Solved upgrade from Vista Home Prem Svc Pk 2 to Windows 7 Professional?

[Fmik]

I bought Windows 7 Professional and now I am ready to upgrade from my present Windows Vista Service Pack 2 on a Sony Computer with Core Duo processor. I downloaded and ran the Win 7 Advisor, it says I can upgrade no problem to Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate. But what about Windows 7 Professional?
Are there any caveats before I install Windows 7 Professional as an upgrade? Do I need to do a clean install instead because it is Win 7 Pro? Thanks.

 

[nilank]

Make sure you have your Windows 7 on a DVD/flash drive incase anything goes wrong. Just run the Windows 7 setup from within Vista and choose upgrade option during setup. See how it goes. Even if something goes wrong, all you'll have to do is to clean install. Make sure you have proper data backups.

What's your Vista version btw?

Also confirm what license you have actually bought -- is it just an upgrade key?

   Tip

Clean install is always a better option than upgrade

 

[derekimo]

The title of the thread says you have Home Premium, These are the upgrade paths.



You can do a clean install with an upgrade version,

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

 

[AddRAM]

Backup all your data and do a clean install.

 

[gregrocker]

As already indicated you'll have to do the Clean Install Windows 7.

Gather your program installers and back up your files. If you have any questions about what needs backing up ask back or look over the steps in the Reinstall tutorial in my signature picture below.

When you boot the Win7 Upgrade disk to clean install Pro it will scan the HD to see the Vista OS and allow use of Upgrade version key during install - even if you use the drive options shown in Steps 6-7 of Clean Install Windows 7 to go on to delete all partitions and create new as is best.

 

[Fmik]

I read your information in the Clean Install OEM and I thank you. It sounds like I can just follow all the instructions therein. I don't know what to expect once I begin.
I am nervous about the process because from what I read concerning possibly not having drivers to operate my Sony Vaio computer once the HD is wiped.(not being able to use the keyboard, mouse, DVD drive, wired Lan, etc.) Or having my favorites once I install the new OS. I read some older posts they speak of using Easy Transfer before install to transfer all my settings to a disk. or using Anytime Transfer which sounds like it is better since Microsoft designed it to encourage people to upgrade from Vista to Win 7. Do I use Anytime Upgrade before starting the install?
Do I wipe the HD myself before inserting the Win 7 Pro disk to begin the install or will it prompt me then perform the HD wipe and repartition as you mentioned in your post? (my Windows 7 Professional is still unopened in the box.)

 

[gregrocker]

Pretty much everything that needs to be considered is in the Reinstall OEM link below. I would not use Easy Transfer since it can fail and also imports settings which are a corruption path - better to start with fresh settings. If you have any specific questions about certain programs or aspects of backup feel free to ask back.

If you'll post back a screenshot of the Sony's Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Forums, we can advise you better which partitions should go. I would make my Vista Recovery disks if you haven't already so you have a path back to the licensed OS in case you'd ever want to sell the machine with it. Then you can delete all partitions during install to regain all of the disk space and have the cleanest slate for install.

What's important is to have your wireless LAN driver in your backup so that if Win7 installer doesn't provide it you can install it to get online quickly to install all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

Any drivers missing after all Updates are done can be imported from the Sony Support Downloads webpage for your model. Ask back if you need specific help.

The tools and methods which assure you'll get and keep a perfect install are all in the tutorial, so study it closely and ask back until you feel you've got all questions answered.

 

[AddRAM]

If you`re nervous, get a flash drive and store your favorites on it, and get the network driver from Sony`s website before you start the install.

 

[Fmik]

I have attached a screen shot of Disk Management.
Also how exactly do I save my Favorites ahead of time onto a flash drive.(just in case Win 7 Pro does not install them correctly.)
I downloaded my LAN driver from Sony and saved it onto my flash drive backup. what can I expect... Will Windows 7 Installer ask me to insert my flash drive in order to load the Lan driver? If not then do you have instructions for me as to how I can do it manually once the Setup is complete for Windows 7?
Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Read over Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 now as all of these questions are answered there.

Your Internet Explorer Favorites are stored in the User Favorites file so back it up along with your other User folders. Other needed backups are outlined in the tutorial.

During booted install use the Drive Options in Steps 6 and 7 of Clean Install Windows 7
to delete all partitions, then create New as you wish, format and install Win7 to first big partition. Ignore the small 100mb boot partition it creates at the front of the drive.

If the install completes and you are not yet connected to the internet, install your network adapter and connect to your network in the bottom right System tray.

 

[Fmik]

Thank you for all the information that you have supplied.
Just so I am clear about everything I would like to ask: (I am wanting to perform a clean install of Windows 7 and get rid of my old Vista operating system which is on my computer now)
1. Since I am getting rid of Vista and I have the new Windows 7 disks, I do not need to save Vista anywhere do I?
2. After I backup everything that I need from my computer before beginning the installation of Windows 7, do I need to wipe the HD on my computer first before I insert the Windows 7 disk to begin installing Windows 7?
3. Or will the Windows 7 disk automatically wipe my computer's HD as part of the installation process?
4. It sounds like the ideal thing is for Windows 7 to create a single unallocated partition in which case I can click Next and move on to Step 9.
If this does not happen then it will likely create the following instead:
"Disk 0 Partition 1, Recovery 9.9 GB"
"Disk 0 Partition 2, (C 139.1 GB"
in which case I can click OK to confirm the selection.
Do I have this right?

 

[gregrocker]

As it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you can make your Vista Recovery disks in case you'd ever want to return it to factory condition, or not. Then I'd get rid of the Vista Recovery partition since it's wasted space.

I specifically explained how to handle the partitions during install in my last post:

During booted install use the Drive Options in Steps 6 and 7 of Clean Install Windows 7
to delete all partitions, then create New as you wish, format and install Win7 to first big partition. Ignore the small 100mb boot partition it creates at the front of the drive.

 

[Fmik]

I successfully installed the Windows 7 software using the clean install process and it went pretty smoothly. I backed up everything. The system installed enough drivers and figured out the Lan settings so I was able to get on the internet right away for updates and downloads. There were not any real problems.
I followed the Clean install Windows 7 and Clean Reinstall Factory OEM directions.
Thanks Greg and Shawn for your help.
Mike

 

[gregrocker]

Good to hear, Mike.

Keep us posted on how it goes, stick with the tools and methods in the tutorials to keep a perfect install.