of this? I have my genuine Vista at my PC, I was wondering if the upgrade kit have the option for me to choose either upgrade or clean install or not? Since the faqs keep mention about install window 7 in the blank HD, I thought that if I have the genuine Vista OS preinstall in my PC, then I don't have to go through many trouble is it? or I have to do the tricks in order to do the clean install since the upgrade kit not allowing peoples to do the clean install.. Thanks for the reply

The EULA only states that you must have a qualifying OS to upgrade which you then can't use afterward, so if you have Vista installed now then you can boot from the installer and do the cleanest of all installs: Custom, using Advanced Tools to Delete old partition(s), create New one(s), and Format.

What happens is the Installer disk scans your HDD when it first boots up to find the Vista OS and passes a flag allowing it to accept Upgrade key and activate down the line.

If you wipe your HDD ahead of time, then the installer may not see Vista and you will need to do a workaround if it rejects your key. But you still have your Vista license to prove you qualify.

When you finish the job, be sure to use Win7 Backup Imaging to store externally a backup image so that you never have to reinstall either again, just reimage the HDD (or a replacement) in 15 minutes flawlessly.

 

[TimothyB]

Sorry to go over this again, but do to so much misinformation out there, even after reading stuff here, my nerves aren't settled.

What I want to do:
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista Using Retail Upgrade Win 7 Disc.

I only find answers for say using the upgrade disc for a clean install on a PC with no OS. Then come the dual boot guides, but they never bother to mention upgrade versions at all, they'll just point you back to a clean install with upgrade disc guides.

So, with a Retail Win 7 Home Premium Upgrade, I want to do a dual boot with Vista Home Premium.

I downsized the Vista partition to create a new simple volume for Win 7.

I insert the Win 7 disc while in Vista, chose to get the latest files followed by custom install, finally choosing the new partition. Clicking next, no problems, it proceeded to install. Though, I paused it by ejecting the disc for now.

I know MS won't do anything to disable the Vista installation, and I know I'll need to update the drive letter to see that partition in Win 7 when done, I just need to finally see a yes for "Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista Using Retail Upgrade Disc".


Thanks, and sorry again to bring up this question that never seems to go away. Probably a recent hard drive failure has put me on edge more than I would when it comes to the fear of losing data, as I've done things like this many times before.