Solved windows 7 upgrade from vista

[aivas]

I have another computer(a desktop) which came with Vista, for which I will be purchasing the win 7 HP upgrade version in order to upgrade from Vista to Win 7 HP 32 bit. According to the instructions on the MS website for installing the upgrade version, everything should go smoothly, and be able to retain all programs, settings etc. and not lose anything in the process. I have checked compatibility with my existing hardware and programs, and everything I currently have is good to go. Also, more than sufficient RAM and HD space for the installation.

1. Is MS's claim about not losing anything correct, or have you had reports of anything in particular of something being compromised in the process, even though the installation went smoothly?
2. In the event something glitches and I have to call the Activation Center, can the installation still be completed with everything retained, or will it be the same as a manual install where everything is wiped, and I have to start over?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Brink]

Hello Aivas, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor below first to get a report to see if your computer can run Windows 7 and if you may have any issues. When the report is finished you will see which upgrade options are available and get guidance on fixing the system, program, and devices issues it finds before you install Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10956-windows-7-upgrade-advisor.html

If all checks out ok with the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor above, then you shouldn't have any problems or lose anything while upgrading to Windows 7. The tutorial below can give you more details about the upgrade.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1818-upgrade-install-windows-7-a.html

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Ranger4]

I did an upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 a few years ago & I had no problems at all. You will be asked for it's activation code during installation, which should obviate any need to contact Microsoft re activation.

Follow Brink's advice as well & check out the references he has made.

 

[aivas]

thanks for your speedy responses, and reassurances! Actually, I'm posting this from my laptop, which has Win 7 on it, and I'm asking re: the desktop computer my wife uses. I still would like to find out, if for some reason all does not go smoothly and I have to contact the Activation Center in the end, will I still have a system with all my programs, settings, etc still intact, or will the result be a "manual" install, with having to start over with all my programs and settings?

Also, the $64 question: all things being equal, and if everything is intact after the install, will upgrading from Vista to Win 7 improve system performance significantly enough to warrant the investment? The computer usage is pretty mundane - no gaming, just email, paying bills and occasional graphics downloads from various scrapbook sites my wife likes to peruse.

Thanks again for your input!

 

[Ranger4]

When I did the Windows 7 upgrade there were no problems with anything already installed & running on Vista. In fact it was a very straight forward & simple job.
You probably wont notice any real difference in performance, but you will have an operating system that will receive updates until 2020, so will be far more reliable in the future.
Of course you will be able to show your wife all the differences as you are already using Windows 7. I found there were a few things that I like in 7 that Vista did not have, but as it is a few years since I upgraded I have forgotten those.
After the upgrade you will need to download all the updates for 7 & that does take a while.

 

[aivas]

wow, talk about speedy! thanks.

being paranoid, however, I still have to ask the question because I know my wife is reluctant to make this change. namely, has anyone had the experience of having to contact the Activation Center when trying to install the "upgrade" version from Vista 32 bit to Win 7 Home Prem 32 bit, and whether the install still retained all the programs, settings, etc.

Also, in researching MS help they state that you can reinstall the Win 7 (upgrade version) on a different computer, and that even if you did not uninstall it from the other computer, it will just delete the registration for the other computer and release the key for use on the one you're trying to install it on. Anyone had experience with that end of it?

thanks again for your input. sorry to sound paranoid about this, but as we all know, "if mama ain't happy, . . . etc."

 

[Brink]

Of course to be safe, be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose since anything (ex: power outage) could happen to mess things up during the installation.

What gets carried over when upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 is independent of activation. Activation only will affect Windows being genuine or not.

From my experience and the EULA, you would need to remove the OS from any other computer before installing it on another computer.

 

[gregrocker]

You may only be able to buy a retail OEM copy of Win7 (tied to mobo upon first install) but you can still do the Upgrade with it if you want.

But if you decide it isn't as snappy as you'd like then I'd also consider a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html deleting all partitions during the booted install.

Other tips here same as for http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 for how best to handle drivers, the tools and methods which work best with Win7 based on tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here.

 

[aivas]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I know that MS can be secretive about phone numbers, but does anyone happen to have a number for a Win 7 Activation Center in the US that I could call (without being charged by MS) so that I could sooth my paranoia prior to trying to install the upgrade?

 

[gregrocker]

Activate Windows 7 by Phone - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[aivas]

thanks so much for your help!

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Brink]

Glad we could help. Please let us know how it went.