windows 7 confusion

[nhan]

hey guys,

I have a stupid question and haven't been able to find a direct answer to my problem, hoping you guys could point me in the right direction.

I have a dell laptop running Vista home premium. I did the compatability test for Win 7 and it says that my system is compatable for upgrade. Now if I want to do a fresh install, instead of upgrade (I read that it's always recommended to do a fresh install over upgrade), would my system still be compatible? Do I have to worry about installing new driver or update bios or chipsets, etc.......

Also, what is the difference between OEM and retail operating system? Some say that it's not a lot of different, some say that it has to do with licensing (how many different computer I want to install using the same OS, etc...)?

if you guys could clear up these confusion, I would really appreciate it. Thanks a whole bunch.

Nhan

[ryuk999]

If you only install Windows 7 on the partition that Vista was on, then you should be fine (under the assumption you already did a system backup on another drive for other personal data). Don't erase the recovery partition.

An OEM operating system will only let you install that operating system on THAT computer, but an unlimted amount of times. What you can't do is install Windows 7 on another computer. However for a retail version, you can install it up to (I believe) 3 different computers. There's a catch, you can only have 1 of those computers activated.

So in the end, it's only beneficiary to get the retail version if you plan on your current laptop breaking to the point of buying a new laptop that doesn't have Windows 7 already installed. If not, go with the OEM copy. You'll save about $100.

[nhan]

thanks for the reply, what do you mean by not deleting the recovery partition? what's the point of keeping the recovery partition when I am not gonna be using it since I want to install Win 7? thanks

[kbkatz]

"don't delete the Recovery partion". Dell computers have their HHD partitioned so you can always "reset" the computer back to it's factory defaults (like you originally received it). When you are prepared to WIN7 just be sure to install it onto the partition that is NOT the recovery one.

Side Note: on a Dell laptop press CTRL+F11 to use the recovery partition.

[nhan]

thanks kb, I know what the recovery partition does, but I guess I am trying to clear up the confusion is that what you guys are saying is that I shouldn't delete the recovery partition when I install Win 7 in just I change my mind or if there's something, I could always go back to Vista with the factory setting, right?

But what I am trying to get at is this, do I even need to keep the recovery partition at all, if I don't want to deal with Vista anymore, I just want to use Win 7, and if there's something wrong during installation or if I have to reformat, I could keep trying with Win 7, and don't have to deal with Vista at all. So, with that I was wondering, if I deleted the recovery partition, would I have problems at all, now or in the near future when I install Win 7? sorry, if I am rambling a bit, and keep going back to this, just want to completely understand it before I install Win 7. Thanks guys.

[MikeMoss]

Hi
You don't: believe me once you have Windows 7 installed you will not want to go back.

If you have an external hard drive I would back everything up to that before doing you install.
If you don't you can buy one for around $70.
There will always be something that you forget to copy, Address books, Favorites etc. it's easier to just copy the whole drive, then you can't miss.

I don't think you will have any problems with the upgrade, I have done 4 computers so far and it only takes about 25 minutes on the average. Much faster then installing Windows XP.

I think this covers pretty much everything.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ndows-7-a.html

Good Luck

Mike

[nhan]

perfect, thanks guys. Exactly the kind of answer I am looking for. All I have to do now is keep vista for a bit longer to study for the A+ exam, then I am gonna get rid of it for good. thanks again.

[Anomo]

Doesn't the OEM license also crave that it is a completely new computer that has never had an OS on it before? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that on a site (dustinhome.no) that sells OEM licenses.