Upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 Professional?

[vampiravet]

I saw a tutorial on upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 Professional, and it was on this site, but I can't find it. Several years ago, I bought two keys for 7 professional, and I did upgrade from Vista to 7 professional on a toshiba laptop, but when I tried to upgrade my HP compaq, I couldn't... and I learned that it was because it was xp. I was told that I could upgrade from vista but not xp. Since that time, the OS on my compaq has been changed from xp to vista, and I still have one unused product key for 7 professional. Since I had done this back in 2009, I figured that now I could do it on my compaq. I had signed up for Staples' maintenance contract, and so I took it to them to upgrade it, and they said that it couldn't be done. They said I would have to buy a windows 7 and do that first, then upgrade to professional. Well, I know that I did not do that last time. So I'm trying to find out more from the person that wrote that tutorial on doing it... I had found it by googling it, and the tutorial was from this forum, but I'm not very familiar with finding my way around forums. If it is true that I cannot do a straight upgrade at all, then I'd like to know if anyone would be interested in buying a windows 7 professional key. I paid about $100 for it.

 

[Brink]

Hello vampirevet, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could do a direct clean install with your upgrade copy of Windows 7.

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

 

[vampiravet]

More details?

I guess what I need to know is do I have to purchase a windows 7 regular disc in addition to the Windows 7 professional key that I already own, in order to do this?. When I bought this software several years ago, I was told that I could upgrade directly from Vista, and I did do that on one of my laptops, but found that I couldn't do it from XP (on my other laptop). The OS on my other laptop has since been upgraded to Vista, so I was hoping to use my other key for 7 professional. But now it appears that I have to get a copy of regular 7 as well as the 7 professional key, is that correct?. And if so, is there any way to get one without spending a bunch more money?. I'm sure that when I did this on my other laptop, I did not buy anything other than this 7 professional that I have.

 

[Brink]

No. You do not need to purchase anything else.

You should be able to use your current upgrade copy of Windows 7, and do a direct clean install with it using the steps in the tutorial posted above.

 

[gregrocker]

The latest official installation media as well as tool to burn it to DVD or flash stick is provided in Steps 1 and 2 of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164.

Those steps will also assure you don't leave anything behind and get the best possible install of Win7, then keep it that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods recommended based on tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here.

Be sure to pay close attention to how drivers are handled in the first driver-complete OS. Those steps are printed in red so you won't miss them.

I would use Win7 Professional x64 English Official ISO Download
if you have 4gb or more RAM, and if not for best performance I'd use x86 (32 bit) if you have less RAM than that and don't want to Upgrade it.