Microsoft Outlines The Rules For Windows 7 RC Upgrading

Just open the file cversion.ini in the sources folder on the iso or disc and change the version number. It sounds down and dirty but it works, or seems to so far. I can update and everything seems to be getting along with the new windows build. Since you own the software I don't see why it would be too much of a problem to edit a file, reburn and enter your purchased code.

I don't have the website with me but I found this fix on what I think was a Microsoft sanctioned website of some kind. Point is that it worked.

hope that helps.

Joshua L Lewis

Doesn't matter to me really. I'm buying a new fully-loaded machine anyways, Nothing but 7 hehe.

nerve11

@Pope John Peeps II: You're all a bunch of morons and assholes.

@GHETTO.CHiLD: Your key is what makes it an upgrade or not. The disc in the upgrade box is exactly the same disc in the full box, which is exactly the same disc in the Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate boxes. The product keys in those boxes are what designate them as upgrade or full, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate, E, K or N.

@hightouch: It differentiates based on key entered. All Windows 7 discs contain all product editions (upgrade/full, Starter/Home Basic/Home Premium/Pro/Ultimate, E/K/N). The edition, license and version that gets installed depends wholly on the product key you enter.

I hate that... when I upgraded all 3 of my PCs from Vista to 7 RC I was planning on just being able to plop the Update disc into the drive, punch in my old Vista serial code and be on my merry-fuggin way.

But you know, maybe it was my fault for thinking that Microsoft would actually want to help out there customers who are super thrilled to get their new OS instead of making everything a goddamn hurdle.

I almost regret buying 3 Windows 7 upgrade discs now... almost. Your lucky the damn OS is awesome. I will, however, think twice before upgrading my system to your beta and RC clients in the future. You can find other testers, thankyouverymuch.

If you buy the upgrade, could you install a copy of Win7 from someone else's DVD then just use the key you received with the upgrade package? I think that would be much easier if it doesn't differentiate based on the key entered.

hightouch

I can understand why Microsoft is doing this; with Vista it was possible (and in fact rather easy) to clean-install an Upgrade version without a valid previous Windows license; simply install it once without a product key using Home Basic, then do an Upgrade Install with your product key. Voila, full-install Vista for an Upgrade price.

Obviously, they want to prevent that ability with Windows 7, and given the system they've set up--where Activation is the only real way to verify that your Windows installation is legit--they have to make sure your previous Windows install is activated before it can be used for upgrades.

But the solution shouldn't be to force users to reinstall the previous version just to use the new version. The solution should be to make users enter their previous-version product key as well as their current-version product key, and activate BOTH. That would serve the same purpose and be nearly as convenient as the old upgrade eligibility check, where all you had to do was insert a previous-version install disk to pass.

In any case, there's a good chance Windows 7 will be stable enough that many users will never need to reinstall it, so hopefully this issue becomes moot.

@trnsilver: yes, i went back to 1st grade. i have the fondest memories of the 1st grade. it was a silly insult because i don't worry wanna say something mean to you. i have nothing against you, but do enjoy giving you a hard time. and i wouldn't give you so much grief if i hadn't been in your shoes and gone and done what you should have. oh, and also i thought Peeps was mostly right your response was mostly wrong.

Nick

@Nick: Blam is a chick? Ewwwww.....

@Nick2: Do you mean the hack where you edit the "cversion.ini" file (inside the windows 7 cd's "sources" directory) to replace "MinClient=7233" with "MinClient=7100"???

@jerNELS: Is there built in "Windows validation" with 7?

FrankenPC

@Beastage: That's not true. If you read the Chronicle piece, he got this detailed info straight from a Microsoft spokesperson.

@ISOHaven: Well, aside from the fact that this is NOT A FORUM FOR HELP and asking for help on its face is kind of a dick move.... the simple use of the word "please" isn't actually polite sometimes, and is often used as a sort of aggravating demand. Let me demonstrate:

PLEASE SHUT UP!!!

See, according to your previous comment, you can't actually get mad at me because I said please. If you get mad at me, you're obviously a "prick" or an "a-hole" who "either can't read or are too dense to understand what they are actually reading". I'd tell you your comments aren't worth spit, but we both know that already so I won't be redundant.

EDIT: I don't generally come back to threads more than twice, and I know I just burned you badly but I'm going to do you a favour and save you some time. Whatever high-school level flame post you decide to respond with won't actually reach me. You should just cut your losses. Even if I come back to see what you wrote, it won't actually make me mad, because I really just don't care.

Hopefully we'll be able to edit the ini file on the disk to make it think that this can be upgraded from, similar to the beta->rc upgrade hack.

They should just have you activate your xp/vista key along with your upgrade key at the same time... and allow clean installs that way.

Get More (hassle) Now.

Loonie

I hate that even windows 7 cant import from windows.old wtf MS seems like a pretty easy task.

@huth.sebastian: Not familiar with how this would work with Time Machine and Snow Leopard. But would it be anything like Windows Easy Transfer where the OS saves all your user settings and files so you can migrate and simply run the program on the new computer / installation to restore everything?

CaptCaveman

It's a good thing then that I intend to simultaneously buy Windows 7 and a new hard drive for my laptop, so I can start clean :)

jlarroulet

@CiroDike: Borrow a disc from a friend. You legitimately own Vista so there's nothing wrong with that.

This is an improvement in the allowability of fresh installs from upgrade copies over Vista, so I'll take it.

jrronimo

@NotSoSiniSter:

if you don't want to do the upgrade path like you mentioned you could just purchase the full win 7 version when it is released and just do a straight install.

laughingisfree

I don't have a problem with doing a fresh install, as long as the programs/files in the WINDOWS.OLD folder are accessible, and the folder maintains the original folder structure (so I can retrieve any custom program settings/configs).

so if im on the RC right now, and perform a fresh install, i have to install XP then upgrade from xp. thats stupid as hell.

NotSoSiniSter

This is total bullshit. You people think you're all smart but you believe in obvious lies like this. No matter how hard you try to bring down MS, you won't succeed. Now go back to work you douchebags.

nikaru

i dont understand the whole "upgrade" thing. its pointless.

NotSoSiniSter

Cool no big deal. I was expecting to do this anyways since the intention of the win7 RC was to try it out and not use it as primary OS.

laughingisfree

All things considered, this isn't that bad. At least you don't have to back up all your save files and what not to a flash drive, you can just find them in the "Windows.old" folder. And maybe the transfer wizard will work, who knows.

thebigcheese

@ISOHaven: Thanks, will do in the future.

trnsilver

@CTJoyce: I go one step further. When Windows 7 drops, I'm moving my drive to an external chassis, and Windows 7 will be installed on a fresh new drive. Then I'll copy over the essentials from the old drive, and after that the old drive will be parked on a bookshelf.

@Beastage: Quiet, you. We don't like voices of reason 'round these parts.

@huth.sebastian:

MS have that with file and setting transfer wizard... and they have upgrade.

@trnsilver:

Don't listen to these douches. Many people on this site are nothing but a-holes.

Deus beat me to it. Your question is answered. Just let the other pricks be pricks and wait for a real answer.

It's clear by the FACT that you used the word PLEASE that all these other morons either can't read or are too dense to understand what they are actually reading. So in turn their comments aren't worth spit.

ISOHaven

@Digital9: NOW you're gettin' it.

@DeusExMach has jumped the snark: Snark kills Dumbledore!

@whiteknight89 still plays DiabloII: BTW, thanks, but I saw that post months ago. It talks about a clean install from Vista to Windows 7 not from a reformatted drive to Windows 7 without installing Vista, which is what my question was. So good job with the condescending post, but that is not what I was looking for and was something I had already read.

trnsilver

Backup, reformat, install from scratch. Clean install. Safe, fast, more reliable.

thebear91

a MS spokesperson didn't confirm anything, some dude on some blog says they did... MS didn't outline anything here... ffs

They'll never learn. Not a fanboy, but look at Apple: Install Snow Leopard, migrate from Time Machine and you're done.

@Nick: It's a comment section about a Windows 7 article talking about upgrade. There should be NO HARM in asking a question here. Other than you being a douchebag who would rather trash someone than answer the question. I was on a Microsoft Windows message board trying to find the answer and none of them knew...so I figured the readers of Gizmodo might. Far be it for me to try to jump in on your little party. Great insult by the way, did you have to go back to 1st grade to come up with it?

trnsilver

@trnsilver: if you have posted on tons of message boards than you should recognize this isn't one and also the word SEARCH. That is all.

ps
your mother said your clothes are folded and to put them away.

Nick

@CiroDike and trnsilver: Because MS's business model is and always has been easy=expensive.

@whiteknight89 still plays DiabloII: Wow, you guys are really a bunch of assholes, huh? "return from where I came" and I "made a moronic post." How about you elitists grow the hell up and get a life rather than trashing someone for asking a simple question. What pieces of shit.

Thank you to those who actually helped.

trnsilver

@MaaseyRacer: To be fair, I don't see the logic in Microsoft making it easy for users of a highly anticipated OS to NOT pay for the software.

It just goes against their business model, which is Easy=Expensive.

Why should it be easy ? its a way to get a cheap upgrade even if you NEVER owned XP or Vista .. I think that's quite a deal

jonthomasdesigns

@Pope John Peeps II: "And Knowing is Half the Battle!... GI JOE!" hehehe

Something tells me that these 'upgrade' issues will be solved (by non-MS) sources within 10 days after the official release.

@trnsilver: If you have been searching for awhile and still haven't found it, then I do pity you. Please, ignore us here, and return from where you came.

And here, read this...
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/upgrading-to-windows-7-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know...">-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know......">-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know...">-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know..........ars

I did 1 Google search. Just 1. And I clicked on the very first link.
edit: correct link
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/upgrading-to-windows-7-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know...">-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know.......ars

:) Updating to 10.6 should be a breeze.

Sure Microsoft, I'll give Win 7 a try. Oh, I really like it and I'd like to give you money for this. MS: Awesome, format and reinstall. Goodfella: F#@k you, pay me.

Digital9

@DeusExMach has jumped the snark: I blame gawker for making a comment system that's not compatible with the most popular browser in the world.

puntai

to me this seems like a good workaround for those who want to get the cheap upgrade deals :)

Wow Microsoft, way to make things easy.

MaaseyRacer

@everyone: *loads WAR MP3* "WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? Why can't we be friends?..."

@trnsilver: I think what you have seen here is an "overreaction". Must be a bad mood day.

Hello Mister Walrus

I think someone is going to do a guide for the upgrade since ppl could upgrade from beta to rc1 (EVEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE)

Jonne Backhaus

eh, just download the full version once it hits the torrents and use your key.

@Lite: is on a boat.: MAN, I've missed you guys.

@Nick: u gonna eat that stapler?

ValerioB

@trnsilver: Save your breath. You made a moronic post, the Pope flamed you for it, and he's already moved on to another thread to let you fume all alone.

why would they make this so hard for avid supporters of their software? I installed the RC and I've loved it (so much better than Vista).. but can't I just pay for your final release and keep my files and settings? why make me jump through hoops? so frustrating..

Uh, isn't this the exact same way Vista upgrades work? No change there.

I thought that you just had to insert your old disks at some point in order to get the upgrade to work. If correct, it's much less of a hassle. Except when OEMs don't package a windows disk.

Seriously? Even when you just buy the CD with a licensing agreement at a University the disk is only 10 bucks. Do they really need to inconvenience customers for 10 bucks?

@trnsilver: How would we know what the fuck you need to do when we don't even have the release software ourselves?

In the past you merely had to stick your original vista install disk in when prompted. But, that may have changed. Guess you'll just have to figure that one out yourself won't you.

@trnsilver: Does what I can.

@Tito: Tito, thanks.

@whiteknight89 still: Moreso than being a dick...that's all I was saying. I had already looked at Lifehacker and posted on the direct Windows forums before even commenting here. Been searching for the answer for a while.

trnsilver

@Nick: Oh, and that the baby is really just being grown as a backup backup liver for Herr Jobs.

@trnsilver: this isn't a message board, nor is it a forum. don't treat it like one. we all win!

@jerNELS: Thank you for your suggestion as well. He did not do it in a nice way, if he did (like DeusEx did) then I would have responded in kind. I felt it was unnecessary. Have a great day and thanks again.

trnsilver

It's not too bad... All your data is still there, but your software still needs to be re-installed... It makes for a smoother system. How many people out there actually upgrade their OS instead of just doing a clean install?

draiko

@trnsilver: Flattering that a random person is basically spamming a userbase for help as a first step? Not likely. As a first step, follow Nick's advice and do a search over at Lifehacker. They'll hook you up. If you still can't figure it out, do a google search.

but i already have a windows.old and windows.older...... :(

mocax

@Pope John Peeps II: A dick and an ass in the same thread? Stop joke now.

Back on topic : yes, it seems you'll have to install Vista and then install 7. Unless I'm mistaken, and it's been known to happen. Often. Edit: God I type slowly.

In regards to this whole "Oh, the Windows 7 upgrade disc might just have you pop in your Windows XP or Vista disc to verify it first" thing, what about those of use who have legit copies of Vista, but no original install disc? My HP laptop only came with a recovery partition, not any install or system discs. HP "kindly" included a program that would let me burn my own recovery discs, which I did. However, I now have 3 DVDs which I'd have to reinstall first to put Vista back on my machine. I didn't get one "system disc" which could be checked first. I'd have to reinstall all 3 of the DVDs I made myself, since one won't work without the other. What's a guy like me supposed to do?

CiroDike

@CiroDike: This is what I would like to know, too!

trnsilver

@SkaHimself: you gonna use that torso?

can i have it?

Nick

@FrankenPC: it's been done by just keeping the date before march when it starts shutting down early...

@DeusExMach: BLam is pregnant and we don't know if it's Frooch's or Chen's. good stuff.

Nick

@DeusExMach: Thank YOU Deus...appreciate it!!!

trnsilver

@Nick: When I start caring what random commenters think about me, I'll be sure to let you know. I post on tons of message boards and have never received such a ridiculous response to a post. He could have said it in a much nicer, more helpful and less a-hole way. Calling me a "dick" is not going to garner a nice response from me.

trnsilver

@trnsilver: I believe what the article suggests is yes if you want to do a clean install, because it is an update, not a full blown, clean, new os. which kinda sucks if you ask me... but it does make sense because you are paying less for the update then if you bought it new. I don't know what the difference in price is between that and the full version, but to me it sounds like the best way to go in the long run is to get the full thing. i know the price sucks, but it might save you a lot of time. (and might even run better than vista + 7 upgrade, but idk. just seems like when things are complicated like that, computers start to slllooooowww dooowwwn.) hope that helps. and pope john peeps is just suggesting in a not very polite way that you drop the PLEASE ASSIST!!!! but he did promote your comment, so you got help... soooo, lets just all be nice to one another:)

@CTJoyce: Oh, man, don't even get me STARTED on the hassle that was my XP Media Center edition reinstall.

Nothing with windows is ever just easy and automated... this is why I was so amazed when I switched to a mac that when I got a new machine or upgraded it walked me through everything and everything worked.... no troubleshooting necessary. I spend more time troubleshooting on my pc that I rarely ever use than my mac that I use everyday. I've never had to deal with IRQ LPT ports etc on my mac, but I still do on my PC running vista. I find that amazing... plug and play? yeah right.

@Pope John Peeps II: I used to work in an IT office, where our users would use the phrase, "please advise," when they meant, "you do this for me now." Needless to say, Please Advise emails went to the bottom of the stack.

pablos1

@trnsilver: This ain't the kind of tech forum where we, y'know... HELP people. Snark lives here, and it lives like a king.

That said, just download the most recent release candidate of Windows 7 and install that. You'll have to go through the rigmarole of installing xp or vista once the actual release drops on OCTOBER 22nd and then upgrading from that, but until then you can enjoy all the lovely mocha goodness that is W7 without having to do a clean install. The point is, this is a release candidate, not the release itself. You don't have to upgrade YET. In fact, if there's needed functionality that only your current OS can provide, I'd stick to dual-booting or choosing your OS from the boot menu for the time being.

This should NOT be this difficult. Listen, Microsoft. I have an HP laptop. This laptop has a certificate of authenticity stuck to the bottom of it with a product key. When I used the laptop for the first time, this product key was activated and successfully registered with Microsoft. Later on, I put the Windows 7 RC on it and have been very happy. I preordered the Home Premium upgrade disc. Are you telling me that if later on I want to do a clean install with the upgrade disc, I can't simply plug in that original product key that's stuck to the bottom of my laptop and you guys can't frickin' tell that yes, I do own a valid Vista product key? Why? Whyyyyyyy?

CiroDike

@trnsilver: you're not helping yourself.

go do a search in lifehacker to find tips on this. it will be better than someone just replying to your question. trust me.

Nick

@myasir: I heard this version was not going to do that and it wanted the software on the system in the first place...

trnsilver

@Pope John Peeps II: Makes me seem like a dick? I'm sorry that I am asking people who are better at this than I for help. If anything, it should be flattering that I am asking others for their expertise. That comment made you seem like an ass.

trnsilver

So what's the problem? You can upgrade just fine from Vista/XP. If you're using RC, you shouldn't really have anything on there that is critical for you to have in the first place. Do a backup of your stuff, clean install, and you're done. Also, I doubt you'd have to reinstall Vista/XP first. It'll probably ask you for a CD/DVD of the previous version during the install procedure just like every other upgrade version of Microsoft's OSes.

myasir

@SkaHimself: Man, I hate when that happens...

Gah! Finally got the new comment system to work by downloading firefox instead of my work-tethered IE7... Fucking Microsoft.

So, what did I miss?

@trnsilver: I know that the Gizmodo commenters often like to give advice, because they're smart and capable, but asking for PLEASE ASSIST!!! like this is a computer help forum kind of makes you seem like a dick, and probably nobody's going to help you.

THE MORE YOU KNOW.

Repeat after me: "I will not expect support for pre-release software"

So you guys like getting beta and RC software for free for some time? Then respect the fact that it's beta/RC! This is why most companies do betas only within their small, trusted developer community: because they know they will 1) actually report bugs they find and 2) understand they cant expect anything out of it.

dtemp

If they think I'm going to install windows vista/xp just to install the final version of 7, they've lost their minds.

There's something confusing about all that, but I can't put my finger on it...

Someone please hack RC.

FrankenPC

So I shouldn't have been an early adopter and fallen in love with Microsoft to the point that I was telling everyone how sick 7 was/is?

Why do I feel like the chick who takes her abusive boyfriend back (again) because he promised he really changed this time, only to find myself dismembered in a dumpster 3 weeks later?

I have a year-old computer with Vista and want reformat and then do a clean install of Windows 7 with the upgrade disk. How do I do this? Do I have to reformat, install Windows Vista clean and then upgrade to Windows 7 immediately? PLEASE ASSIST!!!

trnsilver

Yeeeeah... I went ahead and cancelled my preorder. I'll deal with an old OS until I'm ready for a new computer in a year or two. 7 is nice and all, but I can deal with XP/Vista for a little while longer.

u_nick

I have no idea why anyone would want to do an upgrade install for any reason. Storage is cheap, get an external to back up your pictures, docs, and program settings files, and just do a full reformat. The only time I ever did a upgrade was from a Windows XP Home SP2 to Pro SP2 install and it was unbearably slow afterward causing me to have to do a full reformat anyway.

Ah, it all becomes clear now...Seems like it's just a way to maybe squeeze out a few more purchases of the full edition by people who don't want to deal with the hassle. Guess I need to decide what I want to do with my RC1 install...

Titan8883

@Pope John Peeps II: If some of you put as much effort into actually helping the guy instead of attempting to to win the contest of "Who Can be the Biggest Asshole" you'd be doing everyone a favor. Assholes. And really? The whole "I really just don't care" phrase? You cared enough to write some lengthy reply full of your thoughts on the subject. So you obviously care a little.

Damn - I knew I should've just waited and bought the full version OEM from newegg. Reinstalling Vista then doing Win 7 upgrade is nonsense. I thought I read somewhere that you can do a clean install on a formatted HD but you would be asked for your Vista and Win 7 key during install. Which is why I bought the cheap upgrade pre-order.

@pablos1: Hahahah - the good old "please advise" has many meanings my friend and that is one of them. The other tends to be "you said this before and that doesn't seem entirely accurate so you might want to pull your head out"

anyone who installed this beta should know they should have to do a fresh install, i think it's a given. upgrading from a beta is just a bad, very bad idea.

@nick7er: http://gizmodo.com/5241882/windows-7-rc1-10-things-you-need-to-know

@BacteriaEP: Thats the spirit.

Screw the users being able to provide input into the OS they will eventually be buying.

diabolusunknownTheSecond

Anyone know when Windows 7 RC expires?
Thanks.

nick7er

Notice they released this info AFTER the $50 upgrade promotion ended...

utsava

Ready for more confusion?

1) If you have Windows Vista Home Premium then you can do an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Ultimate.

2) If you have Windows Vista Business then you can do an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate.

3) If you have Windows Vista Ultimate then you can do an in-place upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate.

All other scenarios require a clean install. Also, going from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Windows 7 requires a clean install.

The second scenario infuriates me, as once again Microsoft does not offer an upgrade from the home edition to the business edition, only to the Ultimate edition. And Windows 7 Ultimate is almost pointless, because this time Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional have no mutually-exclusive features. (i.e. Professional will include Media Center)

Except I just upgraded a Vista to Windows 7, and guess what, it made the Windows.Old folder. Here's where you're wrong, all I did was drag "Programs" into "Programs" and the same for the documents, and everything worked perfectly.

Jeez.

XanderVincent

@Eddie Jimenez: I've got a few images of my ex's(and to be sure, I have paid for that)

@Wilson Rothman: Is it the same one who said you can't upgrade your build either?

@trnsilver:

See what I mean? Pope just responded with a bunch of BS. Please shut up? That fool can't even compare apples to apples.

Complete idiots with no real education...

ISOHaven

BART PE
take an image of your existing build. open it up in bart, and use the data management to copy to your new build. I also save all of my .exe's (that I paid for) along with my product codes on an external hd just for these instances.
I'm sure there are similar programs out there that will accomplish the same thing.

Eddie Jimenez

This isn't really that much of a change. You only had to reinstall an older version of Windows for the Vista upgrade if your HD was formatted as FAT. If you were already using NTFS, you could upgrade... but it did the same thing, it would create a Windows.OLD folder.

Not news.

Unseelie23

@huth.sebastian:

You forgot the part about having to pay large sums of money all over again to get the equivelent of a service pack. :)

The_Bronze

Four words: Files and Settings Transfer.

I just upgraded from Vista to Win7 on my main machine and it was like butter. All my settings, my email, my VS projects - everything came back just like they were before.

You do have to reinstall your apps, that's a bummer, but it's a one time thing.

Besides, Microsoft has been saying all along: you won't be able to upgrade from RC to Retail. I agree, you SHOULD be able to - but to try and act surprised is being a little clueless. :)

@CaptCaveman: Yeah, it's like that, only easy to use.

Will they have a flashdrive version available for netbook users?

telepheedian

After an almost dreamy time with the Windows 7 Beta, and an ongoing nightmare with the forced "upgrade" to Windows 7 RC, I'm "upgrading" today back to XP. If Microsoft doesn't want to make it easy for me to buy and install their new product, why bother? With all the other inconvenience the new product offers (e.g. UI quirks, missing drivers, unsupported software), it just isn't worth it.

dinsey

@Đipic: name calling aside -- for someone that claims to spend a lot of time on message boards and in forums he should know the cardinal rule: SEARCH

Nick

@d1gw33d: LOL

trnsilver