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Will Windows 7 Pro UPGRADE allow full disk reformat on install?

hi Experts,
I have XP and wish to move up to Windows 7 Professional. I have various malware bugs on my current XP that I have been unable to resolve and worry that an UPGRADE alone would just carry over those malware bugs. So I want to do a complete reformat of the hard drive as part of the upgrade.

QUESTION: If I get Windows 7 Pro UPGRADE version, will it allow me to do a full reformat as part of the install? Or do I need to get the FULL version in order to do that step during install?

Thanks experts!

grossac

There is no upgrade path from XP to Windows 7. You either have to upgrade to Windows Vista then to Windows 7 or format and install Windows 7. I think that as long as you have the XP serial number that you will be able to install a Windows 7 Upgrade version without purchasing a full version, but I'm not certain.

Timothy McCartney

Upgrade will NOT allow you to do a full reformat. It will require you to do said upgrade from within the windows XP operating system environment, whereas a full install will allow you to boot from the CD with advanced partitioning options (where you can format the drive).

You will need the full version to do a full reformat.

Alternately, you could use your original XP disk to do the initial reformatting of the HDD. Then once you've reconfigured it and have everything working again, do the upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.

grossac

Try this: http://www.hanselman.com/blog/StepByStepHowToUpgradeFromWindowsXPToWindows7.aspx

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

Timothy McCartney

Scratch what I said, I wasn't paying attention... grossac is correct, there is no upgrade path to windows 7 directly from XP

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grossac

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rascal

ASKER

Thanks grossac, just what I was looking for.