Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7
- I have run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor and found that my system will have no conflicts.
I am currently running Windows XP SP3. I want to know how the Windows 7 upgrade process will work.
Windows XP came with my Gateway computer so I only have restoration disks and not the retail Windows
XP disks. From what I have seen on the Windows 7 site, it says I would need to back up my files and do
a clean install.
I have made several upgrades to my system since I purchased the computer and the Windows XP restoration
disks do not have drivers for some of the things I have added. This caused a recent attempt at a clean
Windows install to fail. It seems the restoration disks are pre- service pack 2. I had to take my computer
to a local company that fixes computers just to have XP reinstalled using my valid product key, because
the disks I had would not work any more.
I have been unable to find any information on either the Windows 7 or Windows XP sites that explain how an
upgrade version will check for a previous version.
I need to know if buying an upgrade version could cause the same problem I had in the past if I needed to
reinstall Windows completely.29 people need an answerI do too
All Replies
- You put in the upgrade disc, it launches setup through autorun, you choose "custom" install which is the clean install, it detects you're running XP and goes from there
Jonathan Matthis aka "7tester" on MSN QnA
Chief Site Administrator
Windows 7 QnA
http://windows 7qna.ning.com- Proposed As Answer byJonathan Matthis aka 7tester Monday, June 29, 2009 1:19 AM
What would happen if the hard drive died and needed to be replaced?
The XP restoration disks will not allow me to reinstall XP because of the
hardware changes I have made. Would I be able to install Windows 7
using the upgrade disks alone or would I be out of luck?- I'm confused why the reinstall discs would fail because I've never had the issue with XP discs, I've completely rebuilt a machine and a clean install with XP with the reinstall disc worked just fine, but it just asked me to insert a Windows 2000, NT, 98 or 95 disc to continue the installation. So running under the assumption that the XP discs won't fail, you'll still be fine.
Jonathan Matthis aka "7tester" on MSN QnA
Chief Site Administrator
Windows 7 QnA
http://windows 7qna.ning.com - When I made the upgrades last year, I changed the motherboard, processor and video card. At that time I didn't reinstall windows, I simply hooked up the hard drive that has XP installed on it from the original build of the computer and everything worked. Several months later something happened to Windows and it would no longer boot, so I attempted a fresh install. The install would start, but it would only run for a short time before it gave me an error that indicated it did not recognize some of the new components, possibly the PCI-e slots on the new motherboard, because the original motherboard had only PCI. No matter what I tried the install would not go past this point and would not allow me to use the drivers that came on a separate disk with the motherboard.
My main question is whether or not the upgrade disks will on allow me to install on a system that does not have a working version of XP on it.
Will it just ask me to insert the XP restoration disks to verify that I have them and install the Windows 7 upgrade or not? - according to Microsoft, it will just ask you to insert an XP or Vista disc during a clean installation if the Windows 7 installation does not see a XP or Vista installation already on the drive.
Jonathan Matthis aka "7tester" on MSN QnA
Chief Site Administrator
Windows 7 QnA
http://windows 7qna.ning.com - My understanding from all I've read is that the pre-VISTA technique of using a disk to validate which stopped with VISTA will not work with WIN 7 and that you have to have XP installed on the computer drive.
That's fine if you are "upgrading" an existing computer but what happens if you subsequently have to replace the hard drive when it fails (all hard drives fail!)?
Suppose it is an HP or a Compaq with a recovery partition and no media supplied and that you have been short-sighted enough not to make the media -- you have to go buy media from HP, install XP on the new drive and then install WIN7 so that it can remove XP.
I can see a scenario in which once you have done an XP "Upgrade" as they specify and activated WIN 7 then subsequently you would be able to install from the same WIN 7 Upgrade Version onto a blank drive because the installaation procedure could go on line and check the MS data base of legitimate KEYs and OK the installation on the blank drive.
But unless MS have thought this one through -- and it is a situation that is going to be common in the real world -- then we the users have a problem which means Microsoft will have one.
Can we possibly have an official Microsoft answer on this one please -- I do support work on Computers on Compuserve and elsewhere as a volunteer and we all need to know.
Hugh - Hi Hugh,
In order to upgrade there has to be an installation of Windows already on the computer, so if you want to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, Vista would have to be installed for Windows 7 to allow the upgrade.
Not only that but the prior version of Winodws Vista has to support the upgrade to the version of Windows 7 that is being installed. For example Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate.
If someone had to replace the Hard Drive in the machine, Windows Vista would first have to be installed for Windows 7 to allow the upgrade.
In the case of an OEM recovery partition, you could perform the recovery from that partition, then perform the upgrade to Windows 7.
If that is not an option (replaced too much hardware as mentioned above) the recommendation would be to create an installation disk from that recovery partition (if that is an option) or request to have an installation media provided from the manufacturer OEM (like Dell, HP, etc).
I hope this helps
If you find that my answer was what you were looking for, please remember to click the "mark as answer" box below!- Marked As Answer byKevin HauMSFT, ModeratorSaturday, September 05, 2009 5:46 PM
- Unmarked As Answer bybaghtru Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:01 AM
- Unmarked As Answer bybaghtru Thursday, September 17, 2009 4:01 AM
- Could someone from Microsoft, that knows for certain, just answer my question without all the extra unnecessary information thrown in. I have Windows XP recovery discs that came with my Gateway computer. Can these be used with Windows 7 upgrade on a new hard drive that does not have any previous version of Windows installed on it? I only need a yes or no answer to my specific question.
- Judging on past experience, you can be very, very sure this won't work. Microsoft loaded its XP upgrade software code that senses any major changes to the hardware and then refuses to install (of course, not until after you'd waited 45 minutes for all the files to unpack). A new hard drive or CPU was a certain trigger.
Once this happened, you had to call Microsoft, speak to one of their underpaid people in Bangalore, and beg for a new code that would allow you to run the software you'd already paid for.
For as long as I can remember, Microsoft has been a company that does not give a toss about your time. It will happily waste it whenever it suits its commercial agenda. Expect the worst, and do not make any assumptions based on fairness or common sense.
How unfortunate that this company weilds such power over our lives. Hi Hugh,
In order to upgrade there has to be an installation of Windows already on the computer, so if you want to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, Vista would have to be installed for Windows 7 to allow the upgrade.
Not only that but the prior version of Winodws Vista has to support the upgrade to the version of Windows 7 that is being installed. For example Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate.
If someone had to replace the Hard Drive in the machine, Windows Vista would first have to be installed for Windows 7 to allow the upgrade.
In the case of an OEM recovery partition, you could perform the recovery from that partition, then perform the upgrade to Windows 7.
If that is not an option (replaced too much hardware as mentioned above) the recommendation would be to create an installation disk from that recovery partition (if that is an option) or request to have an installation media provided from the manufacturer OEM (like Dell, HP, etc).
I hope this helps
If you find that my answer was what you were looking for, please remember to click the "mark as answer" box below!
With all due respect Kevin, your answer is in direct conflict with what Jonathan is saying. Both are claiming to be official Microsoft answers. Do you see why we the "unwashed" are totally confused? We need an OFFICIAL answer from Microsoft on how the upgrade is going to work. The Vista method is very unfriendly to the end user.- Edited bydigitalexplr Saturday, September 05, 2009 10:15 PMgrammer
Hi Hugh,
In order to upgrade there has to be an installation of Windows already on the computer, so if you want to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, Vista would have to be installed for Windows 7 to allow the upgrade.
[ .... ]
I hope this helps
If you find that my answer was what you were looking for, please remember to click the "mark as answer" box below!
Unfortunately this does not help since my questiion was related to a system with only XP installed. I know that MS explains how it will not upgrade as it does with VISTA but will move all the XP stuff into an Old Files folder and do a clean install on the former XP disk.
So to repeat my question -- with an XP only installation if there is a disk replacement needed does one have to begin by installing XP on the new disk and then install WIN 7?
Two additional questions:
Given a computer with only XP Pro on it and a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade on order will this version of Windows 7 install by replacing XP Pro?
Given a computer with only XP Pro on it and a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade on order will I be able to make a dual boot installation leaving XP and adding Windows 7?
These are real, not abstract questions, which I need answers to.
TIA
Hugh- Thank You Kevin for that good explanation!!
I'm in a strange situation..
I'm running Windows 7 RC on an eeepc 1000H, and it works faster than XP!! GOOD!!! Only some trouble with the video card...
The question is:
I live in the US but I'm from Italy, so my XP version is an italian version. May I buy the Windows 7 US upgrade and run it??? It will recognize a different leanguage version or it will stop??? I need to but a full version??
Thanks - Hi, Because you will have to do a clean install. You can choose the language during set up. It should not matter. But to be on safe side, why not buy the upgrade version from an Itanian website. Slan go foill, Paul
Hi, thanks Paul for the reply!! I have a very good discount from the place of my work and I want to take advantage of it. It's not a problem of OS leanguage, every OS that I had was in English, only that PC has in italian. I prefere english leanguage. The problem is about compatibility of the US apgrade with a non-US Windows XP!
- go to this like and read what it says all about upgrading, you must do a clean install...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7 - read this and it will tell you all about upgrades, you can not really do one because of the c math check out this line:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7
