It doesn't like going from XP to 7 in any version as I've heard.

I just did a clean install of Pro 7 and it was thoroughly satisfying to have no problems.

You have to do a clean install from XP. Only Vista can be upgraded directly.

Yeah, so I was right.
Good to know

Even if it could upgrade, I rather install a new OS completely clear, and then image it so I can have a clean install I can restore if necessary.

Yeah, so do I

You have to boot the Windows 7 DVD to install. You can't upgrade; has to be a fresh install.

This is what I did:

First, I ghosted my current install of XP, just in case I wanted/needed to restore it. Then, I wiped the drive completely clean. Blank drive, nothing whatsoever on it.

Then, I installed the RC of Win7. Immediately after it was done installing, I then put in my purchased copy of Win7 Pro (While Win7 RC was still running), and told it to do an upgrade.

It complained that you can't "upgrade" from Ultimate (Which is what the RC was) to Pro (The only RTM version I had available to me at the time). BUT...as suggested by the installer, I then rebooted with the Win7 Pro disc still inserted, booted from it, and was able to do the "upgrade" anyway.

Delete the "Windows.old" folder after you're done, and bingo, a clean install of Win7 RTM (Or as close to clean as you can possibly get) using only an Upgrade DVD...WITHOUT having to sacrifice your XP license (Or risk getting caught if it's not a legal copy).

Since my previous copy of XP had been backed up and wiped before I even started, it never even checked to see if it was a legal copy or not...because it didn't even exist.

Yes, it's double the work...but it's the only way I've found so far to do a clean install of Win7 using Upgrade media.

As people have already said, probably, you can install windows 7 upgrade on a blank PC very easily.


Boot to the DVD, select custom, delete all partitions, re-partition, install.

Do not enter CD key, click Next.

When you boot into windows, run Setup from the DVD in windows, choose upgrade. You will go through the same install again, only this time, put in your CD Key. You are now done and can activate.

Sorry, that worked for Vista but not for 7. The install will not proceed without putting in the key when it is asked for.

it worked all three times for me and my windows 7 home premium installs. That was with trying each key to see if MS accidentally gave me a full version too. It works just fine.

I bought three copies and it worked 3 times, not even a single problem.

you can choose not to put in your CD Key for a 30 day trial. That is true of windows 7 as well as Vista and every other windows.

You might want to give tinyxp platinum a try it. It's a 'legal" copy of windows xp without all the junk installed. Just hit up the torrents for it.

under custom install and then advanced drive options you can wipe your "old" system and still install from an upgrade disk on top of xp or win 7 or whatever

windows.old leaves crap on your system if you just delete it, as observed by the several gb difference in finished installation sizes (after deletion)