Solved Help....I think? Upgrade vs. "Full"

[MisterActorMan]

Here's the skinny:

I have a Netbook running Win7 RC, which I'd like to upgrade to Win7 32bit by March 1.

I have a Desktop using Win7 32bit; I'm going to buy Win7 64bit, install the 64bit on my desktop (it can run it), and install the other Win7 32bit on my Netbook.

I bought the Win7 32bit that's currently on my desktop from digital river's Ultimate Steal program. Yay student discounts. I was running Win XP (from god knows how long ago) and it was fully patched, SP3, etc. I installed Win7 on it from what I downloaded.

MY QUESTION

On my receipt, it says that I bought "Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade 32bit."

During install, I don't recall seeing anything about "upgrading" or otherwise...nor was there any mention of "full" versions during install or on the digital river website.

CAN I BUY the WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE 64bit and install it onto my Desktop, which currently has win7 32bit? Or does this not work since it's "only" an "upgrade?"

Similarly, will I be unable to install the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade 32bit on my netbook that's currently got the RC version?

Help...?

 

[Desslok]

I think you actually want to look at the "anytime upgrade" versions which are much cheaper to change versions within 7 itself.

 

[XGUNTHERC]

Yes, the anytime upgrade will let you pay VERY low amount to change to 64 bit.. look into that. Search it here, there was links and everything.

 

[MisterActorMan]

Thanks, will do.

What about the RC to Win7 Pro? Think the 32bit installer I have will upgrade the RC?

 

[MisterActorMan]

No go.

"Can I upgrade both 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 with Windows Anytime Upgrade?
Yes, you can use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a 32-bit version to a 32-bit version or from a 64-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. However, Windows Anytime Upgrade can't upgrade a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or a 64-bit version to a 32-bit version of Windows 7."

source: Windows Anytime Upgrade: frequently asked questions

I think my option is to reinstall my old XP onto my Netbook...then use the Win7 32bit upgrade on the netbook. Thus giving my Netbook Win 7 Pro 32 bit. This is because I cannot use a Win 7 "upgrade" on Win 7 RC...

The issue, then, is how to get my Desktop from that win7 pro 32bit to a win7 pro 64bit. Advice? Same question as originally: can I use Win 7 Pro 64bit Upgrade? Or do I have to find Win 7 Pro 64bit "full" ?

Thanks

 

[MisterActorMan]

This is my current plan

Buy the 64bit upgrade like I had planned.

TRY and install just from the 64bit ISO that the download gets me. IF that doesn't work (since it's "upgrade" not "full"), reinstall XP onto my desktop and then do the upgrade from there.

Once my desktop is setup with 64, then do the same process on my netbook.

I have to upgrade the desktop first, since once I install the 32bit (that's currently on my desktop) to my netbook, it will void the desktop's use of that OS.

Thanks for any more advice

 

[bobkn]

Clean install of Win7 from upgrade media:

Clean install with Windows 7 upgrade media? Get the facts! | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

(no hacking required)

 

[gregrocker]

Burn the 64 bit ISO to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed with Verify - it never fails.

Boot the DVD, select Custom install, it will scan the HD to see another OS (RC) to allow Upgrade version key. You can even format over the RC since the flag will have already been passed to allow Upgrade key.

You DO NOT have to have XP installed in order to use it as qualifying OS to clean install an Upgrade version. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[karlsnooks]

Still another reference on the "clean" install procedure using upgrade. This one is my favorite explanation:

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

 

[zigzag3143]

Here's the skinny:

I have a Netbook running Win7 RC, which I'd like to upgrade to Win7 32bit by March 1.

I have a Desktop using Win7 32bit; I'm going to buy Win7 64bit, install the 64bit on my desktop (it can run it), and install the other Win7 32bit on my Netbook.

I bought the Win7 32bit that's currently on my desktop from digital river's Ultimate Steal program. Yay student discounts. I was running Win XP (from god knows how long ago) and it was fully patched, SP3, etc. I installed Win7 on it from what I downloaded.

MY QUESTION

On my receipt, it says that I bought "Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade 32bit."

During install, I don't recall seeing anything about "upgrading" or otherwise...nor was there any mention of "full" versions during install or on the digital river website.

CAN I BUY the WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE 64bit and install it onto my Desktop, which currently has win7 32bit? Or does this not work since it's "only" an "upgrade?"

Similarly, will I be unable to install the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade 32bit on my netbook that's currently got the RC version?

Help...?

You cant upgrade 32 bit to 64. You must do a clean install

 

[MisterActorMan]

Zigzag: thanks--straight and to the point.

Gregrocker: I think you meant to say 32bit, but yes, that's my plan (only with a flash drive since my netbook has no cd/dvd drive).

However, I do not believe that windows RC qualifies as a valid previously existing version of Windows. They specifically say "XP or Vista," which seems a bit ridiculous but really is logical, since the RC was free. It would be like giving anyone who had RC a giant discount (which could make sense, with the beta work RC users did, I suppose).

Upgrade media does not allow 32 to 64 bit installs. Nor is there upgrade media on Win 7 RC.

My plan is the same as above. (Backup my data first), TRY the Win 7 Pro 64 "upgrade" on my desktop with Win 7 Pro 32. If that's no-go, I'll put XP back on my desktop, then install Win 7 Pro 64. Then I'll do the same process (just with the 32bit version) on my netbook, after transferring my backed-up files over to my desktop.

End result: a lovely 64bit Win 7 Pro desktop and a lovely 32bit Win 7 Pro laptop. Weee

Thanks for all contributions/suggestions/links

 

[FZ21Z]

TRY the Win 7 Pro 64 "upgrade" on my desktop with Win 7 Pro 32. If that's no-go

I think you've already been told it wont, but feel free to try anyway.

I'll put XP back on my desktop, then install Win 7 Pro 64.

More wasted time if you're not going to be using XP, just clean install from the start as you've been advised already.

 

[myzr7]

I see no problems with your plan, Good luck to you and your two new clean installs of Win 7

 

[MisterActorMan]

Success. Took ages longer than I thought, since I downloaded about 8 gigs of Win7 Pro installers jsut to be sure, then I backed up about 150 gigs of data from my desktop to the laptop, installed onto desktop, then backed up laptop to the desktop, installed onto laptop, then setup laptop with files, and am going through the sync process STILL.

SO

To install a new version of Win7, you do not have to only have a valid XP or Vista OS. Having any level Win 7 OS will allow a complete install using an "upgrade." No need to bust out the old XP installers.