If I upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 can I go backwards?

[Leon]

I have installed Windows 7 beta but I don't like many of its limitations. I
have a Vista installation that might benefit from an upgrade to Windows 7
but I'm not sure. If I use my Windows 7 beta install DVD to upgrade Vista,
can I go backwards if I don't like it?

Thanks.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I have installed Windows 7 beta but I don't like many of its limitations.
I
have a Vista installation that might benefit from an upgrade to Windows 7
but I'm not sure. If I use my Windows 7 beta install DVD to upgrade Vista,
can I go backwards if I don't like it?

No. Going backwards would require a clean install of Vista. To go backwards
you will need a backup of Vista before you upgrade to Windows 7. If you
decide to go back to Vista you would have to backup any new data, restore
the Vista backup, then restore the new data.

 

[Leon]

No. Going backwards would require a clean install of Vista. To go
backwards you will need a backup of Vista before you upgrade to Windows 7.
If you decide to go back to Vista you would have to backup any new data,
restore the Vista backup, then restore the new data.

Thanks. I presume that it would be best for me to use Windows 7 beta backup
to first create a full system back up my Windows 7 beta and Vista
partitions?

 

[webster72n]

Thanks. I presume that it would be best for me to use Windows 7 beta
backup to first create a full system back up my Windows 7 beta and Vista
partitions?

Wouldn't it be better to aim for dual boot, providing there is enough room
available for an extra partition? Or you can install it on a virtual machine
in order to try it out first. Seems like less trouble to me.

Harry.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have installed Windows 7 beta but I don't like many of its limitations. I
have a Vista installation that might benefit from an upgrade to Windows 7
but I'm not sure. If I use my Windows 7 beta install DVD to upgrade Vista,
can I go backwards if I don't like it?

No. You would have to clean install Windows Vista or restore it from a
clone or image you made of it.

Moreover, in my view, doing what you propose is very dangerous. This
is beta software--software undergoing testing--not released software,
and beta software is software that's not ready for release because it
still has problems. You should only install a beta operating system if
you have an extra non-production machine to install it on, and if you
enjoy playing with and testing such a thing. For the enormous majority
of people, doing this is a bad mistake.

 

[Leon]

Wouldn't it be better to aim for dual boot, providing there is enough room
available for an extra partition? Or you can install it on a virtual
machine in order to try it out first. Seems like less trouble to me.

Harry.

I have dual boot, Windows 7 beta and Vista U all 64-bit. I was trying for
triple boot. My plan was to create a third partition on my 0.75 terabyte 3
drive RAID storage array. That worked out OK using Vista. Then I planned to
use commercial software to copy my Vista partition and make a bootable
clone. Then I planned to use my Windows 7 beta install DVD to upgrade my
64-bit Vista U partition. I hoped then to have three bootable partitions,
one Windows 7 beta, clean install one Windows 7 U derived from an upgrade of
Vista U and one Vista U -64 bit. Windows 7 beta was clearly marked, "for
trial only". That was what I planned to do, to try an upgrade to see if I
liked it. I have put literally thousands of dollars in man hours into
building my system. I have some cloned partitions and Windows Backups on a
partitioned single drive store. I have been unable to do what I should be
able to do with commercial partition management software and I suspect that
Microsoft lawyers are implicated. I am at risk of losing all my work even
though what I wish to do is within the written guidelines of Windows 7 beta.

Why does Bill Gates and the lawyers for Microsoft never post online?

 

[Charles Tomaras]

Why does Bill Gates and the lawyers for Microsoft never post online?

Hey Leon, Bill Gates retired from Microsoft last year. He is no longer an MS
employee and he doesn't have an office nor a desk in Redmond. You need to
start whining about someone else now when things don't please you.

 

[Earle Horton]

Because anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of
law. lol

Lawyers teach never, ever to admit liability or guilt, even when doing so
could save millions in legal fees defending an untenable position. That
too.

Earle

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thanks. I presume that it would be best for me to use Windows 7 beta
backup to first create a full system back up my Windows 7 beta and Vista
partitions?

You can use whatever backup program you want as long as you backup
everything and verify the backup. Personally I wouldn't use a beta backup
program when backing up something I don't want to lose.

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

Hey Leon, Bill Gates retired from Microsoft last year. He is no longer an MS
employee and he doesn't have an office nor a desk in Redmond. You need to
start whining about someone else now when things don't please you.

And that someone else would Be Steve Ballmer.

--
"Software is like sex, it's better when it's free."
- Linus Torvalds

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=435&tag=nl.e101