We won't know for sure but there are some hints around.
This is from Microsoft Store: Upgrade purchased DVD procedures
Running Windows Vista?
• If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You can do a clean install (back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an in -place upgrade (Windows 7 installs over Windows Vista).
Hello Greg,
No one is certain yet until we can get our hands on a upgrade verion of Windows 7. It will most likely be like doing a upgrade Vista, or it will ask you to insert you Vista installation disc during the installation of the upgrade Windows 7 to verify that you have a legal copy to upgrade from before continuing.
Last edited by Brink; 18 Oct 2009 at 21:23. Reason: typo
Thanks Brink,
Then I'll find out on Thursday and I'll have my previous DVD on hand if it needs it.
Greg
I have a clarificatory question with regard to drivers and installation. I apologise in advance if this is a ridiculous question; I have never, ever installed an operating system before but I am thinking of getting Windows 7 and doing a clean install.
I currently use Windows Vista 32-bit. I plan to install Windows 7 64-bit. I am given to understand that my 32-bit drivers will not work with the new 64-bit OS. Early in the installation guide here it says to back up drivers onto a CD or some other media. If I am planning to go from a current 32-bit OS to 64-bit do I have to do something different at that step, such as find the required drivers online before beginning installation? If so, precisely what drivers do I need to get?
Hello Frolix, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Correct. You will have to do a clean install when going from 32-bit to 64-bit. 32-bit drivers will not work in a 64-bit OS, so you will need to find and download 64-bit driver versions for all of you devices (ex: graphics card, sound, LAN network, etc....) first to have them ready after installation.
What brand and model number is your computer? I may be able to post back with your computer manufacturer's driver download page.
Thanks, Brink, that is very kind of you to offer. However, my pc was custom built so there are lots of different bits and pieces. What would be really helpful though, would be a sort of list of what sort of equipment I will be needing drivers for. You mentioned a few things there. Main board drivers? Video card obviously. What about stuff like hard drives, CD/DVD drive? Will I need to get drivers for all those?
To be honest, and this is probably really dumb thing to say, I am a little puzzled about how the computer gets going at all after the OS installation if it needs all those drivers to operate everything.
Usually generic drivers are installed for the devices during the installation of Windows to be able to use the basic functions of the devices. if a generic driver is not available for the device, then the device will not work of course. It's best to install the latest device driver versions from the manufacturer instead to have all of it's performance and features available though.
It's hard to say without your system specs filled out to know what you have installed or connected to your computer, but these are the usual ones that you will need to install drivers for from their manufacturer's website driver download section (support). You would want drivers for Windows 7, but if none are available, then Vista versions will usually work.
- graphics card/chip
- sound card/chip
- printer
- webcam
- motherboard chipset drivers (usually includes your hard drives, CD/DVD drives, southbridge chip)
- network, LAN, ethernet
- modem
- keyboard
- mouse
- touchpad
- etc.........
Ah, sorry about that. I have updated my system specs, at least the ones I know. I am not sure about the make and model of the hard drive.
Sound is Realtek and it is on board so would I need to get separate drivers for that or does that all come with the NVIDIA nForce 650i driver package?
With regard to ethernet, my device manager says it is Nvidia nForce 10/100/1000 Ethernet. Will I need separate drivers for that or are they part of the motherboard drivers? The Nvidia site is really unclear.
I have one more question, something that is really worrying me. I used CPU-Z to have a look around at some of the things about my system I have never paid much attention to before and it seems that my BIOS dates from October 2007. Am I likely to encounter any problems there when I install Windows 7? I am kind of... terrified at the prospect of having to update my BIOS as whenever I look into it all I see are horror stories about dead motherboards.
Last edited by frolix22; 20 Oct 2009 at 08:02.
Yes, you will need separate drivers for each one listed in my post above.
Since you are not familiar with driver installation, I would not recommend trying to update the BIOS since it will kill your motherboard if a mistake was made while updating.
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