Know this about a Windows 7 Upgrade

**rockymtnhigh** · 10-23-2009 08:03 PM

I had purchased a Windows 7 Professional upgrade for my Quad Core Desktop, which is currently running Vista Home Premium. I put the DVD in the drive and started the upgrade. Windows informed me I could only do a clean install from Home Premium to W7 Pro. There is absolutely nothing on the W7 package that says that, but I confirmed it online.

Very irritating. I am not in the mood to do a complete cleansing of the computer, and just wanted to do the upgrade. What I have learned is that you can only do Version to Version upgrades, unless you are upgrading to Ultimate (then it would apparently be ok). Otherwise, you need to use the clean install route.

As a result, for the time being I have a Professional update set (which I now cannot return to Amazon since I opened the package), that is a $99 waste of money.

I'll probably just put it on the classifieds and try to unload it for about $85 or $90, to recoup most of my investment.

**Frank Jr.** · 10-23-2009 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by rockymtnhigh

I had purchased a Windows 7 Professional upgrade for my Quad Core Desktop, which is currently running Vista Home Premium. I put the DVD in the drive and started the upgrade. Windows informed me I could only do a clean install from Home Premium to W7 Pro. There is absolutely nothing on the W7 package that says that, but I confirmed it online.

Very irritating. I am not in the mood to do a complete cleansing of the computer, and just wanted to do the upgrade. What I have learned is that you can only do Version to Version upgrades, unless you are upgrading to Ultimate (then it would apparently be ok). Otherwise, you need to use the clean install route.

As a result, for the time being I have a Professional update set (which I now cannot return to Amazon since I opened the package), that is a $99 waste of money.

I'll probably just put it on the classifieds and try to unload it for about $85 or $90, to recoup most of my investment.

Damn that is a p*sser. Mine will be premium to premium. After you simmer down for a while you may want to go ahead and install it. What a PIA that is though. Hang in there!

**tigerfan33** · 10-23-2009 08:38 PM

How much RAM do you need to run Windows 7?

**rockymtnhigh** · 10-23-2009 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by tigerfan33

How much RAM do you need to run Windows 7?

I don't know. I have 4GB on my new W7 laptop. But I think 2GB is the minimum, but I could be wrong.

**rockymtnhigh** · 10-23-2009 09:18 PM

Another irritant -- tried to setup my wife's printer with my laptop; no go. HP has not released drivers yet. Its not like they have NOT had access to the betas and release candidates.

**JAG72** · 10-23-2009 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by rockymtnhigh

I had purchased a Windows 7 Professional upgrade for my Quad Core Desktop, which is currently running Vista Home Premium. I put the DVD in the drive and started the upgrade. Windows informed me I could only do a clean install from Home Premium to W7 Pro. There is absolutely nothing on the W7 package that says that, but I confirmed it online.

Very irritating. I am not in the mood to do a complete cleansing of the computer, and just wanted to do the upgrade. What I have learned is that you can only do Version to Version upgrades, unless you are upgrading to Ultimate (then it would apparently be ok). Otherwise, you need to use the clean install route.

As a result, for the time being I have a Professional update set (which I now cannot return to Amazon since I opened the package), that is a $99 waste of money.

I'll probably just put it on the classifieds and try to unload it for about $85 or $90, to recoup most of my investment.

W7 Pro is pretty much a waste unless you need to join your computer to a domain or want automatic data backup to a server.

**JAG72** · 10-23-2009 09:26 PM

Right now one of the best upgrade deals retail is the W7 Premium Family Pack. You can upgrade 3 computers for a total of $150.

**JAG72** · 10-23-2009 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by tigerfan33

How much RAM do you need to run Windows 7?

1GB for 32 bit and 2GB for 64 bit.

**DodgerKing** · 10-23-2009 09:28 PM

Not a waste if you can get free copies...

**Pepper** · 10-23-2009 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by rockymtnhigh

I had purchased a Windows 7 Professional upgrade for my Quad Core Desktop, which is currently running Vista Home Premium. I put the DVD in the drive and started the upgrade. Windows informed me I could only do a clean install from Home Premium to W7 Pro. There is absolutely nothing on the W7 package that says that, but I confirmed it online.

Very irritating. I am not in the mood to do a complete cleansing of the computer, and just wanted to do the upgrade. What I have learned is that you can only do Version to Version upgrades, unless you are upgrading to Ultimate (then it would apparently be ok). Otherwise, you need to use the clean install route.

As a result, for the time being I have a Professional update set (which I now cannot return to Amazon since I opened the package), that is a $99 waste of money.

I'll probably just put it on the classifieds and try to unload it for about $85 or $90, to recoup most of my investment.

interesting. Here's a possible upgrade path, untested by me but who knows it might work. If you have a good image backup it's worth a shot.
- copy the content of your DVD to a folder
- delete sources\ei.cfg - (interesting fact: all retail discs are the same and contain all editions, with the exception of this one file which determines what edition to install, with it gone you will be able to choose the one you want)
- run setup
- choose to upgrade to home premium.
- don't enter a key.
- once it's finished run setup again. upgrade to Pro.
- put in your key, activate, done!

For what it's worth, Ultimate is only $20 more than Pro, not quite the ridiculous extra cost it used to be. Worth it to avoid this hassle, plus you get bitlocker and can install additional languages.