Exam 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuring - Perform a clean installation - Setting up Windows 7 as the sole operating system (PART 1)

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There are a number of different ways that you can install and deploy Windows 7 as a single installation on a desktop or a laptop.

This can be done as a “bare metal” installation where there is no current operating system installed.

It could also be done as part of an in place upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows Vista.

Additionally, it could be a custom / complete install from a legacy operating system such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP that does not allow for in place upgrades.

Whichever install method you choose, your end result is going to be the same; getting Windows 7 onto the machine as the only operating system present.

In my Exam 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuring - Perform a clean installation - Identifying hardware requirements (PART 1) post i had outlined what the hardware requirements were for a Windows 7 installation to be successful and to meet the recommended system requirements.

One of your installation options is to perform an in place upgrade. In order to do this you need to confirm the operating system that you’re working from supports that.

An in place upgrade is an installation that is performed that will upgrade the older operating system (Windows Vista) or a down-level one (e.g. Home Edition to Professional) to Windows 7 and it will do so in a non-destructive fashion, leaving all of the data and settings behind. Additionally, all of the installed applications will be carried over to the new operating system. A successful in place upgrade will allow all supported applications to run under the new operating system environment.

All editions of Windows including XP and prior cannot be directly upgraded to Windows 7 using the in place upgrade scenario. These prior editions of Windows do not support it.

Microsoft has outlined the Windows 7 Upgrade Paths on its website. The following list of operating systems do not support an in place upgrade directly to any version of Windows 7.

  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows Millennium Edition
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista RTM
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows 7 M3
  • Windows 7 Beta
  • Windows 7 RC
  • Windows 7 IDS
  • Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Windows 2000 Server
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 R2

In order to install an version of Windows 7 on a system already running one of these listed operating systems you would need to perform a custom installation or set the configuration up to be a dual boot / multi boot set up.

In the above list you’ll notice that Windows NT4 Workstation is not included despite the fact that Windows NT Server 4.0 is listed. Windows 2000 Professional is also missing from the list as well despite Windows 2000 Server showing up.

Neither one of those desktop operating systems allows for an in place upgrade to Windows 7 despite their omission from the list.

Additionally to the above list, the details below are other factors that come into play regarding unsupported in place upgrade scenarios:

  • Cross-architecture upgrades, such as taking an x86 build and upgrading it to x64 are NOT supported.
  • Cross-language in-place upgrades (i.e. en-us to de-de) are NOT supported.
  • Cross-SKU upgrades (i.e. Windows 7 N to Windows 7 K) are NOT supported.
  • Cross-build type in-place upgrades (i.e. fre to chk) are NOT supported.
  • Pre-release in-place upgrades across milestones (i.e. Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM) are NOT supported.
  • Upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows N, Windows K, Windows KN, or Windows E are NOT supported.

 

In PART 2 of Exam 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuring - Perform a clean installation - Setting up Windows 7 as the sole operating system I will outline the supported upgrade paths to Windows 7 and discuss a few steps prior to the actual install.

I’m always looking for input so drop me a note and let me know what you’d like to see.

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