Upgrading New PC to Windows 7

I have not purchased a copy of Windows 7 yet, as I need to know a few
things. I have a licensed copy of Windows XP Home and need to know, if I
have to upgrade my new 64bit computer with XP Home before installing a
new version of Windows 7? The previous CPU is 32 bit also. I am
purchasing an I-5 CPU. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, Jack.

> purchasing an I-5 CPU

Does this mean that you are buying a CPU to upgrade your current hardware?
Or that you are buying a new computer with an i5 CPU in it? More questions
will follow when you answer this one.

If you are upgrading your current CPU and Windows, is your "licensed copy"
from a retail package, or was it pre-installed by an OEM (even if the OEM
was yourself)? An OEM license for WinXP is valid only on "the same
computer" on which it was originally installed; a retail version of WinXP
can be removed from the existing hardware and installed on a different
computer and re-activated there.

If you are buying a new computer with Win7 pre-installed, you will not have
to worry about updating your WinXP. Just use the WET (Windows Easy
Transfer) wizard twice: once on your WinXP to store your data onto transfer
media, and then on your Win7 computer to import that stored data. All of
your applications will need to be re-installed from scratch, so be sure you
have their original media; WET will guide you to migrate your data and
(usually) your settings and "tweaks".

Almost all 32-bit software will run just fine in Win7 x64. Each app's setup
program will recognize the 64-bit environment and install the 32-bit apps
into C:\Program Files (x86), rather than into Win7 x64's C:\Program Files
folder, which is reserved for 64-bit apps. This will happen automatically
and you won't even notice unless you are paying very close attention.

If your new computer does not have Win7 pre-installed, AND if you will be
using an Upgrade version of Win7, AND if your existing copy of WinXP is from
a retail package, then you MAY have to first install WinXP onto the new
computer, because Win7 Setup wants to see an upgrade-eligible Windows
already installed and activated. There are well-known and accepted ways to
circumvent this, which we can explain if you need them. If you install a
full retail version of Win7, you won't need this.

I'll stop rambling now with all these "ifs" and let you give us a better
idea of just what you are planning.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"Jack" wrote in message
news: ...

I have not purchased a copy of Windows 7 yet, as I need to know a few
things. I have a licensed copy of Windows XP Home and need to know, if I
have to upgrade my new 64bit computer with XP Home before installing a
new version of Windows 7? The previous CPU is 32 bit also. I am
purchasing an I-5 CPU. Any help would be appreciated.

On 10/14/2011 8:00 PM, R. C. White wrote:
> Hi, Jack.
>
>> purchasing an I-5 CPU
>
> Does this mean that you are buying a CPU to upgrade your current
> hardware? Or that you are buying a new computer with an i5 CPU in it?
> More questions will follow when you answer this one.
>

I will be buying a new PC with a new I-5 CPU.

> If you are upgrading your current CPU and Windows, is your "licensed
> copy" from a retail package, or was it pre-installed by an OEM (even if
> the OEM was yourself)? An OEM license for WinXP is valid only on "the
> same computer" on which it was originally installed; a retail version of
> WinXP can be removed from the existing hardware and installed on a
> different computer and re-activated there.
>
> If you are buying a new computer with Win7 pre-installed, you will not
> have to worry about updating your WinXP. Just use the WET (Windows Easy
> Transfer) wizard twice: once on your WinXP to store your data onto
> transfer media, and then on your Win7 computer to import that stored
> data. All of your applications will need to be re-installed from
> scratch, so be sure you have their original media; WET will guide you to
> migrate your data and (usually) your settings and "tweaks".
>
> Almost all 32-bit software will run just fine in Win7 x64. Each app's
> setup program will recognize the 64-bit environment and install the
> 32-bit apps into C:\Program Files (x86), rather than into Win7 x64's
> C:\Program Files folder, which is reserved for 64-bit apps. This will
> happen automatically and you won't even notice unless you are paying
> very close attention.
>
> If your new computer does not have Win7 pre-installed, AND if you will
> be using an Upgrade version of Win7, AND if your existing copy of WinXP
> is from a retail package, then you MAY have to first install WinXP onto
> the new computer, because Win7 Setup wants to see an upgrade-eligible
> Windows already installed and activated. There are well-known and
> accepted ways to circumvent this, which we can explain if you need them.
> If you install a full retail version of Win7, you won't need this.
>

I believe I will have to install Windows XP on my new PC. I'm not sure,
if I can activate it as I have installed it two computers already.

> I'll stop rambling now with all these "ifs" and let you give us a better
> idea of just what you are planning.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
>
> Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
> Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1
>
>
<BIG SNIP>

On 10/14/2011 8:00 PM, R. C. White wrote:
> Hi, Jack.
>
>> purchasing an I-5 CPU
>
> Does this mean that you are buying a CPU to upgrade your current
> hardware? Or that you are buying a new computer with an i5 CPU in it?
> More questions will follow when you answer this one.
>
> If you are upgrading your current CPU and Windows, is your "licensed
> copy" from a retail package, or was it pre-installed by an OEM (even if
> the OEM was yourself)? An OEM license for WinXP is valid only on "the
> same computer" on which it was originally installed; a retail version of
> WinXP can be removed from the existing hardware and installed on a
> different computer and re-activated there.
>
> If you are buying a new computer with Win7 pre-installed, you will not
> have to worry about updating your WinXP. Just use the WET (Windows Easy
> Transfer) wizard twice: once on your WinXP to store your data onto
> transfer media, and then on your Win7 computer to import that stored
> data. All of your applications will need to be re-installed from
> scratch, so be sure you have their original media; WET will guide you to
> migrate your data and (usually) your settings and "tweaks".
>
> Almost all 32-bit software will run just fine in Win7 x64. Each app's
> setup program will recognize the 64-bit environment and install the
> 32-bit apps into C:\Program Files (x86), rather than into Win7 x64's
> C:\Program Files folder, which is reserved for 64-bit apps. This will
> happen automatically and you won't even notice unless you are paying
> very close attention.
>
> If your new computer does not have Win7 pre-installed, AND if you will
> be using an Upgrade version of Win7, AND if your existing copy of WinXP
> is from a retail package, then you MAY have to first install WinXP onto
> the new computer, because Win7 Setup wants to see an upgrade-eligible
> Windows already installed and activated. There are well-known and
> accepted ways to circumvent this, which we can explain if you need them.
> If you install a full retail version of Win7, you won't need this.
>

Can I purchase an OEM version of Windows 7 and install it on my new PC?
I would like to go this route, if possible, as I would not have to
pre-install XP on my new PC.

You can buy an OEM version, but that would not be transferable to a new
computer.

The upgrade licence requires only that you own a qualifying product. An
upgrade version can be installed clean using
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/cle...rade_media.asp.

Hi, Jack.

> I will be buying a new PC with a new I-5 CPU.

It has been over 20 years since I bought a new assembled computer. Since
then I buy mobo/CPU/RAM/etc. and assemble/update my own rig. But I seldom
see new PCs offered without Win7 pre-installed. If you buy your new
computer with Win7 already installed, then you can skip all these worries
about WinXP. And it probably will be cheaper than buying a PC with no OS
and then buying Win7 - retail or OEM - and installing it yourself.

Again, I will defer to those who have bought PCs recently.

By the way, where (in the world) are you? These package deals can vary with
geography.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"Jack" wrote in message
news ...

On 10/14/2011 8:00 PM, R. C. White wrote:
> Hi, Jack.
>
>> purchasing an I-5 CPU
>
> Does this mean that you are buying a CPU to upgrade your current
> hardware? Or that you are buying a new computer with an i5 CPU in it?
> More questions will follow when you answer this one.
>

I will be buying a new PC with a new I-5 CPU.

> If you are upgrading your current CPU and Windows, is your "licensed
> copy" from a retail package, or was it pre-installed by an OEM (even if
> the OEM was yourself)? An OEM license for WinXP is valid only on "the
> same computer" on which it was originally installed; a retail version of
> WinXP can be removed from the existing hardware and installed on a
> different computer and re-activated there.
>
> If you are buying a new computer with Win7 pre-installed, you will not
> have to worry about updating your WinXP. Just use the WET (Windows Easy
> Transfer) wizard twice: once on your WinXP to store your data onto
> transfer media, and then on your Win7 computer to import that stored
> data. All of your applications will need to be re-installed from
> scratch, so be sure you have their original media; WET will guide you to
> migrate your data and (usually) your settings and "tweaks".
>
> Almost all 32-bit software will run just fine in Win7 x64. Each app's
> setup program will recognize the 64-bit environment and install the
> 32-bit apps into C:\Program Files (x86), rather than into Win7 x64's
> C:\Program Files folder, which is reserved for 64-bit apps. This will
> happen automatically and you won't even notice unless you are paying
> very close attention.
>
> If your new computer does not have Win7 pre-installed, AND if you will
> be using an Upgrade version of Win7, AND if your existing copy of WinXP
> is from a retail package, then you MAY have to first install WinXP onto
> the new computer, because Win7 Setup wants to see an upgrade-eligible
> Windows already installed and activated. There are well-known and
> accepted ways to circumvent this, which we can explain if you need them.
> If you install a full retail version of Win7, you won't need this.
>

I believe I will have to install Windows XP on my new PC. I'm not sure,
if I can activate it as I have installed it two computers already.

> I'll stop rambling now with all these "ifs" and let you give us a better
> idea of just what you are planning.
>
> RC
<BIG SNIP>

On 10/15/2011 7:22 AM, R. C. White wrote:
> Hi, Jack.
>
>> I will be buying a new PC with a new I-5 CPU.
>
> It has been over 20 years since I bought a new assembled computer. Since
> then I buy mobo/CPU/RAM/etc. and assemble/update my own rig. But I
> seldom see new PCs offered without Win7 pre-installed. If you buy your
> new computer with Win7 already installed, then you can skip all these
> worries about WinXP. And it probably will be cheaper than buying a PC
> with no OS and then buying Win7 - retail or OEM - and installing it
> yourself.
>
> Again, I will defer to those who have bought PCs recently.
>
> By the way, where (in the world) are you? These package deals can vary
> with geography.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
>
> Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
> Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1
>
>

I like building my own PC's from scratch. So I'm going to buy a
barebones Shuttle PC small form factor case that allows an Intel
i-series CPU. I will install 8 gigs of memory with a 1tb or 2tb drive. I
will also install my own version of Windows 7.

On 10/15/2011 1:46 AM, Dominic Payer wrote:
> You can buy an OEM version, but that would not be transferable to a new
> computer.
>
> The upgrade licence requires only that you own a qualifying product. An
> upgrade version can be installed clean using
> http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/cle...rade_media.asp.

Thanks for the link. I've been doing alot of reading over the past 24
hours and it appears that I will be going the OEM route.