'Upgrade or Full' What is the difference..

Full versions can do a clean install on a machine with no OS, upgrade requires a copy of xp or vista on that machine already (as far as the licence goes, anyway) - and it checks, so you need windows installed already to do a clean upgrade. Installing the upgrade copy twice allows you to get past that requirement.

OEM prices will come out presumably closer to launch date.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 7100 x64
Arkhan is correct, however it is possible to do a clean install with an upgrade disk. It is fairly simple.

Otherwise, they are exactly the same. It will be the same OS, the same features, etc.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hera
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
CPU
Intel i5-2500k
Motherboard
ASUS P8P67 Pro
Memory
2x 4Gb Corsair VENGEANCE DDR3-1600
Graphics Card(s)
NVidia GeForce N260GTX Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Realtek HD OnBoard Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 24" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
G.SKILL Phoenix Series 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA II
PSU
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
Case
Cooler Master Haf 932
Cooling
Fans
Keyboard
Razer Tarantula
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
not fast enough
Full versions can do a clean install on a machine with no OS, upgrade requires a copy of xp or vista on that machine already (as far as the licence goes, anyway) - and it checks, so you need windows installed already to do a clean upgrade. Installing the upgrade copy twice allows you to get past that requirement.

OEM prices will come out presumably closer to launch date.
If it need windows already installed, do i need to reinstall the vista, and then upgrade to 7... now i only have 7 on my machine... and i already throw away the vista CD... only the sticker at the bottom of my laptop still stick strong.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
sotec S501B6
OS
se7en x64 7600
CPU
4x AMD Phenom(tm) 9150e Quad-Core Processor (1.8Ghz)
Memory
2GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 3400 series
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer P244W
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
320GB
Internet Speed
1Gbps FTTH Hikari Fiber from so-net
Other Info
HD computing with AMD
I think the Full and upgrade are quite same...

We know that Windows Seven don't will accept direct upgrade from Windos XP, so it will be possible to do a clean install with upgrade versions...
 

My Computer

OS
Windows7 Enterprise SP1 x64 (Technet)
Hi, guys. I read through this other thread & this one; still have a question.

When I bought the upgrade version of Win7 last night, I completely forgot about that 'ol rule of thumb that says it's best to avoid 'upgrade' installs and stick with full installs. That is an old belief -- just wanted to see if it's still true today. (If so, I may cancel my order and wait for the full OS offer.)

Also, I purchased the 'download' option at the Microsoft Store. Do you think that'll be delivered as an .iso file that we can mount or burn to DVD?

Thank you!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q894
OS
Win 8.1 Pro
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M
Monitor(s) Displays
2
Screen Resolution
1680x945 & 1920x1080
Internet Speed
Cable
Other Info
Excellent desktop replacement for work & gaming.
upgrade or clean

Hi, guys. I read through this other thread & this one; still have a question.

When I bought the upgrade version of Win7 last night, I completely forgot about that 'ol rule of thumb that says it's best to avoid 'upgrade' installs and stick with full installs. That is an old belief -- just wanted to see if it's still true today. (If so, I may cancel my order and wait for the full OS offer.)

Also, I purchased the 'download' option at the Microsoft Store. Do you think that'll be delivered as an .iso file that we can mount or burn to DVD?

Thank you!

The old rule of thumb still holds. Dont know what format the download will be although vhd is faster to stream down. Im thinking ISO. You can do a clean install from an upgrade media see below

Ken
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavillion dv-7 1005 Tx
OS
Win 8 Release candidate 8400
CPU
[email protected]
Memory
4 gigs
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 9600M
Sound Card
HD built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
17" Wxga
Screen Resolution
1440x900
Cooling
none
Internet Speed
45Mb down 5Mb up
For those of you that bought Upgrade but want a full install:

HOW TO DO A FULL INSTALL WITH AN UPGRADE DISK:
1) Put in the Upgrade disk and boot into it.
2) Install the OS, but DO NOT enter your product code!!! Select skip instead.
3) After install in complete, run Setup from INSIDE the new install and this time enter your Product Key.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hera
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
CPU
Intel i5-2500k
Motherboard
ASUS P8P67 Pro
Memory
2x 4Gb Corsair VENGEANCE DDR3-1600
Graphics Card(s)
NVidia GeForce N260GTX Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Realtek HD OnBoard Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 24" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
G.SKILL Phoenix Series 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA II
PSU
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
Case
Cooler Master Haf 932
Cooling
Fans
Keyboard
Razer Tarantula
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
not fast enough
.
3) After install in complete, run Setup from INSIDE the new install and this time enter your Product Key.

~Lordbob

Thanks ZigZag 'n Bob. I've noted your tip for when the time to 'upgrade' comes.

Just to make sure I'm clear on this...
For Step 3: Are you saying we should (1) finish the installation, (2) re-run the installation DVD & (3) let the DVD re-install again?

Or, is there a different process to follow in order to "run Setup?"

Thank you!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q894
OS
Win 8.1 Pro
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M
Monitor(s) Displays
2
Screen Resolution
1680x945 & 1920x1080
Internet Speed
Cable
Other Info
Excellent desktop replacement for work & gaming.
Uhmm

Upgrade costs less I guess...
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Dimension 9200
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate
Memory
512mb ram runs GREAT
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300le
Thanks ZigZag 'n Bob. I've noted your tip for when the time to 'upgrade' comes.

Just to make sure I'm clear on this...
For Step 3: Are you saying we should (1) finish the installation, (2) re-run the installation DVD & (3) let the DVD re-install again?

Or, is there a different process to follow in order to "run Setup?"

Thank you!
Here is a "fuller" description:
Step 1: Install Windows Vista

Boot your PC with the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD. After the preliminary loading screen, click the Install Now button to trigger Vista Setup. In the next screen, you normally enter your product key. Leave the Product Key field blank, deselect the option titled "Automatically activate Windows when I'm online," and then click Next. Vista Setup will ask you whether you would like to enter your Product Key before continuing. Click No.
In the next Setup screen, you'll be presented with a list of the Windows Vista product editions you can install. This list may vary from locale to locale, but in the US, you'll see Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, and some N editions. Choose the product edition you actually own. You'll be asked to verify that you've chosen the correct version. Do so to continue past the End User License Agreement (EULA) screen.
In the next screen, you select the type of install. Choose Custom (Advanced) instead of Upgrade. Next, you choose the partition to which to install Windows Vista. If you need to format the disk, select the Drive options (advanced) option to do so and then continue.
Now, Setup copies the Vista install image to your PC, expands it, and installs Windows. This phase of Setup should take about 15 to 20 minutes and trigger at least one reboot. When Vista is installed, you'll step through the penultimate phase of Setup in which you enter, in succession, your user name and password, computerhttp://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp# name, and the date, time, and time zone. Then Setup runs its final task, a performance test that could take about 5 minutes. If everything goes well, and you're running fairly modern hardware, you should hit the Welcome screen and, after logging on, the new Vista desktop less than 30 minutes after you began this process.
Step 2: Upgrade

What you've installed is decidedly temporary. You've got 30 days during which you can run this non-activated version of Windows Vista. If you try to activate Windows now, it will fail, because you've performed a clean install of Vista and you only have an Upgrade product key.
What to do, what to do? Well, you just installed Windows Vista, so why not just upgrade from this install? That's right: You're going to upgrade the non-activated clean install you just performed, which will provide you with a version of the OS that you can, in fact, activate.
To do this, just open Computer and double click on the icon for the DVD drive that contains the Vista Upgrade media. Run Setup again, this time from within Vista. Choose Install Now, and then "Do not get the latest updates for installationhttp://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp#" in the next screen. Then, in the now-familiar Product Key phase, enter your product key. It's on the back of the pull-out Vista packaging. You can choose to automatically activate Windows when online or not, it's your choice. In the next screen, accept the Windows EULA.
Now, choose the Upgrade option. Windows will install as before, though you might notice that it takes quite a bit longer this time. (Upgrade installs seem to take up to 45 minutes, compared to 30 minutes or less with clean installs, and reboots at least one additional time.)
Because you've just completed an upgrade install, you won't be prompted to enter your user name and so forth (only the time zone screen is presented). Instead, you'll just boot directly to the Welcome screen when the performance check is complete. Using the user name and password you created during the first install, logon to Windows.
Once again, you have 30 days in which to activate Vista. However, this time activation will work: To activate Vista immediately (unless you told it to do so during Setup), open the Start Menu, right-click Computer, and choose Properties. Then, at the bottom of the System window that appears, click the link titled Activate Windows now.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hera
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
CPU
Intel i5-2500k
Motherboard
ASUS P8P67 Pro
Memory
2x 4Gb Corsair VENGEANCE DDR3-1600
Graphics Card(s)
NVidia GeForce N260GTX Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Realtek HD OnBoard Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 24" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
G.SKILL Phoenix Series 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA II
PSU
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
Case
Cooler Master Haf 932
Cooling
Fans
Keyboard
Razer Tarantula
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
not fast enough
Wow. Thanks, Bob.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q894
OS
Win 8.1 Pro
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M
Monitor(s) Displays
2
Screen Resolution
1680x945 & 1920x1080
Internet Speed
Cable
Other Info
Excellent desktop replacement for work & gaming.
As an FYI to anyone who might purchase the upgrade ONLINE via the Microsoft Store, orders are being lost. I just posted this elsewhere.

Well, it seems that ordering the Win7 Home Premium upgrade has already turned out to be a mistake. I called Microsoft Store up to switch my order from the "download" option to a UPS shipment. The Microsoft Store searched every which way for my order -- by order number, by email address, etc. -- and never found the order.

The order number doesn't exist. My name is no where in the system. She checked with her supervisors -- they know it's a recurring problem this morning. So, DON'T BOTHER ORDERING ONLINE! Call Microsoft Store.



I went against my better judgement and placed a new order. Just wait...I'll be charged twice come October. (sigh)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q894
OS
Win 8.1 Pro
CPU
Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460M
Monitor(s) Displays
2
Screen Resolution
1680x945 & 1920x1080
Internet Speed
Cable
Other Info
Excellent desktop replacement for work & gaming.
For those of you that bought Upgrade but want a full install:

HOW TO DO A FULL INSTALL WITH AN UPGRADE DISK:
1) Put in the Upgrade disk and boot into it.
2) Install the OS, but DO NOT enter your product code!!! Select skip instead.
3) After install in complete, run Setup from INSIDE the new install and this time enter your Product Key.

~Lordbob

Hi Bob,
Thanks so much for the info. But one quick question.. This trick was found on Vista's upgrades, right? Who's to say that the upgrades shipping in October will actually still allow this? Does anyone have like a pre-shipping copy of the upgrade who would be able to confirm that it stills works?

Thanks in advance!
 

My Computer

OS
7

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
So the worst case:
I buy the upgrade and it doesn't allow for you to install the upgrade on top of itself, then i'll have to buy an xp cd key right?

If i'm preordering Win7Professional upgrade, can i just buy any XP OEM key? (home edition or anything <$100)? I recently built a new system so the only thing I've ever had on it is 7's Beta & RC1.
 

My Computer

OS
7
For those of you that bought Upgrade but want a full install:

HOW TO DO A FULL INSTALL WITH AN UPGRADE DISK:
1) Put in the Upgrade disk and boot into it.
2) Install the OS, but DO NOT enter your product code!!! Select skip instead.
3) After install in complete, run Setup from INSIDE the new install and this time enter your Product Key.

~Lordbob

From what I understand, they have or are planning to squash this bug... whether it actually happens or not, I do not know. Either way I plan to use vLite to get around some of those "bugs" if I find they do not work.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom built desktops and a Compaq CQ60-211DX laptop
OS
Win7, XP, Vista x64, Ubuntu 9.04
CPU
Desktops: E6600, E2140, XP3000+; Laptop: Celeron 585
Motherboard
Desktops: GA-EP35-DS3P, GA-P965-DS3, A7N8X
Memory
Desktops: 4GB, 3GB, 1GB; Laptop: 2GB
Graphics Card(s)
Desktops: 320MB 8800GTS, 128MB 7300GTS, 128MB 9600XT
Sound Card
Creative or onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
19" widescreen, 17" CRT, 19" CRT, and 15.6" LCD on laptop.
Screen Resolution
1440x900, 1280x1024.... 1366x768
Hard Drives
Desktop 1: 320GB Seagate main, 500GB WD backup, 120GB WD testing
Desktop 2: 80GB server
Desktop 3: 160GB main, 250GB backup
Laptop: 160GB
PSU
varies, 350W to 550W
Internet Speed
8Mb+ cable
So the worst case:
I buy the upgrade and it doesn't allow for you to install the upgrade on top of itself, then i'll have to buy an xp cd key right?

As was stated, there is no upgrade path from Windows XP besides a clean install. Therefore there must be a way to do clean install with the Windows 7 upgrade media.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Too many to list.
OS
XP, Seven, 2008R2
CPU
AMD, Intel, VIA
Motherboard
Various
Memory
Corsair, Kingston, etc.
Graphics Card(s)
ATI, NVIDIA
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung
Hard Drives
Maxtor, Western Digital
Keyboard
qwerty
Internet Speed
22 Mb/s @ home, 1 Gb/s @ server
Other Info
All of my systems still run fastest on XP 32-bit for the most part. Win7 is fun to play with, but I still prefer XP for raw speed, security, and functionality.
As was stated, there is no upgrade path from Windows XP besides a clean install. Therefore there must be a way to do clean install with the Windows 7 upgrade media.
I guess my question boils down to:
Could I theoretically buy a XP home edition OEM Key and upgrade it to 7 Professional? I heard of upgrades being restrictive to editions (pro->pro etc.)
 

My Computer

OS
7
Clean install with UPGRADE only DISK

between the versions? And where are the OEM prices?

Actually the "UPGRADE" disk set gave instruction on how to CLEAN Install with a UPGRADE DISK.
1. when ask during option check CLEAN Install.
2. when ask "DO NOT ENTER A KEY" READ THE POPUP. something are you sure you want to do this. if you have problems etc etc...
3. continue to install.
4. You will finish with a UNactivated Edition - FULL Complete but only good for 30 days.
5. some time during the 30 days, insert the DVD while loged in. when ask click upgrade, when ask insert the KEY, when ask say activate when online.
6. Let the install finish and do final REBOOT.
Now time to PLAY with Microsft Legit Script
7. click START --> type CMD - right click and run as admin
8. wait for the popup
9. type slmgr.vbs -dlv wait for the popup
popup should say something like 30 day period is almost used or grace time.
10. type slmgr.vbs -ato wait for the popup
WOW it will say activation complete if you did it correctly.
11. repeat step 9. WOW it then says good for ever.
type exit click enter
voila your done. FULL Vista or Win7 Activated and working OK.
PS: you can also upgrade anytime to repair if corrupted.

This is not a HACK it is verified 100% legal. Instructions on how to are included with the upgrade disk manual.
 
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