no RC to Retail?!

[DeaconFrost]

That app just gives information on your existing hardware. That isn't going to help you with your system configuration, or any OS settings you've changed.

 

[wallyinnc]

I'm just being stupid. No, what I meant was I was looking for something that would document all of my configurations for me. Actually, there is a tool that I stumbled upon System Information for Windows. I think it will do what I am looking for.

Perry, I think the suggestion The Schaft had a few posts behind would do it for you, wouldn't it? I have nto used it, maybe he can elaborate

 

[Perrybucsdad]

Wally, thanks for the tip, but when I looked at the software and it said it could even backup the reg, well, I don't think that will work going from 32 to 64. I know how to backup the reg manually. I'll take a look at it though.

 

[Perrybucsdad]

That app just gives information on your existing hardware. That isn't going to help you with your system configuration, or any OS settings you've changed.

I'm not so sure about that Deacon. It looks like it will show me quite a bit about the OS and that is what I'm looking for. Scheduled tasks I have setup, how I have configured my services, autorun, etc. I'm sure it won't give me everything I want, but it seems to be a nice little configuration documentation tool.

 

[TheSchaft]

Wally, thanks for the tip, but when I looked at the software and it said it could even backup the reg, well, I don't think that will work going from 32 to 64. I know how to backup the reg manually. I'll take a look at it though.

What configurations are you looking to save? E-mail can be backed up and the settings there saved, different ways to do it depending on the client. Your favorites can be exported from the browser(s). Wallpaper and scrensavers can be backed up also.

I'll bet if we knew what stuff you wanted to grab, we could come up with a way to do it, maybe have to use a couple of programs, but it should be do-able.

 

[TheSchaft]

I'm not so sure about that Deacon. It looks like it will show me quite a bit about the OS and that is what I'm looking for. Scheduled tasks I have setup, how I have configured my services, autorun, etc. I'm sure it won't give me everything I want, but it seems to be a nice little configuration documentation tool.

Maybe something like an audit program would help - WinAudit v2.27 - Free Computer Audit Software ?

From the site:
"...The programme reports on virtually every aspect of computer inventory and configuration. Results are displayed in web-page format, categorised for ease of viewing and text searching. Whether your interest is in software compliance, hardware inventory, technical support, security or just plain curiosity, WinAudit has it all. The programme has advanced features such as service tag detection, hard-drive failure diagnosis, network port to process mapping, network connection speed, system availability statistics as well as Windows® update and firewall settings.

WinAudit is free, you can use it in your commercial applications and distribute it freely to anyone. The programme requires neither installation nor configuration. Its small size and ability to create formatted emails means you can audit just about any Windows® based personal computer."

 

[andych]

Wally, thanks for the tip, but when I looked at the software and it said it could even backup the reg, well, I don't think that will work going from 32 to 64. I know how to backup the reg manually. I'll take a look at it though.

It is really quite simple....yet you don't seem to want to listen.
As Snuffy said....use Easy Transfer....it will copy all your files and settings...it is configurable and it will work between 32 bit and 64 bit.
You will still need to re-install your programs (make sure you do this before transfering back all you files and settings) and you will need to back-up saved passwords etc for Firefox (use Mozbackup or something similar).
Same goes for E-mail...back up the pst and make sure you have all your e-mail configuration settings.
It really doesn't take long to back up all the items you need...and you should already have the main items backed up anyway.

Simply create a new partition and save all the backup items there and simply transfer it all back once you have done the clean install.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Scheduled tasks I have setup, how I have configured my services, autorun, etc.

Scheduled tasks I could see, but services should be left alone (this type of thinking really needs to be left on the shelves, or in the computing history books), and autorun doesn't really need anything saved. You would simply disable the same apps as before...not really anything that needs to be saved or remembered. Install CCleaner, and use it's built in start up config tool.

 

[gregrocker]

RC is upgradable to RTM using cversion.ini edit. I notice no difference in performance on machines I upgraded this way vs. those I clean installed RTM.

For those who like their RC, I can only say that you have some improvement coming your way in the RTM if you haven't already experienced it!

How would the RTM be upgradable with the pre-order upgrade which will require a Vista or XP license confirmation?

We bought Premium upgrades anyway, which would technically be a downgrade tho it has everything we need/want.

 

[Clintre]

Good post on how easy it is to upgrade from the RC version of Windows 7 to RTM. Did this myself and it works quite well.

Note: If you are using a customized version of a Windows 7 it will probably fail.

Upgrade Windows 7 RC to RTM | FettesPS

 

[myzr7]

RC is upgradable to RTM using cversion.ini edit. I notice no difference in performance on machines I upgraded this way vs. those I clean installed RTM.

For those who like their RC, I can only say that you have some improvement coming your way in the RTM if you haven't already experienced it!

How would the RTM be upgradable with the pre-order upgrade which will require a Vista or XP license confirmation?

We bought Premium upgrades anyway, which would technically be a downgrade tho it has everything we need/want.

I bought a premium upgrade. My wife tells me I have selective hearing. What I heard is MS saying here ya go beta tester upgrade your RC with this. Thats what I plan to do. So we shall see in two weeks.

 

[poin2]

...How would the RTM be upgradable with the pre-order upgrade which will require a Vista or XP license confirmation?
....

The upgrade discs just need to see a "prior genuine version" of Windows. MS indicated the (activated) RC would actually be recognized as one. It doesn't sound like they actually look for "a Vista or XP license."

I'd assume there's a simple check for a minimum build (XP) and genuine status, and that's it. They'll only in-place upgrade coming from Vista though. Anything else and they force a fresh install -- that would mean the RC essentially gets handed like XP. The upgrade discs work, but make you fresh install. (But the upgrade discs won't work in the future if/when it's no longer possible to activate the RC.)

 

[Perrybucsdad]

It is really quite simple....yet you don't seem to want to listen.
As Snuffy said....use Easy Transfer....it will copy all your files and settings...it is configurable and it will work between 32 bit and 64 bit.
You will still need to re-install your programs (make sure you do this before transfering back all you files and settings) and you will need to back-up saved passwords etc for Firefox (use Mozbackup or something similar).
Same goes for E-mail...back up the pst and make sure you have all your e-mail configuration settings.
It really doesn't take long to back up all the items you need...and you should already have the main items backed up anyway.

Simply create a new partition and save all the backup items there and simply transfer it all back once you have done the clean install.

Andy, it's not that I did not want to listen, nobody could answer 100% for certain if easy transfer would work from 32 to 64. I know for a fact it does not work the other way around.

Last night I used it and it did transfer everything I needed (well, almost everything).

Thanks everyone for your comments and help.

 

[myzr7]

...How would the RTM be upgradable with the pre-order upgrade which will require a Vista or XP license confirmation?
....

The upgrade discs just need to see a "prior genuine version" of Windows. MS indicated the (activated) RC would actually be recognized as one. It doesn't sound like they actually look for "a Vista or XP license."

I'd assume there's a simple check for a minimum build (XP) and genuine status, and that's it. They'll only in-place upgrade coming from Vista though. Anything else and they force a fresh install -- that would mean the RC essentially gets handed like XP. The upgrade discs work, but make you fresh install. (But the upgrade discs won't work in the future if/when it's no longer possible to activate the RC.)

Well thanks for the explanation. I hear ya! Not exactly what I thought but good enough so that I can keep my vista active. Thanks for the info poin2

 

[xenos55298]

Below are direct quotes from Microsoft's Windows 7 site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/faq.aspx

Can I upgrade from the RC to the final version of Windows 7?

When you install the final version of Windows 7, you'll need to do a clean installation. So plan on backing up your data then reinstalling your applications and restoring your data.



Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) Download Is No Longer Available

Remember expiration dates: Please plan ahead for when the RC expires. You'll get two weeks' notice, and then beginning on March 1, 2010, your PC will start shutting down every two hours. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. To avoid interruption, you'll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS with a valid version of Windows, and reinstall all your programs and data before the software expires.

 

[sup3rsprt]

Below are direct quotes from Microsoft's Windows 7 site:

They still don't answer the many questions dealing with upgrade. They don't say whether or not you'll have to reinstall XP or Vista in order to use the upgrade media. My original guess was that the RC would not qualify and you'd need to install and activate XP or Vista in order to upgrade using the Windows 7 upgrade media. But some comments made in this thread start to change my mind. Microsoft could actually profit by allowing the RC to qualify. Because when the RC expires and can no longer be activated, the people who bought the upgrade will no longer have a basis for the upgrade. If someone who didn't own a previous version such as XP or Vista ever needed to clean install they'd need to buy the full OS too (even though they already bought the upgrade). Clever move by Micro$oft.

 

[myzr7]

Welcome to SevenForums xenos55298
Thanks for the info and links very good. I will take head and prepare my Oct.23 strategies appropriately. Hope that you enjoy your time here at SF. l473r d00d

 

[Perrybucsdad]

Never having bought an "upgrade" in the past, how did they work? Was it you had to have a prior version of Win so that if you did an echo of the %OS% it needed to see a prior version?

 

[sup3rsprt]

Afaik it used to be that you could just enter the previous media and upgrade would be allowed. But I think this has to change because of piracy issues. Anyone with a decent internet connection can download a copy of Windows illegally these days.

Ideally it would be possible to enter say your XP or Vista disc and a valid product key then be allowed to upgrade without ever having to install the prior operating system.

 

[Perrybucsdad]

Maybe you would have to have the "Genuine Microsoft" validation of that software. I know, I'm sure there are ways around that, but just thinking out loud.