Full Upgrade, Retail Or OEM
Jul 8, 2009
Are all the pre-order deals for upgrade software rather the full retail versions?
I have shelled out quite a bit on WinXP over the past few years and more recently due to both desktop and laptop falling over at the same time.
I want to be able to install any new operating system I buy on new hardware when that becomes necessary.
I have to be very sure. I am not wasting any more dosh on OEM versions.
It seems to me that just because you get a full version rather than an upgrade, that is something different to the license being OEM or Retail.
Full or upgrade version is not really the issue (although full is obviously better). For me it is about the license to install on new hardware as I upgrade that without buying a new copy of windows.
Does 'full' also mean that the install will not be tied to a previous copy of windows being installed first (or having the key for that version to hand)?
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Feb 12, 2010
I was looking at getting windows 7 and hoping to do clean installs on a couple of machines and don't know which version to choose. I was looking at the w7 professional upgrade because I read that you can do a clean install with the upgrade disc and it's cheaper but I was not sure because I have an xp pro upgrade disc which says in the manual you can do a clean install but I could not (tried to put it on my laptop and do a clean install over vista but wouldn't let me.)
If you can do that, what is the difference between an upgrade clean install and the regular install disc? My other question is, if I buy the full retail version how many machines can I install it on and will they go into non genuine mode after the product key is used once?
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Apr 24, 2012
what is the difference between upgrade and full retail version of windows 7.
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Jan 31, 2010
whats the difference between upgrade and full retail of win 7?
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Oct 5, 2012
Can i use win 7 pro full retail to upgrade from vista business I do not want to have to GO AND INSTALL ALL THE PROGRAMS PUN WITH VISTA?
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Jul 11, 2009
can i somehow use my vista disc at some point to allow the Windows 7 retail install to upgrade the Windows 7 RC AND NOT HAVE TO REINSTALL MY PROGRAMS?
i currently have vista 32 bit home premium. i have the install discs for it too.
i want to create another partition and put Windows 7 RC 64 bit on it (dual boot).
i have Windows 7 home premium pre ordered.
i want to upgrade Windows 7 RC to the retail when it comes out, WITHOUT REINSTALLING MY PROGRAMS.
i read the Windows 7 retail discs will allow you to upgrade the Windows 7 RC, but you will have to reinstall programs.
i am wondering if using the vista disc will allow me to upgrade and keep my programs.
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Sep 17, 2009
will windows seven retail upgrade over windows seven RC ?
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Dec 7, 2009
I made an ISO of my genuine Windows 7 Professional upgrade DVD and then downloaded a genuine Windows 7 Ultimate ISO. While I was deleting the ei.cfg file, I noticed that the folders and files are all the same. So is there any difference between the upgrade DVD and the retail DVD?
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Nov 2, 2009
so I'm confused with upgrading to windows 7. i am currently running the windows 7 RC and for upgrading to the full version I'm unsure if i need to buy the retail version of windows 7 or if i can use the upgrade disk for windows 7.
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Oct 5, 2009
i use xp pro sp2 retail on my main well gaming rig. i ordered the Windows 7 hp upgrade and will ship 10-22-09.
if i read right. when i upgrade to Windows 7 my key for my retail xp pro sp2 will be no more good. i will not be able to install or use my retail xp again. is this right?
well. a bud sent me a oem sp3 copy of xp pro some months ago. its still sealed and i never opened the package. i am afraid of sp3 is why i have not used it yet. so.. but. my question is and if i will lose my retail xp key if i upgrade to Windows 7. should i upgrade to Windows 7 using my oem xp sp3 disc. and keep my retail key etc.
so. id guess first i need to back up and save what i need to keep. files etc. then nuke reformat and install my oem xp. just basic install and i guess register it. and then upgrade fresh install Windows 7. if this will work im fine with it. yes its the extra steps to first install the oem xp version maybe. but id like to save my retail xp key. i do have another computer i guess i could use xp on for a while to come. i have not been using my second pc. ive been afraid to install or use xp sp3.. so i have not used my oem xp sp3 yet.
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Oct 21, 2009
I have purchased 2 retail copies of Windows 7 Pro for 29.99 with my student discount. If you have questions as to how I achieve this go to this thread
Full Retail Version of Pro For Students only 29.99
I now have another computer that I want to put Windows 7 pro on. I am thinking about purchasing an upgrade key and just using the retail version to install so I don't have to reinstall Vista in order to do the upgrade.
Anyways, do you think I could purchase an upgrade key, install with my retail disk without filling out the product key and then activate with the upgrade key?
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Oct 27, 2009
I was just consulted on by a teacher who had a student that purchased Windows 7 and just received it in the mail. It was an upgrade, he couldn't find a product key. He was wondering if your current os's product key doubled as your 7 key. I would assume it wouldn't, and he just over looked Microsoft's master of disguise product keys.
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Dec 11, 2009
I apparently cannot change the product key from a Windows 7 Ultimate eval copy 7100 to a retail Ultimate product key and have it activate properly. The process tells me my key is not valid...is that correct? I do not see anywhere an activation phone number to call.
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Aug 12, 2009
I have Vista x64 right now and I keep wanting to install the 7100 build beta that I downloaded a while back. I plan to buy the 3 pack of Windows 7 when it comes out but I am wondering if installing the beta build now will make upgrading harder down the road. Doing a clean install is just way to hard considering all the terrabytes of programs and data that I would have to either re-install or manually try to put back into it's original places.
I know a lot of people preach that doing clean installs is so much better. In my experience this has never really helped. I have on numerous occasions done clean installs and they never did seem to work any better or any faster than the upgrades that I have had installed for years. The only time I think you need to do a clean install is if you have stability issues with your hardware causing your OS to go flaky or if you neglect your OS and leave all kinds of crap floating around on it. We have one machine running Windows 2000 since 2000 and it is used daily without any problems or corruption whatsoever.
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Nov 23, 2009
Is the in-place upgrade to Windows 7 possible with
a) retail versions
b) OEM / OSB / SB version?
Or do I have to buy this special "upgrade version"?
I only get contradictorily information (very frustrating!) and need advice from your side.
P.S. Yes, I know about the pros and cons in general regarding in-place upgrade vs. clean installation.
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Jul 17, 2009
is it in any way possible to:
1) install windows 7 RC as the home premium version (not ultimate). i heard you can edit some file to allow this.
2) when the retail version of windows 7 home premium upgrade comes out, use that to upgrade my RC installation AND KEEP MY INSTALLED PROGRAMS?
i heard you can do a custom install which makes a windows.old folder. i am looking to NOT do that.
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Oct 25, 2009
My question involves upgrading a home desktop to Windows 7 Ultimate. I have a copy of Windows XP Professional and Windows Vista Ultimate which are Academic versions I purchased at a discount from my university. (I already purchased the Student Windows 7 edition for my laptop).
**Are the academic versions of Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows XP Professional eligible for the Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Box Upgrade?**
I do not want to purchase the Upgrade retail box version to then learn the Academic version of XP and Vista are not eligible for the Upgrade version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Or will I need to purchase the Full Retail Box version to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate?
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Jan 11, 2012
I am waiting to be approved by my school for msdnaa access but am not sure what it offers is what I need. Is what they offer equivalent to a retail version of windows 7, oem or upgrade?
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Nov 30, 2009
For people that brought computers with Vista but promised a Windows 7 upgrade, did you get a OEM disk, or you got a retail one with a serial number?
I'm curious because I want to upgrade my desktop (Vista HP x64) to Windows 7 instead of my laptop. Is that possible?
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Sep 6, 2011
Having read some threads I am under the impression I won't have to purchase another copy of windows but I was wondering what I will have to do in order to continue using the same copy of windows.
Some people have indicated that I will need to contact Microsoft but I couldn't determine if they meant the automated phone number used to activate Windows or if was another number?
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Jun 27, 2009
I have heard horror stories about upgrading to a new OS from and old one (95 to 98, 98 to Me, Me to XP, etc, etc) and that it is better to buy the full version and start with a clean slate... is there any truth to that? Are the Marketing Nazis behind this myth just to make you spend, yet, more money?
Frankly, I have never purchased any Microsoft OS until SP1 is out due to the bugs and glitches but, after testing the Windows 7 RC, not to its fullest of course, but to the extent of my liking, which by the way, is as far as I am ever going to take it anyways, I am thinking of dumping Vista x64 and just stick to 7.
Sure, there are still things that I can't do with 7 that I used to be able to do with XP easily but I am managing w/o them or trying to be patient with it... of course, that is not here nor there!
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Jan 5, 2010
Which would be more beneficial to have?
We all know you can do a clean install with upgrade from XP to Windows 7. But are there any actual benefits of buying Full over Upgrade?
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Sep 18, 2009
I might be getting a student deal for Windows 7 Ultimate. I noticed though that the box says "UPGRADE". So my question is with the key, if I download the RTM release of 7 Ultimate x64 can I use that key considering its the full and not the upgrade? Or does Microsoft specify their keys for full and upgrades?
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Jul 14, 2010
I'm looking at upgrading to windows 7 And I'm a student so I know where to go shopping! I'm running Xp x64bit sp2 and I'm wondering what the diference is in the full and the upgrade? Will I be able to a "format" in the upgrade version?
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Oct 11, 2009
I am Currently running Windows XP Pro. I know I qualify to buy the Windows7 upgrade editions. I plan to install it on a new hard drive but the old hard drive will be there for upgrade verification. What happens if I later decide to wipe out my Windows 7 installation and do a fresh install? Or if my hard drive craps out and I need to do a fresh install? At that time I will not have an activated Windows XP os. Would I be better off with a full version of Windows 7?
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Oct 22, 2009
I have read here over the past few months that just about every upgrade disc of Windows allows a clean version install from within an already running copy of Windows. Has anyone tried this yet with Windows 7?
I've got the RTM version of Windows 7 installed currently obviously and would like to know if I can just buy the upgrade and not the full version (trying to save my pennies).
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May 13, 2009
I'm loving Windows 7 at the moment, but was wondering when the "full" product is released, do I need to do a fresh install, or will I be able to buy a key to activate the full product?
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Aug 25, 2009
I am building a new desktop so I will need an operating system. For the new desktop the full version of Windows 7 will work just fine. Question: Can I use Windows 7 full to upgrade Vista on my laptop as well?
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Sep 28, 2009
Suppose I have a Windows XP pro x86 on my box, and I'm buying Windows 7 retail to upgrade my system. My search tells me that I can buy the Upgrade version to upgrade. I know it's not a direct upgrade.
My XP was upgraded from Windows 2000, which was upgraded from Windows NT 4.
Questions:
What if the unthinkable happens and I need to reformat my hard drive?
Q1: Will I be able to reinstall Windows 7 using the upgrade disc? Or do I have to reinstall XP, then perform the "upgrade" again?
Q2: Will I be better off buying the full version? Can the full version be used to perform this "upgrade"?
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Oct 8, 2009
I just recently purchased Vista Ultimate x64 OEM edition. It came with the free Windows 7 upgrade code.
However, I HATE upgrading. I would much rather do a fresh install of Windows 7.
Is upgrading still bad enough that I should purchase the full DVD? Or should I stick with my free upgrade and just try and suffer through it?
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Oct 14, 2009
The cost of the full version of Ultimate makes me want to throw up but I may not have a choice. I'm running Win 7 Ultimate RC. I do have Windows Vista Home Premium but haven't installed it since the first Win 7 beta came out. I do a lot of experimenting and frequently have to reinstall the OS. It's fun.
I like to do it. My question is if I bought the upgrade would I have to install Vista first everytime and then use the upgrade? Since I do frequent fresh installs I'm betting that the full version is the way for me to go.
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