Upgrading from RC to retail (upgrade version)

[LiTos456]

Hey guys. I know this has probably been asked a million times before, I'm sorry though I don't have time to look and I want an up-to-date answer.

Anyway, I am currently using Windows 7 RC. A while back, I purchased Windows 7 Professional from the Digital River student offer (for $30, good thing I'm a student).

Then I found out it's an upgrade version, but it doesn't matter since there are workarounds to do a fresh install with it anyway.

However, I wanted to see if there are any options of upgrading from RC to the retail/upgrade version that I bought. The thing is, I HATE the hassle of resetting everything and reinstalling all the programs manually. I also have a ton of games installer besides just that, it'll take bloody forever to get everything done.

I was wondering if there was any way to preserve on that. I've been doing this stuff for a while and I know it's normally not possible but I stopped following the hardware industry a while ago so who knows what's possible now. I just wanted to ask about all the possible installation options and I know for example if you edit a file on the W7 disk you can enable the upgrade option, but it will store all your files in a folder called windows.old and not save all your program installations or something...

Can somebody just clear this up for me? I'll really appreciate it, thanks.

-Ed

 

[gregrocker]

Many have reported good results doing an in-place Upgrade from the RC using this popular workaround: Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech

 

[Orpheous]

Although you are upgrading to RTM, you are downgrading from Ultimate RC to Pro RTM. This : UNAWAVE - Downgrade Ultimate to Home Premium or Professional will help you to do the RC downgrade first, then to upgrade RC to RTM, follow this guide: How to Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to RTM (Final Release) - the How-To Geek

edit... use gregrockers link first, it's easier to follow 1 guide rather than 2!

 

[LiTos456]

Thanks guys! Those tutorials are going to be extremely useful.

However, there is one more issue:
When I go to the files I've downloaded from Digital River, I only have 3 files:

setup1.box
setup2.box
Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe.

So... there isn't exactly a way I can change the version file so I can change the build number. As of now.
Can anyone tell me what's up with that? Perhaps some way to extract them or...?

 

[gregrocker]

Use this first to create a bootable ISO to burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x with Verify. You'll need it for reinstalls and repair, too.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

After Step Two, edit the version number as given in the workaround, then continue with the Steps to create an ISO to burn.

Here is an alternate method to recompiling an ISO after editing files: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

 

[Ztruker]

I followed the directions Gregrocker posted a link to at icrontic.com a few days ago to do a upgrade of RC1 to Home Premium and it worked perfectly (actually an upgrade and a downgrade combined). When everything was done, my RC1 setup was exactly as before, with all shares intact, all tweaks and customization intact. The only thing I had to do for some weird reason was uninstall and reinstall my HP DeskJet 932c printer.

It was the easiest, least stressful Windows install I've ever done and so far I've had absolutely no problems.

 

[LiTos456]

Use this first to create a bootable ISO to burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x with Verify. You'll need it for reinstalls and repair, too.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

After Step Two, edit the version number as given in the workaround, then continue with the Steps to create an ISO to burn.

Here is an alternate method to recompiling an ISO after editing files: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

Wait, don't I just need to do the unpack, edit the version number (and the registry editing) and simply start installing from my computer? As far as I know in the previous tutorials I don't actually need to boot from the CD, but just launch the setup file from the computer.

 

[zigzag3143]

Hey guys. I know this has probably been asked a million times before, I'm sorry though I don't have time to look and I want an up-to-date answer.

Anyway, I am currently using Windows 7 RC. A while back, I purchased Windows 7 Professional from the Digital River student offer (for $30, good thing I'm a student).

Then I found out it's an upgrade version, but it doesn't matter since there are workarounds to do a fresh install with it anyway.

However, I wanted to see if there are any options of upgrading from RC to the retail/upgrade version that I bought. The thing is, I HATE the hassle of resetting everything and reinstalling all the programs manually. I also have a ton of games installer besides just that, it'll take bloody forever to get everything done.

I was wondering if there was any way to preserve on that. I've been doing this stuff for a while and I know it's normally not possible but I stopped following the hardware industry a while ago so who knows what's possible now. I just wanted to ask about all the possible installation options and I know for example if you edit a file on the W7 disk you can enable the upgrade option, but it will store all your files in a folder called windows.old and not save all your program installations or something...

Can somebody just clear this up for me? I'll really appreciate it, thanks.

-Ed

Hi ed

Probably not. RC is ultimate. Did you get Ultimate from digital river? if not you are going to have to do the clean install.

 

[gregrocker]

Use this first to create a bootable ISO to burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x with Verify. You'll need it for reinstalls and repair, too.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

After Step Two, edit the version number as given in the workaround, then continue with the Steps to create an ISO to burn.

Here is an alternate method to recompiling an ISO after editing files: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32055-bootable-iso-create-installation-files.html

Wait, don't I just need to do the unpack, edit the version number (and the registry editing) and simply start installing from my computer? As far as I know in the previous tutorials I don't actually need to boot from the CD, but just launch the setup file from the computer.

Yes, that should work since you are doing an in-place Upgrade from the desktop anyway.

I gave the steps to burn to DVD so you would have an installer for future use including repairs. But you can make a Repair CD in Win7.

 

[LiTos456]

Thanks mate. I will follow the instructions and upgrade in a few days when I have time.

 

[LiTos456]

Hello again fellows. I finally got around to doing it and after getting all the workarounds together and clicking upgrade I faced another problem.
It told me that I do not have enough space on Disk C: to perform the upgrade, and that 16GB total is required. That is true, as I only have 5 GB free out of 37. I was assuming it would replace the current files, or something, so I wouldn't need any extra space.
The problem is that it's a single hard drive - the 40 GB one, where I installed windows and most of the programs. This doesn't sound good, and... wow, this is actually worse than not good. This is pretty bad. I was wondering, though, if anyone here had any suggestions. I still don't want to do a clean install and I'm not sure why it wants 16 extra gig of space... Sigh. I doubt I can actually free THAT much.

Edit: I know this is an obvious question but... there's no way to "channel" disk space from one hard drive to another, is there? Virtually for example... Though even if it was, it wouldn't be too good of an idea anyway. Unless it does replace the original files in the end. I noticed my windows folder weighs 15 or so GB, which is about the same as the update installer requires. This points to the fact that it will weigh 16 GB after install, almost like this one, except for the install itself, it for some reason needs the 16 GB... I mean it doesn't weigh 30 GB now does it? Maybe there's a way to trick it into just going on with the install and overwriting the current windows files with it's own, thus having all the space it needs? Oh man... this is bad, real bad, I got less than a month... I do not want to spend my week off reinstalling all of my programs and games and settings... Seriously...

PS: The official Win7 site says you need 16 GB for 32 bit version and 20 GB for 64 bit. Mine is the 64 bit version. The RTM, and the RC too. The upgrade setup said it needs a total of 16 GB, which sounds like the 32 bit version, even though it's not. Maybe it doesn't need the whole 20 GB because it's only upgrading?

Still, I am convinced that it is going to overwrite the files of the RC, which is taking up 15 GB of my hard drive right now. It adds up. Maybe it's some additional programs that take up the other 4 GB. There's gotta be a way to make the setup proceed and bypass the space check. It's going to overwrite the files anyway, so it doesn't need an additional 16 GB of space. Right? ..right?

 

[gregrocker]

Why is your Windows folder 15 gb? Mine is 8 gb. I have 32 bit but doubt it would be half as big. I'd go through it to see if there is another OS in there (duplicate files).

Short of that, can you clean up some bloatware or old files? Try Disk Cleanup to see if it can compress some for you. Then use the CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tab.

If you haven't culled the bloatware out of your Programs list, now is the time. Use the Revo Uninstaller to get it cleanest possible and ready for Upgrade without importing Vista corruption.

 

[LiTos456]

Alright well I ran CCleaner and was able to fix 322 registry issues and remove about 179 MB of space, right now I'm using the Revo Uninstaller Pro to uninstall stuff, however I have a weird issue with Disk Cleanup - for some reason, and I noticed this before, the "Compress old files" option is actually not there. Do you know anything of this? I like that option, always wanted to use it, but it wasn't here...

 

[gregrocker]

After uninstalling all unneeded Programs with Revo to get the Reg listings, run CCleaner "Run Cleaner" and Registry tab again.

Then defrag using state-of-the-art free Auslogics Disk Defragger to order your HD perfectly.

 

[LiTos456]

Okay well I uninstalled a bunch of unneeded programs, it didn't free up that much space really, in the end I freed about a gigabyte or so... I keep my program list clean, and as you can see on this screenshot I pretty much need all of those programs for something. All the games and autodesk products you see are heavy programs and are thus installed on a completely different hard drive, just so you know.

I still don't get why the compress old files function is not available in disk cleanup however. I'll try your defrag tool you suggested now.

Update: Okay, I used the defragmenter. It tells me my speed increased by +4% now. Also it says in red letters "Warning: Your PC is not optimized". It recommends I download Auslogics BoostSpeed to improve the performance of Windows Core, Internet Browser, Disks and Registry. Should I do this? And how did the defrag process really help me besides just speeding up my system a little?

I still wanna find out what happened to my Compress Old Files function though.

 

[LiTos456]

Come on, I really need some help. Is it possible to make the installer proceed with the upgrade regardless of my free space? Like, bypassing the disk check? I mean it's only going to replace all those windows files, it wouldn't write more on top of them, right? If I currently have 15 GB of the Windows folder, and the setup tells me it needs 16 GB free or so, there's no way it would leave the current 15 GB folder and add another 16 GB on top of it. It's going to overwrite it, and possibly add that one extra GB, which is fine with me.

Come on, there must be a way. I know it's going to overwrite those files and it doesn't really need all that free space. Maybe there's a way to reprogram the setup, I don't know. Please, I really want to avoid doing a clean install when there's an opportunity such as this.

 

[gregrocker]

It only offers to compress files of a certain age, I believe.

That is an ad for BoostSpeed which is the Auslogics paid program including defraggers, tweaks, etc. Not needed, IMO.

You can manually compress files by ticking Properties box option given for that after rightclicking drive, and then rightclicking file/folder>Properties>Advanced tab.

 

[LiTos456]

Is it safe?
And I know about the certain age thing, but I'm saying that the option to check "Compress Old Files" in disk cleanup is not there at all.

And yet again, do you know anything about bypassing the setup disk check?

 

[cyberized]

Can someone PLEASE advise and HELP me........I am shortly going to have to upgrade from my Trial W'7 to a retail version. I would LOVE to be able to do this method of upgrading using a W'7 Premium Upgrade.....and do it so I don't have to reload Sound Card and Video Card Drivers and Internet settings etc.
BUT.....a fly, I fear is in dat ointment, the man who installed this W'7 RC chose to partition the 1 TB HD into three partitions, and on one of them he installed a friend's copy of W' Vista.......it turned out to be unuseable, so their lies around 400GB of DEAD space........in some ways I really don't see where I will ever need that 400GB.....BUT it would be GREAT if I could re-partition and solve that problem when I do the Upgrade. I am thinking that I would proobably have to do a FULL/Clean install in order to re-partition like that - is that right? Then I would be forced to have to re-install everything again - right?

I have been shopping on and off on EBAY for FULL Retail Versions of W'7Premium and/or Upgrade versions.....which I could probably follow those instructions offered thru this forum and use a Upgrade copy, to save money, to upgrade from this W'7 Ultimate 7100 trial V.

Please advise, need all the clear and smple help I can get,

TKS michael

 

[Wishmaster]

A couple things that eat up disc space quickly on small disks:

Hiberfile: If you do not hibernate, you can delete the hiberfile which will give you approx. 8GB space.
You can still "sleep" the PC

Pagefile: I wouldnt turn it off... but make a static smaller PF. Depending how much RAM you have, Windows sets it at 1.5x RAM installed & This isnt necc. IMO.

If for ex. you have 4GB RAM, you can try setting it to 1.5 or 2GB . smallest and largest the same whatever you choose.
this should free up approx 4GB. this should be more than enough

The above will give you back approx12GB HD space.

System restore: Do not disable, especiAlly if you have no alternate back up means, BUT, you can lower how much space it can use if space is a real issue..


If you done a upgrade, you can delete the Windows.old folder after you get what you need from it.
TBH, you better off just doing a clean install though