Windows 7 RC & RTM...

[AstaLaVista]

I am using Win 7 RC build 7100 but I also have a good (read: Legit) working copy + serial of RTM...

1.- Can I just do an upgrade on top of the RC or

2.- Do I need to do a fresh install?

If 1 or 2, and since 7 is already out, would I be able to activate the RTM or is MS going to force me to buy the newest one.

Thanks

 

[Jacee]

1 & 2. Clean install!
3. If you have the RTM version of Windows 7 do you have a key with it?

 

[Fluffy]

1. yes you can

2. always better to do a clean install

I believe you can activate the RTM but don't quote me on that, I went from Win XP to Win 7 HP

 

[harpua]

Yes you can upgrade install from the RC with the RTM (assuming your RTM is also Ultimate) and then activate the RTM by inputting a valid retail key (full or upgrade) for your version of the RTM. If your version of the RTM is not ultimate, you can still upgrade but I believe it must be done as clean install.

To do it as an upgrade instead of a clean install, there is a little workaround (published by MS) required.

If you don't have a lot of apps installed on the RC version, it probably would be better to do a clean install, but if that would be very time consuming, you may want to give an upgrade install a try and just see how it works out. It seems to have worked out pretty well in my case. Anyway, there is nothing to stop you later on from doing a clean install if it doesn't work out to your satisfaction so you really don't have much to lose by giving an upgrade install a try.

Of course, whichever route you take, it's always a good idea to have a complete back up on external media of all important stuff you don't want to lose, just in case something goes terribly wrong with in the install process.

 

[AstaLaVista]

1 & 2. Clean install!
3. If you have the RTM version of Windows 7 do you have a key with it?

Yes, I stated working serial instead of Key... sorry

Yes you can upgrade install from the RC with the RTM (assuming your RTM is also Ultimate) and then activate the RTM by inputting a valid retail key (full or upgrade) for your version of the RTM. If your version of the RTM is not ultimate, you can still upgrade but I believe it must be done as clean install.

To do it as an upgrade instead of a clean install, there is a little workaround (published by MS) required.

If you don't have a lot of apps installed on the RC version, it probably would be better to do a clean install, but if that would be very time consuming, you may want to give an upgrade install a try and just see how it works out. It seems to have worked out pretty well in my case. Anyway, there is nothing to stop you later on from doing a clean install if it doesn't work out to your satisfaction so you really don't have much to lose by giving an upgrade install a try.

Of course, whichever route you take, it's always a good idea to have a complete back up on external media of all important stuff you don't want to lose, just in case something goes terribly wrong with in the install process.

Thanks for the help harpua... much appreciated.

I forgot to mentioned one other thing, which I believe, is also very important and part of why I made this post.

I dual boot with Vista Ultima x64 as well and the reason why I was having reservations about a clean install (which BTW, is what I usually do in cases like this) is because I don't know if a clean install with botch or mess up my dual booting.

Logic tells me that it should not interfere but I also wanted to be sure... hence, why I ask about the Upgrade in the first place but forgot to mentioned

 

[harpua]

Installing W7 in a dual boot situation might briefly mess up your start up but it's usually a super easy thing to fix. You either can use something like EasyBCD which makes it super easy to edit the boot menu or you can boot from the W7 installation disk and just run startup repair and that will usually fix things right up.

(Btw, if you find any posts by anyone here helpful to you, you might consider "repping" those posts by clicking on the middle icon in the upper right hand corner of the helpful post.)

 

[AstaLaVista]

Harpua, again... Thanks a lot for the help

Yes, I have EasyBCD and if this is that simple I will go ahead an try it this weekend.

Regarding "Repping" helpufl members... Yes, you are also correct and I, for the most part, forget to do so.

I just don't put a lot of stress on the repping thing, one way or another but I know that it is big on this and many other forums I visit... I will try to make an effort in the future.

Thanks fellas