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I have 3 PCs installed with XP O/S, which is due to be not supported by Microsoft this coming April. I would like to "upgrade" these PCs to Windows 7 Home Premium rather than re-installing them from scrap, as well as their Applications. However the Windows 7 Home-Premium FULL version, including its SP1, is being sold much cheaper than its "upgrade" counter parts in most on-line sits. So my basic question is:
Can a Windows 7 Home-Premium FULL version be used as an "upgrade version" by just slotting it into my bootable optical drive of each XP PCs, and there will be a special Menu to guide me through? My gut feeling is this is NOT possible otherwise Microsoft wouldn't be selling a separate "Upgrade Version" as well.
Thanks
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I presume that you are comparing OEM full versions with retail upgrade editions. As long as you are happy with the restrictions on OEM versions, they will do just fine.
Be aware that there is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7; whichever version you use you will need to do a clean install and reinstall any programs. Even with an upgrade version of Windows 7 this is what happens.
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Thank you for your reply! Indeed I wanted to "upgrade" my XP PC to Windows 7 without re-installing the Windows 7 O/S from scratch and ALL of my previous Applications. But your: "Be aware that there is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7" statement does worry me though because it sounds that I could not upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7, which is what I wanted to do. However I seem to remember seeing some of the on-line sites been selling Windows 7 Home-Premium upgrade from "XP/Vista" O/S though.
Thanks
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Register (or login) on our website and you will not see this ad.
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AFAKI The "upgrade" kits will get you Win 7 but you will need to do a clean install, it won't let you preserve XP programs (AS AEP stated)
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See this Microsoft link. To upgrade your PC from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll need to select the Custom option during Windows 7 installation. A custom installation doesn't preserve your programs, files, or settings. It's sometimes called a "clean" installation for that reason. Sou yes, you can upgrade but you still have to re-install everything.
Tony
We have more and more laws, and less and less enforcement
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Don't forget that you can only normally "legally" buy OEM OS's if you also buy a piece of qualifying hardware - otherwise Microsoft could refuse to honour the license. Looking at the license terms it seems they are NOT allowed for end users anymore - only for those who are actually selling the equipment on as a system builder.
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That's not true. Microsoft are happy for an end user to buy an OEM version of Windows; it's just that you don't get the same level of support as with the retail version and (pre Windows 8) you can't transfer it to another computer.
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So the terms on the MS website that say Win 7 OEM can't be used by the system builder for personal use are untrue? See this page
States Win 7 OEM licenses cannot be used for personal use. Win 8 can but not as an upgrade.
From the FAQs:
Q. Can I use the Personal Use Licence for Windows 7 software?A. No. The Personal Use Licence is for Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro software only. If you are building a computer for your personal use with Windows 7 software, you still need to purchase the full packaged retail version.
Looks like the old requirement on XP to buy qualifying hardware has been removed though so on that my info was out of date.
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Read this interview with the Microsoft OEM Manager: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/351598/how-to-buy-wi...
I think Microsoft has been "Shifting Goal-Posts"!!
In my own mind there is no doubt that MS didn't object to Technical-Savvy End-Users upgrading their hardware (or building from scratch) & buying OEM Software - MS wasn't going to get too many problems as they were NOT supplying any support! In addition, the quantities involved were thought to be minimal.
However, I strongly suspect that MS now realises the quantities are higher than expected & want to maximise profit by closing that down!
Hence the apparent discrepancy between the PCPro Article (dated 2009) & the links that Ian has cited!
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So, MS go against their own licensing published clearly on their own licensing web site, fair enough. What it also says though is "if a consumer is building their own PC". In the case here they are not so OEM is STILL not valid.
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Microsoft's stance on this topic has always been suspect. The bottom line is that I have never heard a single instance of Microsoft asserting these licensing terms over an end user. It's a bit like installing OS X on non-Apple equipment.
It's important to distinguish between what is asserted in a licence and what is "legal". In the extremely unlikely case of Microsoft taking action against an individual I think they could cite that interview as overriding any printed licence. There is nothing ilegal about installing an OEM version of Windows. We're Microsoft to take action against an individual (never happened so far) and were they to win the case (dubious), all they could recover would be subsequent losses - a few dollars.
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Licences can be modified by public pronouncements of officers of the company. If that officer happens to be the Manger responsible for OEM sales there is not a hope in hell that Microsoft would win a (civil) action against an individual. It could also be argued that by selling OEM versions through normal retail channels Microsoft are clearly inviting a breach of unenforceable licence terms.
There is nothing illegal here. There is a possible breach of licence - a civil matter - which is extremely unlikely to be upheld by a court.
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But the article is from 2009 and that website has to be later as it is talking about Win 8 which didn't exist then - so precedence can shift again.
It may be a civil matter but that means it is civil law rather than criminal - still illegal - whether MS do anything about it is a different question and when giving advice to use OEM you must make clear the potential license issues or you are giving advice that someone may take on face value without understanding the potential problems.
It is clear this IS against MS license agreement for OEM. MS may do nothing about it and may internally have a policy that they won't - but anyone buying OEM needs to be aware of the license and take their own decision to risk it.
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I was under the impression that if the OEM licence was purchased with any piece of hardware (motherboard, HDD, etc) then that was covered.
Was Eclipse Home Option 1, VM 2Mb & O2 Standard
Now Utility Warehouse (up to 16mbps) via Talk Talk
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From what I can tell from some odd bits and pieces on the Internet that is no longer relevant. But, as usual with MS licensing as about as clear as a very opaque thing...
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I don't think you understand the difference between something that is illegal and something that is a breach of contract. There's nothing illegal about breaching a contract, but the injured party may take action against you for redress.
No matter. The pragmatic approach works fine; the simple fact is that millions of users install OEM software and there is no recorded instance of Microsoft taking action against a single one of them. It's more likely that your motherboard will turn out to be stolen property than that Microsoft will seek redress from you if use OEM software.
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From what I can tell from some odd bits and pieces on the Internet that is no longer relevant. But, as usual with MS licensing as about as clear as a very opaque thing...
I think you are being generous in suggesting it is even as clear as that!!  
A certain expression, using the word "mud", springs to my mind!
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I considered mud but thought mud itself may actually be a little too clear. I also thought of black holes but you can see black holes by their impact on the surrounding space - with MS licensing you don't even get that vague view.
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I am seriously considering using Linux and avoiding all this exploitative (or at least deliberately vague) nonsense. Mint 16 seems to me to do everything Windows XP SP3 does and I have seen nothing saying that W7 has anything better than XP.
Trevor Adcock
Using both those Operating Systems
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