Upgrading to Windows 7 from Vista Home Premium...

My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do so:
it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he
thinks that he made a mistake?

Thanks.

Ross M. Greenberg

 

To revert back from Windows 7 to Windows Vista, you'll need to reformat
the drive or partition and perform a "clean install" of Windows Vista.
The easiest solution is to purchase and install a second hard drive and
install Windows 7 on it. This will require a "Full License" edition of
Windows 7. Thus, you'll have a dual-boot configuration allowing you the
option of booting to Windows 7 or Windows Vista.


ross m. greenberg wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do so:
> it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he
> thinks that he made a mistake?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ross M. Greenberg
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:44:02 -0400, "ross m. greenberg"
<greenber@@gmail.com> wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do so:
> it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he
> thinks that he made a mistake?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


He would have to install Windows 7 in a dual-boot scenario.

But here's my point of view: as much as I liked Windows Vista, I like
Windows 7 even more, and I've seen no problems with it at all. I think
the risk of wanting to go back to Vista is very slim.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

Ross

A formatting and a clean install will be required either way, Why not Dual boot
until he decides which one he will stay with.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"ross m. greenberg" <greenber@@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:B03BA318-5BE7-4683-893C-9BB006F915F0@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded Windows
> 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do so: it's easy to
> "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he thinks that he made a
> mistake?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ross M. Greenberg
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

Hi Ross,

He would have to image the existing system and store the file on a separate
drive or other removable media and be prepared to replace it if unhappy with
Win7 (which I doubt, but the possibility exists). There is no uninstalling
an upgrade to an NT-based system as there was with Win9x.

I would also question how he obtained the RTM release, as it is not
generally available to the public yet. It is only currently available to
Technet/MSDN subscribers, those that were on the technical beta, and certain
OEM manufacturers.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help -
Vote for my shoe:

"ross m. greenberg" <greenber@@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:B03BA318-5BE7-4683-893C-9BB006F915F0@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do
> so: it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if
> he thinks that he made a mistake?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ross M. Greenberg
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I would also question how he obtained the RTM release, as it is not
> generally available to the public yet. It is only currently available to
> Technet/MSDN subscribers, those that were on the technical beta, and
> certain OEM manufacturers.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>
> Windows help -
> Vote for my shoe: <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I am a member of MSDN and so I downloaded the RTM and cut a DVD. My son saw
the DVD, saw the label I put on it -- "Windows 7-RTM" -- and immediately try
to claim as his own. Teenagers!

Ross

 

What about using a Virtual Machine?

Ross

 

That would certainly work, but to take over the system would require another
installation. He wouldn't be able to port it from the virtual drive to the
physical system.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help -
Vote for my shoe:

"ross m. greenberg" <greenber@@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:C214D0D9-B8F6-4474-AF79-BC52F9672C04@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> What about using a Virtual Machine?
>
> Ross
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

Windows Vista 64-bit - problem booting up

I have experienced problems booting my new Windows Vista - Dell Inspiron 15
laptop... Getting a blue screen and then it reboots repeatedly. Any idea
what the problem could be? Thanks!

Gary Herman

 

Re: Windows Vista 64-bit - problem booting up

What is the text of the blue screen, Gary? When did it start? What were you
doing with the system prior to this issue? Did you install or upgrade any
software or the OS recently?

Hit F8 at boot to access the boot menu, can you load safe mode? How about
the last known good configuration?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help -
Vote for my shoe:

"Gary Herman" <gherman222@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ObcEbJ5PKHA.1796@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>I have experienced problems booting my new Windows Vista - Dell Inspiron 15
>laptop... Getting a blue screen and then it reboots repeatedly. Any idea
>what the problem could be? Thanks!
>
> Gary Herman <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:41:49 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>Ross
>
>A formatting and a clean install will be required either way, <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

No it won't, you can do an in-place upgrade from Vista > Win7 but it
is not the recommended method.

 

Ok smart one then how does he (as the OP asks) revert back to Vista. I gave the
right answer as did others

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Dorango" <dorango@NO_EMAIL.HERE> wrote in message
news:1mmvb5pcpl0uuvq8of6cesm1r50p2omsv0@4ax.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:41:49 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>>Ross
>>
>>A formatting and a clean install will be required either way,<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> No it won't, you can do an in-place upgrade from Vista > Win7 but it
> is not the recommended method. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

Um, if it's not reconmmended, then why does Microsoft provide this path?
While some recommend a clean install only, I rarely do. An upgrade will be
just fine if the system was working just fine to begin with. The vast
majority of failed upgrades are the result of a) upgrading a system that has
unsupported hardware, upgrading a system that has unsupported software,
and c) upgrading a system that is already having software/hardware issues.

When properly prepared for, upgrading a system is by far the easiest route
for a large number of consumers.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help -
Vote for my shoe:

"Dorango" <dorango@NO_EMAIL.HERE> wrote in message
news:1mmvb5pcpl0uuvq8of6cesm1r50p2omsv0@4ax.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:41:49 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>>Ross
>>
>>A formatting and a clean install will be required either way,<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> No it won't, you can do an in-place upgrade from Vista > Win7 but it
> is not the recommended method. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

DID YOU BUY WINDOWS 7 OR DOWNLOAD IT FROM MICROSOFT?
"ross m. greenberg" wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do so:
> it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he
> thinks that he made a mistake?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ross M. Greenberg
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

Seeing as it's not available for sale yet, that question is kind of
pointless. The question, which Ross has already answered, is where was it
downloaded from - a legit or non-legit source.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help -
Vote for my shoe:

"JIM FUTRELL" <JIMFUTRELL@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:76C351FB-E234-4F7D-BC84-BD54F2CDE36C@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> DID YOU BUY WINDOWS 7 OR DOWNLOAD IT FROM MICROSOFT?
> "ross m. greenberg" wrote:
><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just downloaded
>> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to do
>> so:
>> it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if he
>> thinks that he made a mistake?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Ross M. Greenberg
>>
>> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:35:29 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>Ok smart one then how does he (as the OP asks) revert back to Vista. I gave the
>right answer as did others<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

You said "either way". Does that not mean either doing upgrade or
downgrade requires a format? That's how it reads to me and the format
is only required for downgrading from Win7 > Vista.

 

On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:11:53 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org>
wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
>Um, if it's not reconmmended, then why does Microsoft provide this path?
>While some recommend a clean install only, I rarely do. An upgrade will be
>just fine if the system was working just fine to begin with. The vast
>majority of failed upgrades are the result of a) upgrading a system that has
>unsupported hardware, upgrading a system that has unsupported software,
>and c) upgrading a system that is already having software/hardware issues.
>
>When properly prepared for, upgrading a system is by far the easiest route
>for a large number of consumers.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I've never done it that way but you are correct that there should be
no issues so long as the drivers are compatible. Sometimes they are
not though and it causes people grief. Personally, I just like to
start off with a clean OS from scratch so it is my choice.

 

ross m. greenberg;1146358 Wrote: <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> My son is running Vista Home Premium onto his machine and just
> downloaded
> Windows 7/RTM and he wants to install it desperately. I'm hesitant to
> do so:
> it's easy to "uninstall" Windows 7 and revert back to Home Premium if
> he
> thinks that he made a mistake?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ross M. Greenberg<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

I think the best suggestion was to install it in a virtual partition
running on the Vista host. That way you need not fumble around repairing
boot records etc. when you want to uninstall it - you just delete 2
folders in your Vista. Plus you can run both systems side by side and
switch back and forth with one click. I recommend to use Sun Virtual
Box. Here are instructions on how to go about it: 'Tutorial: How to
install Windows7 in a Virtual Partition « How-To Geek Forums'
()

PS: When it comes to allocating RAM for Win7 in the virtual partition,
1GB or even 800MBs is enough. My Win7 uses only 500MBs.


--
whs

 

Dorango wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:41:49 -0400, "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
>> Ross
>>
>> A formatting and a clean install will be required either way, <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> No it won't, you can do an in-place upgrade from Vista > Win7 but it
> is not the recommended method.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


Not recommended by whom, precisely?

Granted, some people will always blindly recommend that one always
perform a clean installation, rather than upgrade over an earlier OS.
For the most part, I feel that these people, while usually well-meaning,
are living in the past, and are either basing their recommendation on
their experiences with much older operating systems, or are simply
inexperienced and uninformed.

Certainly, there are times when an in-place upgrade is
contra-indicated:

1) When the underlying hardware isn't certified as being fully
compatible with the newer OS, and/or updated device drivers are not
available from the device's manufacturer. Of course, this condition also
causes problems with clean installations.

2) When the original OS is corrupt, damaged, and/or virus/malware
infested. I've also seen simple, straight-forward upgrades from WinXP
Home to WinXP Pro fail because the computer owner had let the system
become malware-infested. Upgrading over a problematic OS isn't normally
a wise course to establishing a stable installation.

3) When the new OS isn't designed to properly, correctly, and safely
perform an upgrade.

A properly prepared and maintained PC can almost always be
successfully upgraded by a knowledgeable and competent individual. I've
lost count of the systems I've seen that have been upgraded from Win95
to Win98 to Win2K to WinXP (usually with incremental hardware upgrades
over the same time period), without the need for a clean installation,
and that are still operating without any problems attributable to upgrades.

Additionally, since Vista's and Win7's upgrade "mechanism" differ
widely from that of earlier operating systems, why would you think that
the same "old wives' tales" would apply?


--

Bruce Chambers

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On Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:53:25 -0600, Bruce Chambers
<bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> Not recommended by whom, precisely?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Microsoft and most power users.