Prepare for re-install of Vista (after trying Win7)

[FastArtCee]

I have downloaded the ISO file for Win7, and have burned an install DVD. My
intention is to do an upgrade from Vista SP1, but I'm wondering: What is the
simplest (best?) way to revert to Vista, if I have to?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Walter Blanchard]

Make an image before installing Win7

 

[FastArtCee]

Thanks, Walter, for the reply.

I should have been more accurate in my question: If, 7 months from now, I
decide to 'downgrade' to Vista on my laptop, by that time I will probably
have different programs & data. If I use the disk image method, I'd end up
with the May 5 image next, say, December 5.

So I was wondering, how would I keep the December 7 programs and data, but
revert to Vista?

I have an HP Home Server which does a backup every night on all our
computers. Could I protect & save the May 5 backup for my laptop, and then,
if I wanted to, do a 'System Restore' next December.

Would that process work? Would I be back to Vista with my programs/data
intact?

(I've never done a restore from one OS to another, and thus I'm suffering
some 'virgin' nervousness!)

Thanks.

 

[milt]

Thanks, Walter, for the reply.

I should have been more accurate in my question: If, 7 months from now, I
decide to 'downgrade' to Vista on my laptop, by that time I will probably
have different programs & data. If I use the disk image method, I'd end up
with the May 5 image next, say, December 5.

So I was wondering, how would I keep the December 7 programs and data, but
revert to Vista?

I have an HP Home Server which does a backup every night on all our
computers. Could I protect & save the May 5 backup for my laptop, and then,
if I wanted to, do a 'System Restore' next December.

Would that process work? Would I be back to Vista with my programs/data
intact?

I honestly don't think there is anyway to downgrade from Win7 back to
Vista without a complete format and reinstall of the OS. Its never been
possible with any other version of windows and I don't see that changing
with Windows 7.

 

[kscheller]

Apologies for jumping in, but I have a question.

I am running Vista, installed on C partition.
I have ghosted the C partition over to F partition.

Whenever I have major problems, I simply ghost F drive over to C drive,
which puts everything back the way it was.

So, can I install Windows 7 on C partition, and then when I'm done playing
with it, just ghost my F partition Vista back over to C partition, putting
my computer back to running Vista?

Thanks.

kscheller

 

[milt]

You shouldn't do that. Install Windows 7 on a separate partition. Shrink
the Vista partition if necessary.

That's how I have it, dual boot Vista Ultimate and Win 7 RC.

 

[Walter Blanchard]

I don't think you can do it directly. Before you restore the Vista image,
you will need to flatten the drive. Win7 puts a small boot partition on the
drive; leaving it there might interfere with booting to Vista.

 

[Jon]

I don't think you can do it directly. Before you restore the Vista image,
you will need to flatten the drive. Win7 puts a small boot partition on the
drive; leaving it there might interfere with booting to Vista.

--

Yeah I noticed that, which makes me wonder how Windows7 deals with
situations where there are already mulitple partitions on a drive. Does it
insist on this little boot partition, or does it have the flexibility to
install those files within the main partition if needs be? I've not tested
it yet with multiple partitions, but perhaps someone knows.

 

[Jon]

Hi Jon,

It has been my experience so far that if 7 detects an Active partition
already on the HD, it uses that as it's System partition.

It does not create it's own 100mb System partition in that case.

Hope it helps

Yeah, that does help, and would make sense. Thanks SIW2.