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Microsoft on upgrades from Windows 7 beta to RC: Please don't
And there's a good reason for that: When the company releases the full version of Windows 7 most people aren't going to be upgrading from a pre-release version. They'll be upgrading from Windows Vista or performing a fresh install. (Microsoft has already said there will not be an easy upgrade path from Windows XP). And the whole point of putting out betas and release candidates is to test software in real-world conditions.
In a blog post, Microsoft's Windows 7 team is encouraging beta testers who plan to upgrade to the release candidate to revert to Windows Vista before upgrading, or to do a fresh install of the new release candidate. The team acknowledges that this will be a real hassle for anyone that has started to use Windows 7 beta as their primary operating system. But that's what you get for treating beta software as if it were a finished product. It isn't.
In the blog post, Microsoft does offer instructions for upgrading from an existing Windows 7 build to a newer version. But it requires tweaking some system files and there's absolutely no guarantee that the process will go off without a hitch. In fact, it sounds likely that you will experience some problems if you go this route, and Microsoft has no plans to figure out how to fix these errors because this isn't the usage scenario the company expects real world users to follow.
[via CNet]
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsr3loadedApr 8th 2009 3:55PM
*sigh* I expected this to happen, considering it's quite clearly *beta*. It's just that my laptop's Vista install seems so slow in comparison...
Avi FrischApr 8th 2009 3:59PM
What I do not get is why they cannot allow the upgrade without these shenanigans and just give a severe warning that it might cause problems. Its not like those of us actually using Windows 7 are actually going to listen and reinstall all of our software.
The GnomeApr 8th 2009 4:35PM
No problem.
Fresh install!
mrm3x1canApr 8th 2009 4:45PM
"...because this isn't the usage scenario the company expects real world users to follow."
Good thing I'm not from the real world then....
iuqiddisApr 8th 2009 4:57PM
I think they mean that a non-beta tester, average person, will simply update from vista to windows 7, which is fine.
However, an average person will not update from vista to windows 7 beta to windows 7, so they are not too concerned about fixing kinks that arise from this pathway.
Farseer (GDI)Apr 8th 2009 5:11PM
I'm with The Gnome.
If you are afraid of a fresh install, my friends, then you should stay away from beta testing an OS.
ToddApr 8th 2009 5:44PM
Lee Mathers: "I can haz RC?" ( http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/04/08/possible-windows-7-rc-build-leaked-to-torrent-sites-screenshots/ )
Brad Linder: "You can no haz"
Me: "do nawt want!"
Green_OgreApr 9th 2009 7:41AM
It's honestly worth it in my opinion. Windows 7 has proven to me that Microsoft has learned from Vista, and brought themselves a truly great Operating System. So yeah, I'll erase my hard-drive to install the RC and then the full version once it comes out simply because it's worth it. (Being truthful here, not sarcastic.)
BrianApr 9th 2009 7:42AM
I don't understand what the big deal is. It's easy to wipe your drive and do a fresh install. Just remember to backup your data first :p
RickApr 9th 2009 5:07PM
i would have done the fresh install anyway. lol