Upgrade from RC to Retail?


Recommended Posts

Will I be able to upgrade from the Release Canidate build of Windows 7 to the retail version, when its released or will i have to do a complete reinstall?

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You may be able to enable the upgrade option by editing a file on the disc unless they change that for the retail version, mind you it's not supported by Microsoft and certainly isn't recommended. Your best choice would be a clean installation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree here, though there might not be huge differences between the two you will most likely run into conflicts with other software that is installed and would cause you to re-install anyway. I would just do the clean install. :) Sorry to intrude Hawk :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You may be able to enable the upgrade option by editing a file on the disc unless they change that for the retail version, mind you it's not supported by Microsoft and certainly isn't recommended. Your best choice would be a clean installation.

I would not- you could actually wind up with DLL H**L troubles and BSOD land- Or worse yet- A retail version with a time bomb. I would say use the file transfer wizard (or whatever MS is calling it these days) burn it then format and install Retail then use restore from the Wizard-.. I don't currently run Win7 but I can tell you of a few people I knew that did it when XP came out and when Vista Came out... Eventually they ended up formating and reinstalling. Some had Random lockups and mixed version sets -- some files will for example look for just a version number but not a sub version and fail to upgrade. Would not upgrade a 9.01.22 when It finds 9.01.21 all the installer would see is the 9.01 string and assume you have the latest. (not an actual version number just an example)

Not to mention a few of them-- Windows update would not work no matter what they tried, because it saw some leftover file that told it that it was an RC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't believe, after all the years of Windows beta testing, this question always comes up..... No, you can't upgrade.. and even if you could, would you want to? Upgrades are dirty and often throw more errors than a clean install.... Save yourself the trouble, back up your important data and do a clean install.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Microsoft has stated that a RC-RTM move would require a clean install.

Exactly, same as with Beta > RC upgrade which didn't work by default.

However also just like there, they might provide a workaround.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

NO, don't even try.

While you're indeed better of with a fresh install, upgrading RC to Rtm is nowhere near as bad as upgrading Vista to Rtm. In the latter case, a lot more things can go wrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While you're indeed better of with a fresh install, upgrading RC to Rtm is nowhere near as bad as upgrading Vista to Rtm. In the latter case, a lot more things can go wrong.

I would have to disagree with that. Upgrading from Vista to 7 is designed and tested exhaustively to work correctly whereas upgrading from 7 RC to 7 RTM isn't supported nor tested exhaustively.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have to disagree with that. Upgrading from Vista to 7 is designed and tested exhaustively to work correctly whereas upgrading from 7 RC to 7 RTM isn't supported nor tested exhaustively.

Over the years I have found that a clean install is always better than an upgrade. I don't care what MS says about how easy it is to upgrade from Vista to Win 7. This is coming from the people that have said that Vista is a great OS. I have been doing clean installs since Win 95.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been upgrading Windows 7 all the way (7 or 8 times?) without too many problems, but I will do a clean install with the RTM.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RC to RTM upgrade is possible but not recommended and supported by Microsoft. Always do a clean install of Windows 7 RTM release or do a Vista to 7 upgrade if needed

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.