Win 7 Beta Upgrade to Win 7

SIMP

Member
Hello again,
I have a quick question for you. I have both the 32 & 64 bit RC betas with legit keys from MS.

I have ordered the Win 7 Upgrade. I plan on using the activated beta and simply upgrading that with the Win 7 upgrade disk.

Let's say my hard drive crashes a few months after I've upgraded via the Win 7 disk. Will the beta version of Win 7 still be able to be installed, activated then upgraded via Win 7 upgrade disk a few months or even a year from now?

I guess I'm just wondering how long I can count on Win 7 beta to be considered an upgradeable OS to use the Upgrade disk with.

Thanks for your feedback on this thread!
 
You can no longer activate the Windows 7 Beta, so it will not work for upgrade.

You can, however, use the Windows 7 Release Candidate until June 1, 2010.

After that, you will need to install and activate a previous version in order to upgrade to Windows 7.
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Microsoft allowing people to do a clean install using the upgrade win7 oem dvd? I thought I read that somewhere. Or maybe I'm getting my facts mixed up.
 
I should also clarify that what I have is actually the RC version, not the older beta releases. Thanks.
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Microsoft allowing people to do a clean install using the upgrade win7 oem dvd? I thought I read that somewhere. Or maybe I'm getting my facts mixed up.

Upgrade and OEM are two different products, and OEM hasn't been announced yet, BUT:

Yes, you can clean install with the Upgrade disc.
While in Windows (your current version) simply put the Windows 7 Upgrade disc in and run the Setup.
It will back up your data to a folder called WINDOWS.OLD and clean install.

I should also clarify that what I have is actually the RC version, not the older beta releases. Thanks.

Beta is what you stated. The RC is different. :good:
 
So, the upgrade disk will come with it's own Key to use?

This means I'd be able to install it via clean install and simply use the key that comes with the upgrade disk. That's exactly how I handled it with Vista when I owned an upgrade disk. I believe I used the "Custom" install option to get the clean install from the upgrade disk. It sounds like Win7 will be identical.

Looking forward to it.
 
So, the upgrade disk will come with it's own Key to use?

This means I'd be able to install it via clean install and simply use the key that comes with the upgrade disk. That's exactly how I handled it with Vista when I owned an upgrade disk. I believe I used the "Custom" install option to get the clean install from the upgrade disk. It sounds like Win7 will be identical.

Looking forward to it.

It is not the same as Vista.

With Vista, you could format your hard drive, install the Upgrade without entering the key, basically installing a trial version, non activated. Then you'd run the upgrade install again and enter your key and voila.

Windows 7 Upgrade requires you to have an activated copy of Windows already installed and running. You insert the disc, run the Setup and it backs up your data to a WINDOWS.OLD folder and clean installs Windows 7.

At some point during the install is where you enter your Upgrade key.
 
Oh, I see. So, it's a clean install but with your all of your old data in the WINDOWS.OLD. However, you can only install it if the disk see a legit, activated copy of windows first.

If I remember correctly, once I installed the Vista upgrade "twice", I could simply delete the Windows.old folder and there you go. A nice fresh, clean install. ;)

Bodaggit23 = :gun: a Simp?
 
I wonder if someone was running a legit copy of Vista x86 and used a Win7 x64 upgrade disk if it would allow the upgrade to go take place. Just curious, that's all.
 
Oh, I see. So, it's a clean install but with your all of your old data in the WINDOWS.OLD. However, you can only install it if the disk see a legit, activated copy of windows first.
Correct

If I remember correctly, once I installed the Vista upgrade "twice", I could simply delete the Windows.old folder and there you go. A nice fresh, clean install. ;)
Basically the same thing, yes

I wonder if someone was running a legit copy of Vista x86 and used a Win7 x64 upgrade disk if it would allow the upgrade to go take place. Just curious, that's all.
Yes, that's the intent of an "Upgrade". To upgrade the OS, leaving your programs and data in tact.

Bodaggit23 = :gun: a Simp?

If this was meant to imply that I may be getting frustrated with you, don't give it another thought.

I enjoy helping. :good:
 
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