New Win7 Ultimate Upgrade-need help!

[thorlo6]

Okay guys, here's my problem. Building a new PC, but some parts are coming from my old desktop, thereby my problem. So you can understand whats going on my new build is as follows: Rosewill Ranger M MicroAtx Case, Pentium G640 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz LGA 1155 Dual Core Desktop CPU with HD Graphics, Biostar H61MHB H61 LGA1155 HDMI MicroAtx MB, Antec NEO ECO 400 Watt PSU, EVGA GeForce GT 520 (Fermi) 2GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Video Card, PNY Optima 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory, SYBA SD-PEX63034 7.1 Channels 24-bit 48KHz PCI Express x1 Interface Surround Sound Digital/Analog Audio Card, and MS WIN 7 Ultimate Upgrade OS. My HDD I am using is a Hitachi 7200 RPM 500 GB with MS WIN XP Home edition with Sp 3 already installed with more software and digital copy movies than you are I care to mention, but its all that software and digital copy movies I don't want to lose that is my problem. So what is the best way of upgrading to the WIN 7 ULT without losing my software and movies? I mean it's been 8 years since I built a PC, so I am very rusty at this.

[jdeb]

Back them up on an external Hard drive.

You can not install Window 7 upgrade over XP. Vista or Windows 7 versions are the only qualifying OS's.

[strollin]

Originally Posted by jdeb Back them up on an external Hard drive. You can not install Window 7 upgrade over XP. Vista or Windows 7 versions are the only qualifying OS's.

While it's not possible to do an in-place upgrade from XP to Win7 (meaning you have to do a clean install), an XP license certainly QUALIFIES for an upgrade.

You won't be able to back up your programs, only data. Programs will need to be re-installed.

There is a way you could do an in-place upgrade but I personally wouldn't recommend it. You could upgrade XP to Vista then upgrade Vista to Win 7. This would preserve all of your programs and data but I would be concerned with how stable the OS would be after 2 upgrades.

[thorlo6]

I'm confused JDeb & Strollin. On Windows web site for XP they have an article about upgrading XP to Win 7. In it they talk about needing to select the Custom option during install. Could you clarify what they and you are talking about?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by thorlo6 I'm confused JDeb & Strollin. On Windows web site for XP they have an article about upgrading XP to Win 7. In it they talk about needing to select the Custom option during install. Could you clarify what they and you are talking about?

You can do that with a full or OEM version but not the upgrade version. You would chose custom install and that would preserve your old xp data so you could migrate it or use the easy transfer method. With easy transfer, you have to install it in XP but is included in W7. You would still need to re-install all your applications.

Personally. I would back up all your data files (XP) on a different hard drive or some sort of storage media. Zero fill the hard drive and perform a clean installation of W7. You can buy W7 64bit OEM for around 100.00 at New Egg and occasionally for 88.00 when it goes on sales. Ultimate is more for very little features.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116997

[strollin]

You can use the upgrade media to install Win 7 on an XP machine but you can't do an upgrade install. You have to do a clean or custom install which involves wiping out your previous XP installation so you definitely want to backup all of your data.

Here's a link to how to do a clean install with Win 7 upgrade media: clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

I agree with jdeb that Ultimate doesn't really give the average user enough extra features to warrant the cost. For most users, Win 7 Home Premium is all they need and spending the money for Pro or Ultimate isn't worth it unless you have specific needs.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by strollin You can use the upgrade media to install Win 7 on an XP machine but you can't do an upgrade install. You have to do a clean or custom install which involves wiping out your previous XP installation so you definitely want to backup all of your data. Here's a link to how to do a clean install with Win 7 upgrade media: clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media I agree with jdeb that Ultimate doesn't really give the average user enough extra features to warrant the cost. For most users, Win 7 Home Premium is all they need and spending the money for Pro or Ultimate isn't worth it unless you have specific needs.

Is it legal to do that? I stand corrected if it is . I don't have time to double check today but I was under the impression you could only upgrade from Vista and other W7 versions.

[strollin]

Yes, perfectly legal and above board. Here's a quote from a MS FAQ regarding upgrading from XP to Win 7:

I'm running Windows XP on my PC. Can I buy the upgrade version of Windows 7?

Yes, you can buy the upgrade version of Windows 7, but you'll need to perform a custom installation. This means that you should back up all of your files to an external location and gather the installation discs or setup files for programs that you want to use with Windows 7. For detailed instructions, see Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.


Link to FAQ: upgrading-to-windows-7-frequently-asked-questions

If you have a Windows version older than XP (like Win 2000 or Win 98) then it's not legal since those licenses don't qualify for an upgrade to Win 7.

[thorlo6]

That's what I thought they were saying on MS Windows! That's ok then, I don't mind doing all that transfer stuff. I borrowed my son's Ext 500GB HDD that he had purchased to use on his XBox 360 and then found out it wouldn't work. So this was just sitting around and I only have, with my OS of XP, on my HDD only 76GB of programs and software, with most of it being music and movies. THanks guys, you have completely relieved me. The Reason I chose Ultimate is because of the ability to use XP Mode, also my wife okayed the funds for it. We are both disabled and funds are short so she runs the budget, I have a tendency to spend too much.

[glc]

Professional is cheaper, and supports XP Mode.

[thorlo6]

While what you say is true, I've already got Win7 Ult. so I will run with it.