5

I bought a Windows 7 upgrade version to upgrade a laptop with Windows XP. The upgrade needs to be done with a clean install, and I would like to change the partitions as well.

Microsoft explains (in step 3) that if you want to do this, you have to install during boot and go to the partition editor:

(...) If you want to format your hard disk, and you're using an upgrade version of Windows 7, don't use a program from another software manufacturer to reformat your hard disk prior to installing Windows 7. Instead, start your PC using the Windows 7 upgrade installation disc or a USB flash drive, click Custom (advanced), and then click Drive options (advanced).

I am there now, but I am unsure if I can remove all partitions now. In some way the installer needs to know that Windows XP is currently installed to be able to preform a legal upgrade. Microsoft remains unclear about the options here.

Can I just remove all partitions and create new ones? Or do I need to keep the current Windows XP partition during installation?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4

From reading through this, it does seem like the Windows 7 upgrade edition requires you to have a Windows XP installation on one of your hard drive's partitions in order to install.

There may be workarounds to get it to install without XP on the drive, but my suggestion would be to simply run the Windows 7 installation. From the guide above:

"Windows 7 Setup does its compliance checking before the phase of Setup where you format the disc. (Unlike with Windows Vista.) This means that you can format your existing hard drive, and blow away a previous Windows version, and not worry about activation. If it was there, Windows 7 will still activate."

Therefore you can safely remove all partitions while you are in the partitioning screen from the installer:

Partitioning screen from Windows 7 installer

Don't remove the partitions beforehand - let the Windows 7 installer do its verification that this is a real upgrade (this is done when you arrive at the partitioning screen). You can then format and repartition during the installer and all will be fine.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Just to add to this: you can also install win 7 cleanly without a keycode, then "upgrade" itself if something crashes further down the road
    – Canadian Luke
    Aug 21, 2011 at 13:35
  • Thanks, this article made it clear! I tried it and both installation and activation worked perfectly. Just to make it clear in this answer, I've made some edits to it. In short: once you arrive to the installer's partitioning screen, you're save to remove all partitions.
    – Lode
    Aug 21, 2011 at 16:16
  • Thanks for adding the screenshot, it really improved the answer! :)
    – Gareth
    Aug 22, 2011 at 0:22

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .