Can I upgrade XP Pro to 7 Ultimate?

reido

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Oct 24, 2010
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I have a 32-bit XP Pro, and would like to upgrade to a 64-bit 7 Ultimate.

Upgrade as in from the desktop, and keeping everything from before the upgrade. Is this possible?

Also, if it is possible, will this be similar to a clean install of 7? As in, will it remove any malware that was previously on XP? Or will it transfer the malware from XP to 7?

Thank you,

John
 
Solution
The answer is no for two reasons:

1: There is no direct upgrade path between XP and 7
2: There is no way to upgrade a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS

So you will have to do a clean install of Windows 7. That optionally includes formatting, which I would recommend wholeheartedly if there's even a question of malware with your existing setup, but also because you have to reinstall all your apps anyway.

cl-scott

Honorable
The answer is no for two reasons:

1: There is no direct upgrade path between XP and 7
2: There is no way to upgrade a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS

So you will have to do a clean install of Windows 7. That optionally includes formatting, which I would recommend wholeheartedly if there's even a question of malware with your existing setup, but also because you have to reinstall all your apps anyway.
 
Solution

drspa

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Actually your #1 is mistaken. I have an upgrade disk from Microsoft that does just that.
 

cl-scott

Honorable


That's interesting considering the quote directly from Microsoft's website:

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.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ie/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

I'd be interested in hearing more about this disc you have, because if my information is out of date in some way, I'd like to change that.
 



Hi :)

There is NO disc that upgrades XP to 7...

The ONLY upgrade path (which I have had to use on customers machines) is to UPGRADE from XP to Vista, then UPGRADE again to 7...

Any other method means a wipe and clean install.... NOTHING LEFT FROM XP AT ALL...

All the best Brett :)