Ugrading components and I'm new to Windows 7

[BranKoe1982]

I have an HP that I bought in 2008 and I have purchased a new motherboard, cpu, and ram to replace the old ones. None of the old ones are broken, I just felt like upgrading and wanted the experience of doing it myself. I currently have Windows Vista Ultimate 32 bit and have purchased the Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade. Should I upgrade first and then replace the computer's components, or replace and then upgrade?

 

[Nitro58]

Assuming you have your current system backed-up, and your media drive is compatible with your new MB. I would install all the new hardware, then do a clean install of win7.

 

[BranKoe1982]

Does it matter that I purchased the Upgrade of Windows 7 Ultimate and not the more-expensive full version of Windows 7 Ultimate? Can I still do a clean install with it?

 

[Nitro58]

I'm sorry, I missed that you had an upgrade version. I don't believe you can do a clean install with the upgrade version. It's my understanding that an upgrade is just that, an upgrade from another win7 version like Home Premium.

 

[whs]

Sure you can do a clean install with an upgrade version. But do the hardware upgrade first. Else you may get an activation problem later. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[NoelDP]

Does it matter that I purchased the Upgrade of Windows 7 Ultimate and not the more-expensive full version of Windows 7 Ultimate? Can I still do a clean install with it?

Technically, according to the licensing terms, you should upgrade the OS first, then the hardware, and then you would probably need to do a repair install of Win7.

That all seems rather a lot of hassle to me

So long as you are happy with the idea of a clean install, then use the method that whs recommends.

 

[BranKoe1982]

Can I do a repair install without calling Microsoft? Or do I upgrade the OS, replace the hardware and then call Microsoft to get a new license?

 

[NoelDP]

At one stage or another you are almost certain to have to call MS to activate, however you do it.

That's not a problem, so long as you have genuine licenses

If you want to keep your current install, you will have to first upgrade to Win7 and activate, then upgrade the hardware, then if necessary do a repair install - which will probably require telephone activation.

 

[karlsnooks]

If you folllow the advice and procedure given to you by whs:
Then you will not need to call anyone.

The procedure will work just fine, if you follow the advice of whs.

Incidentally, that's also the advice I would have given, and yes, I've done it a few times with zero problems.