# Windows 7 upgrade question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718 "2009-11-24T01:05:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718/1 "2009-11-24T01:05:34Z")

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I’m running windows 7 RC1 on both my machines at home. I’d like to purchase and upgrade version, which is much cheaper even than the OEM version. I have full retail versions of vista for each PC, my question is: When I use an upgrade copy of windows 7, do I need just the valid vista serial #, or do I have to physically install vista on the machines first in order to upgrade? 'cause if I have to install vista first then I won’t bother.

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**Author:** ![Odaran09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Odaran09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odaran09)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718/2 "2009-11-24T01:22:45Z")

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> **[ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More](https://www.itprotoday.com)**
>
> IT Pro Today Homepage

I was able to do a clean install using the upgrade disk. When it prompts you to, do a custom install and then DO NOT enter the serial.

After the install is complete, activate it and it will then ask you for the serial.

I did this on a clean partition which allowed me to keep the windows XP as a bootable back up (see also dual booting).

The article has a few methods about doing a fresh install, but the first worked for me.

I did not need to enter a Vista or XP serial and this was with the Win 7 Home Premium upgrade that they presold for $50 a few months ago.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718/3 "2009-11-24T03:13:28Z")

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> [@Kinthalis](#):
>
> I’d like to purchase and upgrade version, which is much cheaper even than the OEM version.

Both [newegg.com](http://newegg.com) and [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) sell OEM copies cheaper than the upgrade version.

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**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-upgrade-question/518718/4 "2009-11-24T23:07:30Z")

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> [@Duckster](#):
>
> Both [newegg.com](http://newegg.com) and [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) sell OEM copies cheaper than the upgrade version.

The OP might be getting the student deal, which is an upgrade to Home Premium or Professional for $30.

Basically, if you already have Windows installed and you install the upgrade it should activate no problem, even if you do a “clean” install that deletes your old partitions.