Upgrade to Windows 7

[Frank]

Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering Windows 7 Upgrade
online, saying that if you have XP or Vista, you can use the upgrade
version. Is it possible for me to upgrade from my existing XP to Windows 7?
Or should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's confusing. Some sites
say that a Windows 7 upgrade will only work with Vista, not XP. So, is
Amazon right? Thanks in advance.

 

[VanguardLH]

Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering Windows 7 Upgrade
online, saying that if you have XP or Vista, you can use the upgrade
version. Is it possible for me to upgrade from my existing XP to Windows 7?
Or should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's confusing. Some sites
say that a Windows 7 upgrade will only work with Vista, not XP. So, is
Amazon right? Thanks in advance.

"Upgrade" for Windows XP users means Windows 7 will wipe the disk.
Googleing on '+"Windows XP" +"Windows 7" upgrade' (sans single quotes)
will give you plenty of articles on why there is no upgrade path, just a
migrate path. Windows 7 includes a migration wizard for data files but
don't expect it to be perfect. Backup your files before doing the
destructive "upgrade".

 

[Frank]

Thanks Vanguard!

"Upgrade" for Windows XP users means Windows 7 will wipe the disk.
Googleing on '+"Windows XP" +"Windows 7" upgrade' (sans single quotes)
will give you plenty of articles on why there is no upgrade path, just a
migrate path. Windows 7 includes a migration wizard for data files but
don't expect it to be perfect. Backup your files before doing the
destructive "upgrade".

 

[JS]

Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering Windows 7 Upgrade
online, saying that if you have XP or Vista, you can use the upgrade
version. Is it possible for me to upgrade from my existing XP to Windows
7? Or should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's confusing. Some
sites say that a Windows 7 upgrade will only work with Vista, not XP. So,
is Amazon right? Thanks in advance.

You can upgrade from XP to Windows 7 and kept your applications, files, etc.

The key thing is you need a Vista DVD (keycode not required, just the Vista
DVD)
Read the details here:: http://www.pagestart.com/xpwin7inplaceupgrade01.html

 

[Daave]

Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering Windows 7
Upgrade online, saying that if you have XP or Vista, you can use the
upgrade version. Is it possible for me to upgrade from my existing
XP to Windows 7? Or should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's
confusing. Some sites say that a Windows 7 upgrade will only work
with Vista, not XP. So, is Amazon right? Thanks in advance.

"Upgrade" has more than one definition, so many people are
understandably confused. :-0

First of all, since you have a qualifying OS (Windows XP Pro), there is
no need to spend the extra money on the Full version; the Upgrade
version (and the accompanying license) will do just fine.

Second, what are you interested in -- an *in-place* upgrade, wihch means
everything of importance stays intact and there is no need to reinstall
your programs? If so, the only way to do this is first perform an
in-place upgrade to Vista, and *then*, perform an in-place upgrade to
Windows 7! It will be more work and more money.

Or do you wish to *migrate* to Windows 7? That is how most people will
move from XP to Windows 7. This is essentially a Clean Install of
Windows 7 (your only option if you take Vista out of the equation),
where there is a wizard that will export your data (and certain
settings, I believe). But you would still need to reinstall all your
applications.

Even if it were easier and cheaper to upgrade (everything, including
applications), IMO a Clean Install is the better route, anyway.

For more info:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

In order for this to work, you need to have XP installed on your PC
since this is what the process requires to verify you have a qualifying
operating system. For those who want to install Windows 7 to a new
(bare) hard drive (and don't want to waste their time with installing XP
first), the so-called "double-install trick" that worked for Vista
apparently (and surprisingly!) also works for Windows 7:

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

 

[Frank]

Thanks a lot Daave, it's clear to me now!

"Upgrade" has more than one definition, so many people are understandably
confused. :-0

First of all, since you have a qualifying OS (Windows XP Pro), there is no
need to spend the extra money on the Full version; the Upgrade version
(and the accompanying license) will do just fine.

Second, what are you interested in -- an *in-place* upgrade, wihch means
everything of importance stays intact and there is no need to reinstall
your programs? If so, the only way to do this is first perform an in-place
upgrade to Vista, and *then*, perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 7! It
will be more work and more money.

Or do you wish to *migrate* to Windows 7? That is how most people will
move from XP to Windows 7. This is essentially a Clean Install of Windows
7 (your only option if you take Vista out of the equation), where there is
a wizard that will export your data (and certain settings, I believe). But
you would still need to reinstall all your applications.

Even if it were easier and cheaper to upgrade (everything, including
applications), IMO a Clean Install is the better route, anyway.

For more info:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

In order for this to work, you need to have XP installed on your PC since
this is what the process requires to verify you have a qualifying
operating system. For those who want to install Windows 7 to a new (bare)
hard drive (and don't want to waste their time with installing XP first),
the so-called "double-install trick" that worked for Vista apparently (and
surprisingly!) also works for Windows 7:

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

 

[Daave]

YW. Glad to clear it up.

Thanks a lot Daave, it's clear to me now!

 

[Roy Smith]

So ... if I have XP & MS Office, and I still have the original
Office CDs, after I do a Win 7 clean install can I simply reinstall
MS Office, or will MS still want to inflict pain somehow?
In other words, will it be simple or difficult to reinstall Office?

Go ahead and do the upgrade and install Office. If it activates then
fine, if not just call MS and explain that you've upgraded the OS and
reinstalled Office. They should give you a code to activate Office.

 

[Twayne]

In VanguardLH <[email protected]>[email protected]
typed:

: : Frank wrote:
: :
: : : Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering
: : : Windows 7 Upgrade online, saying that if you have XP or
: : : Vista, you can use the upgrade version. Is it possible
: : : for me to upgrade from my existing XP to Windows 7? Or
: : : should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's
: : : confusing. Some sites say that a Windows 7 upgrade
: : : will only work with Vista, not XP. So, is Amazon
: : : right? Thanks in advance.
: :
: : "Upgrade" for Windows XP users means Windows 7 will wipe
: : the disk. Googleing on '+"Windows XP" +"Windows 7"
: : upgrade' (sans single quotes) will give you plenty of
: : articles on why there is no upgrade path, just a migrate
: : path. Windows 7 includes a migration wizard for data
: : files but don't expect it to be perfect. Backup your
: : files before doing the destructive "upgrade".

True: But it won't help the hardware and possibly some drivers
situation. Win7 is Vista reboxed in essence, so it's got all the same
caveats: Including wanting lots of RAM; 4 Gig just isn't enough to run
win7. You really need win7/Vista ready hardware. It'll run on an XP
machine, but not very satisfactorily. Amazon is lying to you as far as
I'm concerned.

Twayne`

 

[Twayne]

In JS <@>[email protected]
typed:

: : : : : Hello, I am using Win XP Pro. Amazon.com is offering
: : : Windows 7 Upgrade online, saying that if you have XP or
: : : Vista, you can use the upgrade version. Is it possible
: : : for me to upgrade from my existing XP to Windows 7? Or
: : : should I get the full version of Windows 7? It's
: : : confusing. Some sites say that a Windows 7 upgrade
: : : will only work with Vista, not XP. So, is Amazon
: : : right? Thanks in advance.
: : :
: :
: : You can upgrade from XP to Windows 7 and kept your
: : applications, files, etc.
: :
: : The key thing is you need a Vista DVD (keycode not
: : required, just the Vista DVD)
: : Read the details here::
: : http://www.pagestart.com/xpwin7inplaceupgrade01.html
: :
: : --
: : JS
: : http://www.pagestart.com

You might for an upgrade, but not otherwise. My XP installed with win7
discs provided machine has nothing to do with Vista anywhere. I just
don't like Vista and that means win7 isn't for me either. But all I
have to do is toss in either the XP or the win7 OS disc, and continue
from there. Only catch I've found is they "know about" each other so you
can't do a dual install. An OEM can make them do about anything they
want to.

 

[JS]

Sure you can toss the Windows 7 DVD in and continue,
but your only option will be a clean install of 7 if you currently are using
Windows XP.

 

[Bullwinkle's news]

You can upgrade from XP to Windows 7 and kept your applications, files,
etc.

The key thing is you need a Vista DVD (keycode not required, just the
Vista DVD)
Read the details here::
http://www.pagestart.com/xpwin7inplaceupgrade01.html

However it also requires like unto like. If you use a Vista home you can't
the install 7 professional or ultimate from it.

 

[JS]

However it also requires like unto like. If you use a Vista home you can't
the install 7 professional or ultimate from it.

Not entirely true:
Windows 7 Pro is the oddball in that it has only one upgrade path.
Ultimate can upgrade any version of Vista except the "Enterprise" version.

Windows 7 Upgrade Paths
Microsoft has published a downloadable MS word document with a list of
upgrade paths for Windows 7.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=e170eba1-5bab-401f-bbf5-00f0ee7fe0fb