Windows 7 RC to Retail

[cameronn]

I've been looking this up for a while, but haven't been able to find a straight answer.
I currently have the RC of Windows 7, and I'm looking to purchase the home premium version of W7.
As offered on the windows 7 website, there is the cheaper upgrade option, and the full version option.
I do plan to do a clean install, not hack and do an upgrade thing like I've been reading about.
I was wondering if I need to buy the full version or if I could get the upgrade version.

Thankyou so much for your help.

By the way, my laptop came preinstalled with Vista, so all I have is the product key with a license sticker on my laptop, no discs.

 

[garysgold]

Hello Cameron,

Welcome to Seven Forums.

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

Hope this helps.

Gary

 

[cameronn]

Cheers for that.
I didn't see anything specific about the Release Candidate, but I'm assuming if the first couple of options don't work for me, I should do the third?
Thanks for your help and the welcome.

 

[gregrocker]

MS specifically announced that the RC was eligible for upgrade. Of course it expires in June, so be sure to make a Backup Image of your finished Win7 install stored externally (and in a primary formatted partition on a second HDD if you want) so you'll never need to install again, just reimage the HDD or a replacement in 15 minutes.

The tutorial Gary gave above will show you how to achieve an Upgrade install without having any prior qualifying OS on the drive if that is ever necessary (which it shouldn't be)

But by booting into the Upgrade disk, it will scan the HDD and see the prior qualifying OS so you can proceed to wipe and format the HDD without worry, to get the cleanest possible install.

There is also an in-place Upgrade option to a lesser version (including from RC) you can try which has worked for several around here: UNAWAVE - Downgrade Ultimate to Home Premium or Professional If it is sluggish due to upgraded RC being beta, you can always then wipe the drive and install from boot with formatting.

 

[cameronn]

Thanks so much for your time.
So basically I have no need to worry about what version to buy since RC is eligible to buy the upgrade, and will be recognised by the update discs? I'm pretty sure I get you, sometimes I'm not too sure on all of the computer jargon.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks so much for your time.
So basically I have no need to worry about what version to buy since RC is eligible to buy the upgrade, and will be recognised by the update discs? I'm pretty sure I get you, sometimes I'm not too sure on all of the computer jargon.

Yes, exactly.

And even if you didnt' have the RC on there at the time, the tutorial Gary provided will show you how to install to a clean Hard Disk Drive without any prior OS on there.

Feel free to ask any questions if anything else isn't clear.

 

[gregrocker]

Here is documentation for RC's eligibility to use Upgrade version, and how-to tutorials:

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/upgrade_04.asp

 

[cameronn]

Thanks a lot. I am pretty sure I get it now. Thanks tons for the links.