windows 7 64 bit help

wornoutmumoftwo

I built a new pc and would like to put windows 7 64 bit on it. I ran a scan and it says it can (once i've upgraded my hard drive to a bigger one).

The other error that came up was that it said I would need to do a custom install. As it's new there isn't much on there so not worried about losing files, but I wanted to check it was ok to buy the win7 64 bit upgrade.

I am a student and have already purchased the 32 bit for my laptop and I'm limited to one type of licence.

Would apprecite any help. The pc currently has xp pro on it.

DatabaseError

you should have no problems, though I don't believe 7 actually 'upgrades' from XP in any meaningful way, it just shoves it into a new folder and installed the new OS, so any applications etc... will need re-installing (ideally just do a clean installation of 7)

wornoutmumoftwo

Thank you. Noticed the folder thing when I put win7 on the laptop, was worried about buying the wrong software. Thanks very much.

JasX

wornoutmumoftwo wrote: »

win7 64 bit upgrade

if you're buying the Win7 in a retail boxed edition there is zero difference between the upgrade and full versions a minimal amount of fiddling doesn't get round.

see here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

always do a clean install

davb

Some info here from MS which explains it a bit more.

Richie-from-the-Boro

If your a student, with a dot ed email you can get the 32/64 Ultimate for about £30. The install puts a hidden partition [ more later ] on the 'active' drive.

- always do a clean new install to a single unformatted drive, if you try to pre-format the drive it will do the full install and fail when it creates the HAL because of the hidden partition.

- with very few exceptions the installer will find ALL drivers from the dBASE or from the internet.

- Win7 does not have a pre-installed e-mail facility [ it does have the Vista e-mail but it's hidden from view ] so get " wlsetup-web " on you desktop and install any/all of your 8 free progs. Then you won't need any third party progs for mail ~ video edit ~ pictures ~ chat lines etc.

- Then get the excellent Microsoft Security Essentials [ also free ] and you won't need the expensive ~ bloated ~ protection.

- in short clean not custom install, and use the free but effective bits above !

wornoutmumoftwo

Thank you. I'm open university so I don't have the email. I paid 38 for it so it wasn't too bad considering.

Thanks for all the help I will look into it when my copy gets here. Ordered the new hard drive too so i'm ready once they both get here.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Your welcome wornoutmumoftwo . The 38 £uid is cheap. Assuming the old drive [IDE] is a similar spec/speed to the new drive you can plug it onto the MOBO after your install and use it as a weekly back up facility with the Win7 free / quick / effective built in backup system.

If your on SATA's they don't need to be similar spec/speed as they are always Masters.

B.T.W. For others reading this we all know several friends who have kids / whatever at UNI / FE who have access to dot ed addy's it's a cheap way to get a fully fledged Win7 copy!