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Windows 7 upgraders guide: The simple version
First, let's spell out the important terms.
In-Place Upgrade: means one you can run from your current Windows desktop. If f you currently own a laptop or desktop with Windows Vista Home Premium you will be able to boot up your computer as normal, pop in your Windows 7 Home Premium disk, and upgrade Windows. Your existing data (music, pictures, etc.) and programs are automatically moved.
Custom Install: "Custom" here really means "new," "fresh," or "clean." When you finish installing Windows your new desktop will be pretty bare - none of your old programs of data will be there, so you'll need to back them up first. Custom installs can't be performed from your existing Windows desktop. You have to force your system to boot from the Windows 7 DVD instead.
We'll take a thorough look at doing just that in an upcoming DLS 101 post.
Windows XP and Vista Starter can't be upgraded: You can probably still install Windows 7, but the in-place upgrade is not an option for any version of Windows XP. All moves from XP to Windows 7 must be done through a custom install. It's also worth pointing out that Vista Starter Edition was never made widely available in developed nations.
32 and 64-bit: Windows XP and the many flavors of Vista are available in 32 and 64-bit versions. If you are planning on doing an in-place upgrade, you must purchase the same bit number Windows 7 as your current Windows Vista.
Upgrading to Ultimate: Any version of Windows Vista (except Starter) can be upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate.
Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, and Business upgrades: If you aren't upgrading to Ultimate, you have to match things up. Both home versions can only be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium. Vista Business can only be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional.
One last word on custom installs: No need to worry about matching here. If you're booting from a Windows 7 DVD and doing a new Windows install, the restrictions in the upgrade chart don't mean anything to you.
Comments
29
Subscribe to commentsJonAug 7th 2009 9:51AM
I don't the whole hoopla over this ... Why would anyone want a inplace upgrade to a New OS anyway ? time to back up your files and start new
ArnieAug 7th 2009 9:57AM
I am really pissed at the Vista Ultimate requiring a clean install when I move to 7 Pro. I got Vista Ultimate and actually bought Windows 7 Professional(Upgrade of course) & I wanted to do a normal install but apparently will have to do a clean install.
FNGAug 7th 2009 10:26AM
get over it. a clean install is the only way to go no matter what. upgraders are just asking for problems
ArnieAug 7th 2009 10:46AM
Its not so much as program installs I mind. I am a coder and I hate having to import my projects files etc. after a fresh install. Also, its a chore- as simple as that.
My game installs are also painful taking at least 2-3 hours to download and install.
Sax25Aug 7th 2009 11:35AM
@Arnie
As a coder, the fact that you do not appreciate a clean install when moving to a new OS probably doesn't make you a serious or decent coder at all. In place upgrades just bring across lots of problems and a golden rule for coders to keep things clean should mean that you of all people should appreciate a clean install over an upgrade. Of course since that's a chore for you, I can only wonder what your code looks like.
ThunderbuckAug 7th 2009 1:46PM
If you use Windows Easy Transfer it will make your upgrade almost as painless as an "in-place" upgrade, with all the benefits of a clean install.
Even if you have files elsewhere (folders on the C root, for instance), Easy Transfer will find them and put them right back in the same place on your new install.
Only two issues: it can be a lengthy process (possibly overnight), and you have to reinstall your apps. Reinstalling apps isn't a bad idea, anyway.
ArnieAug 7th 2009 1:59PM
Thanks Thunderbuck. Will look into it. Appreciate the comment.
Also to the poster above him, I am surprised that you can deduce my code quality over a comment. Where I work, usability and convenience is king with performance at the same level of importance. Thinking that something is inconvenient means just that. If everybody thought that doing it always "right" is better then we would be still stuck in UNIX. I demand convenience and as a customer I think it is my right. Just because I can technically do a clean install does not mean I should. Consumer software should "just work" out of the box and I dont consider an OS any different.
MollyAug 7th 2009 10:04AM
"Your existing data (music, pictures, etc.) and programs are automatically moved."
... and the same goes for all that garbage from your previously screwed up windows installation :)
Lee MathewsAug 7th 2009 10:04AM
Slow down Molly, I'm trying to take notes here....
Sax25Aug 7th 2009 11:30AM
Molly = The Official Anti-Microsoft Troll
HeimbachaeAug 7th 2009 12:51PM
molly = my hero
kojo87Aug 7th 2009 11:22PM
Molly = correct. its not anti-Windows its just true
r3loadedAug 7th 2009 11:14AM
All this kerfuffle over upgrades - just use the Windows Easy Transfer app that's on the Windows 7 disc, do a clean install, then run Easy Transfer to copy your stuff back. Job done.
ThunderbuckAug 7th 2009 1:50PM
Agreed. I've used Easy Transfer on several systems now, and I was really impressed. Even kept my old desktop wallpaper.
90% of the ease of an in-place upgrade, with 100% of the benefit of a clean install.
AshishAug 7th 2009 11:15AM
I think Microsoft's version did a good job of telling an end user his options.
For example, if I have Vista premium, I can quickly scan through to see what versions I can upgrade to.
Your version and other simplified versions are good for the tech blogger, software seller etc etc, who need to remember all permutations and combinations.
JonAug 7th 2009 11:34AM
Easy Chart for you : Buy any upgrade version you like and do a Clean 64x install .. There is really no reason not to be using 64x ..if your printer doesn't work , your printer is old .. I was fearful when i moved to 64x and nothing happened except everything was faster (well with the 8GB of RAM i added) .. My Mother in law has a 64x laptop not knowing anything about computers and it works great for her
If you have 4Gb or more get 64x and if you don't have 4GB or more , buy more it is dirt cheap : )
FernandoAug 7th 2009 11:50AM
Here is the easy way to look at it LOL http://www.apple.com/macosx/
MollyAug 7th 2009 12:30PM
"Molly = The Official Anti-Microsoft Troll"
that's right! :)
now, if you only read my post, then you'd know that all i'm saying is that an 'inplace upgrade' is bearing incredible risks, a great many things can and will go wrong. thus i will not endorse this method of installation.
i am indeed a great admirer of Bill Gates and Microsoft (and IBM indeed), without their efforts, computers would be still 'geek' material for a rather small community of enthusiasts.
yet i will not chime into this windows 7 hype, mostly generated by well paid IT journalists and kids, who have grown into a DRM plagued world, thinking this is some kind of normalcy and who are currently enjoying a free ride on some torrented Windows 7 release.
i have said time and time again, when people have lost respect for property (intellectually or otherwise) then there is something fundamentally wrong. something you certainly cannot correct with DRM or other user control mechanisms.
now if Microsoft has so little faith in their customers, why should customers in turn have faith in Microsoft Corp.? Microsoft has been wasting valuable resources for the development of "anti piracy technology" which turned out to be worth a damn, which added to even more security exploits, which earned them nothing but laughter and mistrust, yet they decided to continue on this path.
sure, folks, systems are so powerful these days, you don't mind if the odd cpu cycle is used to poll for drivers that may have been tampered with to tap into HD content ... if we check every few minutes whether Windows is still activated or if it has been replaced with a pirated copy ... if Windows is 'phoning home' (with or without your consent), do you?
well, I do mind! imho, Windows, by definition, is not an operating system anymore, it has evolved into a user control system. if that is what you want, well, go and get it, but don't tell me it is the best thing since sliced bread, i ain't gonna buy it.
hazardAug 8th 2009 7:15AM
"an 'inplace upgrade' is bearing incredible risks .."
agreed
"i am indeed a great admirer of Bill Gates and Microsoft (and IBM indeed), without their efforts .."
Laughable. MS maybe the most successful software company so far but I find it hard to believe the IT landscape would have not progressed without them.
"mostly generated by well paid IT journalists and kids .. "
you're in serious denial with that one
"when people have lost respect for property .. "
It's called the human condition
"now if Microsoft has so little faith in their customers .. "
MS would have not make the profits it has made without a licensing model. It may have been easy to crack in each iteration but that does not obviate the need of having it.
"if Windows is 'phoning home' (with or without your consent) .."
I hate when any software phones home without being instructed to do so or asking first. That's why I use third party firewall. Better to be proactive about it rather than crying about it.
"it has evolved into a user control system ..".
Windows is same as any other other proprietary OS in this regard.
kayosAug 14th 2009 3:11PM
microsoft for the loss... never as simple as it could be.