What the Hell is MS Doing?

[J23]

I just read (on Winsupersite.com) that the pre order/upgrades will NOT have a clean install option. This is outrageous. Does MS have no clue as to the goodwill re Win 7 has garnered them but how something exactly like this could destroy that? I have personally suggested to @ least 50 people to grab the pre order. What an A###*#* I feel like right now! This is the sort of thing Apple does.
I love Windows 7 and really had hopes they had learned their lessons from Vista beyond the OS ie price and a billion versions. At best I can only hope MS is testing the waters to see what they can get away with. Still a D-bag move. Epic fail.
Regretfully,
J23

 

[TheIgster]

Pretty sure there are ways to do a full clean install with an update. It's been mentioned numerous times here.

 

[Zidane24]

I just read (on Winsupersite.com) that the pre order/upgrades will NOT have a clean install option. This is outrageous. Does MS have no clue as to the goodwill re Win 7 has garnered them but how something exactly like this could destroy that? I have personally suggested to @ least 50 people to grab the pre order. What an A###*#* I feel like right now! This is the sort of thing Apple does.
I love Windows 7 and really had hopes they had learned their lessons from Vista beyond the OS ie price and a billion versions. At best I can only hope MS is testing the waters to see what they can get away with. Still a D-bag move. Epic fail.
Regretfully,
J23

I doubt that is true...there would be no way WinXP users could upgrade then...

 

[pparks1]

From what I have read, you can do a clean install...however people are misinterpreting what a clean install means.

A clean install does not mean that you can start with an empty hard drive and install the "upgrade" version of the OS.

A clean install means you have to have a copy of a previous OS (XP or Vista) and it has to be running and activated. You can then plop in the Windows 7 media, boot it up, choose to do a "Custom" install..which will then allow you to wipe your partitions and then setup new ones...thus "upgrading" the version of Windows that was previously there, but not retaining any data or applications.

Yes, it's a pain. I agree. I just bought a copy of Vista 64 with a free upgrade to Win 7. I had absolutely no intentions of installing Vista on this computer (it currently runs Win7 RC1), however from my reading, I will have to install Vista, activiate it, and then start Win7 upgrade and choose Custom to blank everything and start from scratch.

That's my understanding.

 

[7echno7im]

I doubt that is true...there would be no way WinXP users could upgrade then...

Good point. Since there isn't any upgrade path for them as far as upgrading the actual OS is concerned.

 

[BigBro10]

From what I have read, you can do a clean install...however people are misinterpreting what a clean install means.

A clean install does not mean that you can start with an empty hard drive and install the "upgrade" version of the OS.

A clean install means you have to have a copy of a previous OS (XP or Vista) and it has to be running and activated. You can then plop in the WIndows 7 media, boot it up, choose to do a "Custom" install..which will then allow you to wipe your partitions and then setup new ones...thus "upgrading" the version of Windows that was previously there, but not retaining any data or applications.

That's my understanding.

from what ive read you can do this... however you'll have to install windows 7 twice or something..dont quote me on it but i read it somewhere.

 

[Zidane24]

from what ive read you can do this... however you'll have to install windows 7 twice or something..dont quote me on it but i read it somewhere.

You are correct...what I like to call the double 7 method...install 7 without product key->update 7 in 7 with product key...

 

[pparks1]

from what ive read you can do this... however you'll have to install windows 7 twice or something..dont quote me on it but i read it somewhere.

That "used" to be how you did it with Vista. You installed 1 time and didn't enter a key during the install. You then turned around and installed again right over the top, it was happy because you had a previous copy and could then install and input your key.

The difference now (from what I read) is that the first copy has to be activated in order for this to work. Therefore, the option of not inputting a key and installing anyway simply won't suffice as you won't be able to activate.

 

[Aheaton]

It is my understanding it should be simular to the vista clean install from upgrade method.

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista - Vista Forums

On this forum they discuss this and say it should be the same:

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...upgrade-media-how-does-that-work-exactly.aspx

 

[pparks1]

The discussion of the winsupersite clearly states that he "thinks" that it might work like it did before, but wasn't sure until he actually got a copy of the media and tested it.

Earlier in that page, it said that it had to be an "activated" copy of a previously installed OS.

So, it doesn't seem clear that even Paul Thurott knows for sure whether this double install will work. How would any of us know for sure.

 

[pparks1]

I think this website is a bit more accurate on what is really going to happen;

A major Windows 7 upgrade question gets an answer | TechBlog | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

 

[sjaak327]

Not sure what the problem is here, surely you can't be bothered by this.

 

[7echno7im]

I think this website is a bit more accurate on what is really going to happen;

A major Windows 7 upgrade question gets an answer | TechBlog | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

good post

 

[sjaak327]

Funny that they claim that people can upgrade from Win 7RC, I doubt that's the case, as it leave much room for abuse. Incidentially I was unable to upgrade build 7100 to 7600 on two machines already. Only a custom install wiping the disk was possible.

 

[Webadict]

I just found this on Endgadget.

Microsoft confirms Windows 7 RC upgrade rules

So much for my " Clean " upgrade.

 

[Aheaton]

Yeah, well thats the best I could find. We'll have to wait and see when it comes out!

 

[Aheaton]

I just found this on Endgadget.

Microsoft confirms Windows 7 RC upgrade rules

So much for my " Clean " upgrade.

Good find Webadict!!

 

[K3VL4R]

Why would you guys believe these sites that supposedly know something about installing Windows 7 that Microsoft does not know.

   Note

Installing a custom version of Windows. Choose Custom to completely replace your current operating system, or to install Windows on a specific drive or partition that you select. You can also use Custom if your computer does not have an operating system, or if you want to set up a multiboot system on your computer. For more information about setting up a multiboot system, see Install more than one operating system (multiboot).

You do not need anything installed at all to use the upgrade disk = custom "clean" installation. Read it for yourself right from Microsoft below.

Installing and reinstalling Windows

 

[Bartacus]

Yucky. I just wish MS would allow me to punch in my valid Vista CD key, and then install Windows 7. That would make things much easier for the "upgrade" version. Please god, do not make me re-install and activate Vista just for a "clean" Windows 7 install. I was hoping to avoid ever seeing Vista again.

EDIT: just read K3VL4R's post. I feel much better now.

Bart

 

[Muad Dib]

Ok, so that handles one set of issues for geeks like us.

Now for the little, uhhh, normal people.

John Doe has computer with OEM Vista Home Premium on it. YES, OEM licenses are eligible for upgrade installs.

Now, John either a) never got the Windows re-install DVD; b) never got a manufacturer's restore DVD or c) never made a restore DVD from the image delivered on the original PC disk drive.

John buys Windows 7 Upgrade and installs and activates it.

Some time later John's HDD crashes catastrophically.

John buys new HDD.

All John has is a Windows 7 Upgrade DVD and license which he cannot boot and iinstall from.

What does John do?

Edit: Reason asked is this point is still not clear. Technet site no help and K3Vl4R's post ALMOST addresses it but, yet again, instruction state:



If Windows cannot run at all, you can reinstall Windows using the original installation disc.

Warning

Back up your files before you begin reinstalling Windows if possible, even if you're reinstalling Windows on a hard disk partition, and you have personal files on a separate partition. For example, if you have encrypted files, you might not be able to access them after reinstalling Windows. A custom installation replaces the current version of Windows and all personal files.

Turn on your computer and insert the Windows 7 DVD or CD

Anyone see the vagueness/abiguity of this sequence?