Seeking clarification on win7 install

[DaFanMan]

Hey guys,
Ive got a digital river download of academic win 7 pro 64, and im not clear about something..

I just finished earlier today formatting and partitioning a drive to put this rascal on, am I to understand that I cannot install win7 on a bare drive??

Seems that ive read more than once that a previous ver of windows has to be on the drive at the time of the install??

Can anyone clarify??

Thanks

laterz
dafanman

[Sick Willie]

If it's the upgrade version, you may or may not have some (minor) issues. As per a link provided by our own mr_raider: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/cle...rade_media.asp, there are various workarounds.

[low_dough_tb_1g]

Depending on the agreement with Microsoft and your academic institution, you may have an Upgrade only version. This is the situation I have with the version I can get from my University bookstore.

If this is the case, it needs to see an install of windows when you boot from the disk, otherwise it will not activate. You can do one of the following with the version I have:

1. Do not format the drive with any other method, boot from the disc, choose custom (not upgrade) delete the partition and clean install
2. Install a version of windows on that clean partition/drive, then upgrade or clean install by booting from the disc
3. Follow the instructions at winsupersite.com to install an upgrade only version to a clean partition :
   http://community.winsupersite.com/bl...he-answer.aspx

I installed the RC version of Win7 Ultimate an an empty 1TB WD drive, then installed the University upgrade version that I am using now.

[Lenny]

I know you've already done the format but in the future the better option is to not format in advance, choose Custom(Advanced) during the Win7 install and format during the install. This has worked 100% of the time for me for 3 installs using the Win7 Home Premium Upgrade.

[curlysir]

I had no problem installing and activating the upgrade on a freshly formatted HDD. If it will not activate saying it is for upgrade only then update over the fresh install and it will activate. The link provided previously go into details.

[DaFanMan]

I thank everyone for the imput, I simply have not kept up with what was happening with Win7.

I just completed the install, activation and updates and am now setting it up the way I want.

Many thanks.....

Laterz,
dafanman

[American Zombie]

windows 7 upgrade is an upgrade

[Starr69]

I had no problem doing a clean install on my laptop with the home premium upgrade media.

[LouTheBlueGuru]

If you have *retail upgrade* (I preordered mine) then the instructions on the box say that you must reformat if you are using XP. It actually tells you, you must do a *clean* install. If you are doing a clean install on a reformatted disk, then how would the upgrade know what was on there before? I did a custom install and reformatted my disk with Vista on it and it worked fine. Activation worked and everything runs as advertised. I think the problem with upgrading from a clean install is with those without a retail upgrade of Win 7.

[Sick Willie]

If you have *retail upgrade* (I preordered mine) then the instructions on the box say that you must reformat if you are using XP. It actually tells you, you must do a *clean* install. If you are doing a clean install on a reformatted disk, then how would the upgrade know what was on there before? I did a custom install and reformatted my disk with Vista on it and it worked fine. Activation worked and everything runs as advertised. I think the problem with upgrading from a clean install is with those without a retail upgrade of Win 7.

Well, to be literal, a *clean* install does not mean you have to format your hard drive. It means that Windows gets to recreate the main directories that it uses. Vista, and Win 7, will copy the requisite directories to directories under Windows.old and then do the install.

In partial emulation of this action, I will often (when there is nothing wrong with the disk), but a clean install of XP is required/desired, rename Windows, Program Files and Documents and Settings to *.old and then do the install. This way, there is no worry about losing a customer's data because it hasn't been touched. After copying back any desired data, an rd "directoryname" /s/q will reclaim the disk space.

I've even had multiple installs of (the same version) Windows on the same partition with each having its own sets of directories named *.1. *.2, etc.

I also know that the OEM version of Win 7 handles the replace of XP in the same manner unless you choose to format the drive: it will move the above mentioned directories to Windows.old and then do the install.

[LouTheBlueGuru]

Well, to be literal, a *clean* install does not mean you have to format your hard drive.

I completely agree with you Willie, but that was not my point. My point was that you can install the upgrade on a *completely formatted* drive as long as you have a retail copy. The instructions on the box only say a "clean install" and do not specify what kind of clean install. Those having problems appear to not have a retail copy no matter what kind of clean install they try.

It appears MS put full product keys on their initial retail release of the upgrade disks so you can do any kind of install you want. I think the idea was to make it easy for all the many users running XP to upgrade since there is no in-place upgrade for XP like there was from XP to Vista. MS may change their mind or may have already, but for now it works with a retail upgrade. I just finished my second machine with a completely formatted disk with no problem and others have reported similar results. My upgrades were legal, but it does open a door for illegal abuse.

You should reference a site like the one Willie gave or:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...7-version.html

[Sick Willie]

To be sure, using an upgrade disk on a formatted drive, as long as you have a prior license, is within the purview of an upgrade license and should be allowed...and a clean install is definitely the way to go. I'm happy to see MS go back to the "old" way (maybe further than that if not asking for proof before installing the upgrade).

The one thing that I am disappointed in is that it appears MS has moved back to the separate discs in that a Home Premium disk only installs HP. With Vista, all versions were on the same DVD as long as staying within the correct 32bit/64bit realm.