Windows 7 Clean Install Question

Thinking about a CLEAN windows 7 install. I have always gone on to a new computer and have never upgraded an existing OS. I realize should i do a clean install on my Vista, i will lose all the free goodies that come with a preloaded OS. I can live with this. I'm i correct in thinking that when Win 7 loads it will see my hardware ( network card, monitor, printer, keyboard etc ) and install, at the least, working generic drivers so the OS will be able be be up and running ? This includes being able to go online.

 

I just installed Win 7 HP from Win XP and it recognized necessary drivers to get going, then I pursued a windows update and that is where I received additional drivers such as sound and an updated Gigabyte network connection driver.

Remember, if your performing a clean install from Vista or XP don't delete the windows.old folder until after you receive your genuine certificate authenticating Win 7.

 

Ok thanks PoetWarrior. Not sure what you mean about not deleting windows.old folder. Will that deletion come as an option. I would think that i would drop in the DVD and it would be rather automatic. I understand there will be choices during the install, but a windows.old folder ??

 

The nice thing about doing a clean install with an "upgrade" disk is that Microsoft is actually allowing this on the up and up. Remember all the Win98 to XP workarounds (most of which weren't entirely per the EULA)? Also, no need to have your old disk to insert, etc. It recognizes everything and away it goes. Much smoother install process.

If you have a netbook, there is a Win7 all-in-one-install file which you can purchase directly from Microsoft. I have a feeling they will expand retail sales to include Win7 on a flash drive for netbooks, most which don't have an optical drive.

 

The windows.old folder is not automatically deleted. It should be manually deleted. It's easy to find. Using windows explorer right click on the Win 7 start orb. It's not in but under windows folder.

Once again, wait until you have verified that windows has acquired genuine authentication. You can verify that by going to "Control Panel" then "System and Security" then "System". There you will see a blue small display in the right hand corner saying "Genuine Microsoft Software" if you don't then Win 7 needs to be authenticated by Microsoft and you can do that manually.

 

I'll post this question here since it's related to clean install of Windows 7 on a HP.

I haven't received my upgrade disk yet(got it "free" when I bought my computer in July) but I'm trying to get everything ready.

My first question is that my Mouse is flagged in the windows 7 advisor as not compatible with the current driver. So, I have downloaded the windows 7 driver from Microsoft. Now, my question is, do I install that driver now or will I be able to do enough function with the mouse after install to then install it when I'm running 7?

 

Guess what folks. . . I have confirmed the rumor on the net with my own install using the upgrade disk for Win 7 HP. It does not work like the previous Vista upgrade disk.

You can boot from the upgrade disk then delete the partition and recreate the partition including formatting the partition if you like removing the previous OS.

Here's the kicker you can now install Win 7 HP from the disk and it will now activate just like a retail version without an underlying OS. I've just done it due to others saying it can be done. It truly can be done.

 

Poet Warrior,
I'm sorry but I keep getting lost in this one sentence.

'You can boot from the upgrade disk then delete the partition and recreate the partition including formatting the partition if you like removing the previous OS.'

I'll be upgrading from XP Pro to W7 Pro. Never did an upgrade before.
But I've done clean installs before.
And the clean install would automatically erase whatever was on the hard drive.

So how do I delete a partition?
And more importantly, how do I recreate the partition?
Thanks.
Hugger

 

I learned earlier in the night that many folks used their Win 7 upgrade disk to install to a blank hard drive (no OS) with a successful activation. Just like a retail disk and activation. I don't know if retail keys were given out with upgrade disks by MS or what. I was able to install Win 7 Home Premium to my blank hard drive just like I did with the Win 7 beta or RC disk.

To answer your question. You can boot from the Win 7 upgrade disk and by choosing the custom install it will lead you to options where you can delete, format, extend the partition, etc.

I used it to delete the partition, then recreate it.

 

Today I downloaded Win7 Prox64 upgrade from digital river. The download came in three pieces. No iso file! I had to unpack it and then use vlite to make it into a bootable iso. I imaged my main drive with an old activated XP image just in case I had to have an activated os on it. I wanted to save my Vista retail that I had been using for another machine. I then booted from the Win7 upgrade disk, deleted the partition that the XP image was on, then created a new partition, then Win7 wanted to create another 100MB partition at the front of the drive. I found out later that is for Windows PE. So I deleted the one I created then merged the 100MB partition with the one I deleted. It was the only way I could work around it to have just one partition. I don't want an extra 100MB parition at the front end of my drive. I then formatted it, installed it clean, no windows old or any of that crap, no problem with activation, everything is running just fine.

 

Cooollllllll

 

Look at it this way: Windows 7 has no "upgrade" per se from XP direct to Win7. You will always get a clean install once that Win7 sees you have a license XP on your drive. Yes, you will lose everything and have to install. But the "upgrade" is a brand new installation using nothing from your old XP installation.

 

I have an old test computer which won't boot from a Vista or Win7 DVD. I initiated the Win7 install from WinXP and it ran fine. When it finished there was a folder called Windows.old which contained the entire WinXP files and folders. The folder can be deleted when you are ready.

 

Thank you all ......http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/Install_7/install_7a.htm

 

Everybody,
Thanks for taking the time to help.
I do now understand what you were talking about.
Hugger

 

As I mentioned elsewhere, you can now do an an "in place" ugrade with versions Microsoft officially says you can't. There is no reason to format and wipe away years of data because the folks in Redmond want to have you have only one choice. Some "choice!"

 

Norman, An "in place" upgrade with Win7 over an existing Windows XP would leave you with a system so cluttered with leftover crud from XP that it would be a complete and total mess. I don't think this has much to do with "choice" as it does an operating system free to work without having loads of stuff to bog it down.

 

That is why I have a seperate drive with all my files, folders, music, and app installers. I can do a clean install and just reinstall my apps and still have all of my documents and videos, music, etc...on the other drive.

 

Yep, same here. Clean install is the only way to go.

 

agreed.