Windows 7 upgrade

[Bob]

Hi everyone:

I just purchased a new computer and I am debating on whether to install XP
professional or Vista Enterprise. I use the computer at home for personal
stuff and on occasion some work. Since I do not know the detail on either, I
thought I would ask the opinions of some experts. Here are several questions:

1- even though this is an XP newsgroup, would anyone suggest that I install
Vista Enterprise which I received from work in a brand new box.

2- Can XP be upgraded to Windows 7. I have read that in order to do the
upgrade, I have to delete all the files from my hard drive and do an clean
install. Can someone elaborate on this.

Thanks for all your help.

Bob

 

[db]

you can install them
both and find out
for yourself which
one is best "for you".

everyone has different
needs, expectations
and computer configurations.

because not only is
software compatibility
has to be taken into
consideration,

also your peripherals,
like printers and other
devices you may already
have.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Will the computer have no OS whatsoever installed?

<IMHO> If you're considering Vista or Win7, save yourself some grief: Skip
Vista and install Win7 (especially if you've never used a Vista box).

WinXP is not a valid (In-Place) upgrade path to Win7 but it does qualify for
a Win7 Upgrade: As you've read, you would need to format the WinXP machine
and do a clean install of Win7.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi everyone:

I just purchased a new computer and I am debating on whether to install XP
professional or Vista Enterprise. I use the computer at home for personal
stuff and on occasion some work. Since I do not know the detail on either, I
thought I would ask the opinions of some experts. Here are several questions:

1- even though this is an XP newsgroup, would anyone suggest that I install
Vista Enterprise which I received from work in a brand new box.

It's your choice entirely. Either is OK, but I would personally prefer
Vista. But note that the hardware needs for Vista (the amount of RAM,
in particular) are greater than those for XP, and you haven't told us
what your configuration is.

Alternatively you can install Windows 7 RC, and then change to the
released version after October 22. That's probably a better choice
than either XP or Vista.

2- Can XP be upgraded to Windows 7.

No.


I have read that in order to do the
upgrade, I have to delete all the files from my hard drive and do an clean
install. Can someone elaborate on this.

That's correct. You can upgrade from Vista to Windows 7, but not from
XP to Windows 7. With XP, a clean installation is required.

 

[JS]

Windows 7 - Version Prices "As of June 25th 2009"

Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer:
Home Premium Upgrade for $49
Professional Upgrade for $99
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order-email.aspx

Microsoft Store Stated:
"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)."

"If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade
versions. But you must back
up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications."

http://www.microsoftstore.com/s/windows7?WT.mc_id=pointitsem_win7_generic_upgrade&WT.srch=1

Note: Prices may vary from store to store.
"The offer begins on June 26, 2009 and will continue while supplies last or
until July 11, 2009, whichever comes first"

These are estimated retail prices (US Dollars) for upgrade versions:
Windows 7 Home Premium: $119.99
Windows 7 Professional: $199.99
Windows 7 Ultimate: $219.99

Estimated retail prices for the full packaged retail versions:
Windows 7 Home Premium: $199.99
Windows 7 Professional: $299.99
Windows 7 Ultimate: $319.99

Windows 7 system requirements:
http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements

Windows 7 - Compare Editions
See: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions

If you plan to run older XP software programs then you need at least Windows
7 Professional and hardware that can support "Windows Virtual PC":
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx

If you plan to switch between multiple languages or use BitLocker then you
need Windows 7 Ultimate

More info on BitLocker Drive Encryption:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/bitlocker

Windows 7 Starter Edition:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions

Windows 7 Enterprise:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/products/windows-7-enterprise.aspx

Windows 7 system requirements:
http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements

Note: Microsoft's states that Windows XP users will need to do a clean
install.
Also going from any 32bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows
7 will also require a clean install. "Microsoft designed Windows 7 Upgrade
media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7
Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install, and then
reinstall their applications."

However I have found a path from Windows XP to Windows 7:
(that may work for some XP users): "In-Place Upgrade Windows XP to Windows
7"
http://www.pagestart.com/upgradexptowindows7.html
(This article will be updated as more information becomes available)

In short if you have Vista install it, live with the pain for a few months
and
the upgrade to Windows 7.

 

[sgopus]

Where would you get the RC version? I want to dual boot and test it

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Where would you get the RC version? I want to dual boot and test it
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

 

[sgopus]

Thanks Ken, I'll be checking out the install routine also, don't want to mess
up my existing xp pro OS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks Ken, I'll be checking out the install routine also, don't want to mess
up my existing xp pro OS

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Wednesday, July 08, 2009 4:44:04 PM, and on a
whim, sgopus pounded out on the keyboard:

Thanks Ken, I'll be checking out the install routine also, don't want to mess
up my existing xp pro OS

If you just install Win7, the Win7 bootloader will install in the XP
partition. My suggestion is to install a boot manager like GAG, set the
new partition "active" and hide the XP install. I had read that it
didn't make any difference on hiding, but I installed Win7 4 times and
each time it installed its bootloader in the XP partition. Not until I
hid it did it finally install everything in it's own partition. That
way if you want to get rid of Win7, you can just delete the partition,
rather than go through the hassle of getting rid of the bootloader and
associated files and folders.


Terry R.

 

[sgopus]

So you're saying create the new partition for RC 7, install GAG mark xp as
hidden, and then install RC 7?

I am somewhat familiar with dual boots, but haven't marked any partitions as
hidden, is this done within GAG or something else?

What size of partition is recommeded for RC 7?

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Thursday, July 09, 2009 2:30:01 PM, and on a whim,
sgopus pounded out on the keyboard:

So you're saying create the new partition for RC 7, install GAG mark xp as
hidden, and then install RC 7?

I am somewhat familiar with dual boots, but haven't marked any partitions as
hidden, is this done within GAG or something else?

What size of partition is recommeded for RC 7?

You can use a partition manager like EASEUS to create the partition,
hide XP, set the new partition active and reboot.

You can install GAG after. You may want to get familiar with it prior
to the install so you can get used to the way it works.

Since I already know there are quite a few hardware and software issues
with Win7, I won't be moving from XP for a long time. So I only created
a 40 gig partition to test some video software. I already have a
partition that holds most of the programs I use and I share it with the
other OS's to keep the OS partitions small (about 4-7 gig). So when I
install them in a new OS, I point the install to the Programs partition.

Terry R.

 

[sgopus]

Thanks, that works, I have PM to create partitions and mark them.

 

[Doum]

The date and time was Wednesday, July 08, 2009 4:44:04 PM, and on a
whim, sgopus pounded out on the keyboard:



If you just install Win7, the Win7 bootloader will install in the XP
partition. My suggestion is to install a boot manager like GAG, set
the new partition "active" and hide the XP install. I had read that
it didn't make any difference on hiding, but I installed Win7 4 times
and each time it installed its bootloader in the XP partition. Not
until I hid it did it finally install everything in it's own
partition. That way if you want to get rid of Win7, you can just
delete the partition, rather than go through the hassle of getting rid
of the bootloader and associated files and folders.


Terry R.

I don't want to hijack this thread but I think it is related,

I just downloaded Win 7 RC, let's say I install it on separate HD the
usual way, at the restart I'll get a choice for choosing the OS I want to
load.

I was planning to archive my actual "boot.ini" file somewhere else.

Let's suppose I don't want Win 7 anymore in the near future, I thought I
would just have to format the HD where it is installed and copy my old
"boot.ini" back on my C drive and it would be like Win 7 never existed on
my PC.

Am I missing something?

TIA

Doum

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Thursday, July 09, 2009 4:05:01 PM, and on a whim,
sgopus pounded out on the keyboard:

Thanks, that works, I have PM to create partitions and mark them.

Partition Magic won't work for Vista/Win7. I have it also but can't use
it past XP. EASEUS will work with Vista/Win7.


Terry R.

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Thursday, July 09, 2009 7:07:09 PM, and on a whim,
Doum pounded out on the keyboard:

I don't want to hijack this thread but I think it is related,

I just downloaded Win 7 RC, let's say I install it on separate HD the
usual way, at the restart I'll get a choice for choosing the OS I want to
load.

I was planning to archive my actual "boot.ini" file somewhere else.

Let's suppose I don't want Win 7 anymore in the near future, I thought I
would just have to format the HD where it is installed and copy my old
"boot.ini" back on my C drive and it would be like Win 7 never existed on
my PC.

Am I missing something?

TIA

Doum

If you installed it on the same drive as XP (or a different drive), and
get the option for Win7 or XP, the Win7 bootloader installed itself in
the XP partition, so boot.ini isn't really being used any longer. Look
in the boot.ini file and you'll see the entries Win7 put there.

Google search dual booting Windows 7 and you'll find a lot of info. The
only thing I found that wasn't mentioned was I had to hide my XP
partition in order to get Win7 to not install the bootloader in the XP
partition. After four attempts I finally got it the way I wanted it.


Terry R.

 

[JS]

Terry,

I been reading this with interest.
Does this mean that after all is said and done
that the two OS(s) are not joined at the hip
and you don't need BCD Edit when dealing
with the XP OS or to put it another way, you
are now able to remove the Windows 7 drive
or partition and XP will boot just fine?

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Friday, July 10, 2009 9:11:10 AM, and on a whim,
JS pounded out on the keyboard:

Terry,

I been reading this with interest.
Does this mean that after all is said and done
that the two OS(s) are not joined at the hip
and you don't need BCD Edit when dealing
with the XP OS or to put it another way, you
are now able to remove the Windows 7 drive
or partition and XP will boot just fine?

Yes. I didn't want the Win7 bootloader installed in XP, and wouldn't
give up until it installed itself completely in its own partition.


Terry R.

 

[Doum]

The date and time was Friday, July 10, 2009 9:11:10 AM, and on a whim,
JS pounded out on the keyboard:


Yes. I didn't want the Win7 bootloader installed in XP, and wouldn't
give up until it installed itself completely in its own partition.


Terry R.

I found this when I searched about dual boot.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/17/how-to-uninstall-and-remove-
windows-7-or-vista-leaving-windows-xp-on-dual-boot-system/

What is the problem having the bootloader in XP?

How about restoring an image of the XP drive made with Acronis True Image
before the dual boot is created?

I am still searching for the simplest way to do this and I am a bit
nervous about damaging my XP installation.

If I take your approach, do I hide the XP partition from within GAG?

I did not find the command to do this in "Disk management".

I also thought about disconnecting my XP drive (physically), install Win7
on another drive, reconnect the XP drive and change the boot disk in the
BIOS when I want to use either OS, can it be done this way?

TIA
Doum

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Saturday, July 11, 2009 10:09:52 AM, and on a
whim, Doum pounded out on the keyboard:

I found this when I searched about dual boot.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/17/how-to-uninstall-and-remove-
windows-7-or-vista-leaving-windows-xp-on-dual-boot-system/

What is the problem having the bootloader in XP?

If having Win7 dependent on the XP partition to boot doesn't bother you,
no problem.

How about restoring an image of the XP drive made with Acronis True Image
before the dual boot is created?

That won't help Win7 boot after you restore XP.

I am still searching for the simplest way to do this and I am a bit
nervous about damaging my XP installation.

If I take your approach, do I hide the XP partition from within GAG?

You need to read comments carefully. No, GAG is only a boot manager.

I did not find the command to do this in "Disk management".

It's not there. EASESUS PM can.

I also thought about disconnecting my XP drive (physically), install Win7
on another drive, reconnect the XP drive and change the boot disk in the
BIOS when I want to use either OS, can it be done this way?

TIA
Doum

Yes, and then use GAG.

Terry R.