Windows upgrade

psp83 · Aug 18, 2010, 18:24:42

Hi all.

I'm looking to upgrade my Vista laptop to Win 7 and I forgot what MS said about the upgrades.

The laptop is Vista home so if I buy Win 7 home premium upgrade.. that should work ?

Cheers

Rik · Aug 18, 2010, 18:27:15

I'll let someone give you a sensible answer, Paul.

Glenn · Aug 18, 2010, 18:27:42

I would always do a full install rather than an upgrade. Home to Home should work, though.
http://lifehacker.com/5152335/windows-7-upgrade-details-for-xp-and-vista-users

Steve · Aug 18, 2010, 18:29:40

I do a clean install with upgrade media http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

psp83 · Aug 18, 2010, 18:30:35

Quote from: Glenn on Aug 18, 2010, 18:27:42
I would always do a full install rather than an upgrade. Home to Home should work, though.
http://lifehacker.com/5152335/windows-7-upgrade-details-for-xp-and-vista-users

Its the laptop family/friends use so I aint that bothered lol..

DorsetBoy · Aug 18, 2010, 20:06:12

Quote from: psp83 on Aug 18, 2010, 18:30:35
Its the laptop family/friends use so I aint that bothered lol..

In that case why not take advantage of the prices HERE as children/parents qualify for these editioins and get a top spec edition ?

With the upgrade packs you can install or upgrade as you choose.

Den · Aug 18, 2010, 20:51:53

Vista home to W7 premium must be a clean install, you can only upgrade like for like.

Niall · Aug 18, 2010, 21:18:02

I was on Vista home premium and found out the hard way I couldn't upgrade. I lost about 25gb of music (I spent last night ripping my CDs. 4.75gb in 3 hours so far!).

A full install of Windows 7 pro and after I got used to things moving around (as you do with a new o/s) and I really like it. One thing I will definitely say about the o/s is that is is MUCH faster. It's ridiculous how much of a speed increase I've seen. Loading programs, boot times and some games I have run so much better it's stupid. I can't wait to get a hardware upgrade. A hex core CPU with more ram and an SSD drive and I'll be blinking and missing stuff

Simon · Aug 18, 2010, 21:55:51

Quote from: psp83 on Aug 18, 2010, 18:30:35
Its the laptop family/friends use so I aint that bothered lol..

Except you'll get it back if it goes wrong.

psp83 · Aug 18, 2010, 23:37:25

Quote from: DorsetBoy on Aug 18, 2010, 20:06:12
In that case why not take advantage of the prices HERE as children/parents qualify for these editioins and get a top spec edition ?

With the upgrade packs you can install or upgrade as you choose.

Do you need any ID or anything to buy on that site?

DorsetBoy · Aug 19, 2010, 06:21:03

Quote from: psp83 on Aug 18, 2010, 23:37:25
Do you need any ID or anything to buy on that site?

Not that I know of, several people I know bought there, I of course found out about the place after I had bought a family upgrade pack.

Edited to add :

Quotehttp://www.software4students.co.uk/AboutUs.aspx#hiw

.........The main requirement in this programme is that the end user licensee is a student in one of our participating schools/colleges. There are 18 million qualifying students in the UK. It is very easy to register all you need to do is give the student name and school/college they are in, provide your address details and you're done!

How it Works
================

All you have to do in order to get the best software at the best price is follow these 4 simple steps:
1. Register as a Member

All you have to do is select the school or college you are associated with, then enter your name and contact details. You are now registered.
2. Select Software

Browse through the categories on the left hand side of the page. Once you've found your product, click on the 'Buy Now' button to add it to your cart. You can then either select "Continue Shopping" to purchase additional products or "Check Out" to proceed to the next stage: Make Payment.
3. Make Payment
You can make a payment either by using a credit or debit card. For your safety, we require the full name and address of the cardholder for verification. We will send you an email confirming your purchase which serves as your receipt. Shopping is 100% secure. Guaranteed.
4. Install Software
Your media will then be mailed to you. It is usually delivered within three working days, but may take up to ten days depending on delays and other factors. Once you have received your media, you can install it using the product activation key. Product Keys for installation are located on the back of the disc sleeve.

I just signed up, you add your title, the students name, select or type in the school/college, give email and password ...... done.

Grandparents can also register to purchase software for their grandchildren .

DorsetBoy · Aug 19, 2010, 06:37:17

Quote from: Den on Aug 18, 2010, 20:51:53
Vista home to W7 premium must be a clean install, you can only upgrade like for like.

Sorry but that is nonsense ! The impossible upgrade is from a 32bit to a 64bit platform.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-considerations.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772579(WS.10).aspx

The site in question only provides Ultimate or Professional unde this scheme and the upgrade/install paths are clearly shown here >>

http://www.software4students.co.uk/Windows_7-software.aspx

Den · Aug 19, 2010, 07:39:05

I had Vista Home Premium on both my machines but I bought W7 Premium and Pro versions but it would only let me install Pro as a clean install and NOT as a upgrade over Vista Premium so I ended up putting it on the laptop as I did not want to reinstall all my programs. I checked at the time and was told by Microsoft that upgrading from one level to a higher version could not be done.
The chart shown on Microsofts Link in the previous post shows that moving from Vist Home to Pro is a custom installation, read again.

Steve · Aug 19, 2010, 07:59:06

It can be done possibly? but you need 2 Windows 7 DVD's one with the compatible upgrade version i.e home premium and then do a Windows 7 Anytime upgrade and use the product key from say Windows 7 professional.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/12/24/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-vista-home-premium-or-home-basic-to-windows-7-professional/

Seems messy but at least it keeps your clutter and unused apps from your previous Vista install.

DorsetBoy · Aug 19, 2010, 08:40:37

Quote from: Den on Aug 19, 2010, 07:39:05
I had Vista Home Premium on both my machines but I bought W7 Premium and Pro versions but it would only let me install Pro as a clean install and NOT as a upgrade over Vista Premium so I ended up putting it on the laptop as I did not want to reinstall all my programs. I checked at the time and was told by Microsoft that upgrading from one level to a higher version could not be done.
The chart shown on Microsofts Link in the previous post shows that moving from Vist Home to Pro is a custom installation, read again.

Sorry but you keep moving the goal posts Den.....

Quote from: Den on Aug 18, 2010, 20:51:53
Vista home to W7 premium must be a clean install, you can only upgrade like for like.

You did not mention the Pro version and the statement you made is that "you can only upgrade like for like" which is not true in all cases.

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Niall · Aug 19, 2010, 15:12:24

He meant pro, which is why I mentioned it too. there's only one vista package you can upgrade from looking at that link, which is the business package of vista, whatever that is.

Den · Aug 19, 2010, 17:50:43

I was not going to bother answering as I read it the same as you Niall. So thanks for jumping in

Rik · Aug 19, 2010, 17:53:48

It's a Wrexham thing.

Glenn · Aug 19, 2010, 17:54:41

To me, all an upgrade achieves, is to bring all the rubbish your last OS has collected over time, to your new OS.

Niall · Aug 19, 2010, 18:24:03

Quote from: Glenn on Aug 19, 2010, 17:54:41
To me, all an upgrade achieves, is to bring all the rubbish your last OS has collected over time, to your new OS.

I was wondering about that. Although, from the drivers I've looked at, they all seem to be the same for Vista and Win7 as one download seems to support both. I didn't risk it with the Creative drivers though, because they're a nightmare at the best of times. I'm glad it was a full install though, as you say it's cleaning out the cr*p that is a bonus on this aspect, plus your PC will no doubt run faster if there's less cr*p on it.