Preparing to install the RC


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I'm finally going to bite the bullet and try out Windows 7, but I have a couple of questions before I proceed:

  1. Will my main files be safe if I create a partition on the hard drive just for Windows 7?
  2. I currently use Vista Home Premium 32-bit; will I be able to install the 64-bit version of 7, or do I need the 32-bit version? My specs are: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5GHz, 2GB DDR2 667 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB.

Thanks in advance. :)

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If you create a new partition then your old os and all the files in it will be fine.

Your cpu is 64bit so you can install the 64bit version if you wish. although you only have 2GBs of ram so there isn't much point. unless you plan on putting in 4GBs at sometime.

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Thanks for replying. :)

Yeah, I am hoping to up the RAM in my computer eventually, and I want to see what 64-bit Windows is like compared to 32-bit. My only problem is that I'd have to do a clean install with the final version, as I won't be able to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit. :(

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Yeah, I did a quick search and I found it on one of the Microsoft forums.

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Since you can't upgrade from the RC to the RTM, wouldn't this be a good time to try out a fresh install of Windows 7 x64 as a dual boot solution? You keep your main operating environment, and then you have the Windows 7 environment to play around on. You can get the evaluation license and download the .ISO of the DVD-R install for Windows 7 at:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx

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Mmmkay... got a problem with trying to create a new partition. I'm using the in-built tool in Vista, I right-click on my C: partition, click "shrink volume", and the most I can shrink it by is just 7MB. :( Is there any way to up that? As 7 needs at least 16GB space. There is a second partition currently in the hard drive, but it's hidden from normal view, and it's a recovery partition (I'm on an OEM computer from an unknown maker called Zoostorm).

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So your C: drive has lots of space free right? and it's a basic type, ntfs format?

It's a 1TB drive, it's NTFS formatted, and there's 256GB remaining out of 924GB, so yeah, there's definitely lots of space.

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Try using partition software rather than Vista's inbuilt facility.

OK, what's your suggestion? Sorry, I know bugger all about partition programs. :p The only one I remember is Partition Magic.

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Cheers, I'll give that a go.

I saw your earlier post saying GParted, but I think I can see why you changed it. As I was downloading it, I see something on their site saying that sometimes resizing a Vista partition using it buggers it up.

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I saw your earlier post saying GParted, but I think I can see why you changed it. As I was downloading it, I see something on their site saying that sometimes resizing a Vista partition using it buggers it up.

Yeah I read that too after suggesting it, so thought I would switch it to something else to help you avoid problems. :)

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Being unable to shrink a volume generally means there are unmovable files (page file, Windows system files, I dunno) towards the end of the partition that need to be moved when Windows is not running. Several defraggers and/or partition managers can do this.

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Got it sorted now, thanks to EASEUS. :) Formatting a 32GB NTFS partition, but I'm gonna burn the 7 ISO first.

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OK, problem. I restarted after burning the RC onto a DVD and creating the new partition, and I've booted into the setup disc, and it doesn't detect the new partition. In fact, nothing has changed on there. The C: partition is still the same size.

Ahh, whoops! I think you might want to ignore that last post. Just tried to boot into Vista and EASEUS has booted up, so it looks like I should have done a full reboot first. :p

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For those of you also looking for the free Release Candidate download it is available at: http://<< spam >>/9agzvs

It is free to use until June 1st of 2010, but starts rebooting every 2 hours after March 1st of 2010. The official release should be out in stores by October 22nd of this year. If you need any help getting it installed, you can try looking through or posting to the official Windows 7 RC Support Forum located here http://<< spam >>/9fhdl5 . It is supported by product specialists as well as engineers and support teams. They are usually pretty quick to respond to any posts.

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