Hello again :P Recently, through my university, I was offered Windows 7 for free. I couldn't refuse the offer. However, upon installing it...I was given a message that this was not for upgrading...only installing. Is there any way to uninstall Vista AND install 7 without a DVD? (I could do it with a CD/DVD)
Thanks!
Windows 7
(28 posts) (11 voices)-
thenameipicked
MemberPosted 14 years ago # -
watcher13
MemberYeah, name, I'm not sure we're following you. Are you saying you don't have a DVD drive? Certainly, an external drive like Lakjin suggests would work. Or are you concerned that since it's an upgrade you can't go back to Vista? Please help us out here.
As far as uninstalling Vista, you can't uninstall a Windows OS. What happens is that the new OS reformats - wipes - you're disk. If your afraid of losing Vista in case you don't like 7, you can do one of the following: put 7 on an external or second internal drive, run one in a virtual environment, or dual boot. Though I haven't heard yet whether there's any issues between dual booting Vista and 7. If you give us a better idea of what you're trying to do we can probably be more helpful.
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
BlockedIf you'd like to "uninstall" Vista, back up all your data, and then boot Win7's DVD (don't insert it while Vista is running). And then when you choose your installation method, choose Custom. Format your C:, and continue installing Win7. If you'd like to also run Vista, dual boot through a custom install or image your hard drive and use Sun xVM VirtualBox to virtualize your Vista. (Easier said than done, you'll need a bootable disc to restore your Vista image to the VM, and after that there's no guarantee that it'll work, as there's a lot of hardware differences between your machine and the virtual one.)
What Win7 are you using? Official MS retail? Custom university version? OEM? I believe that Win7 isn't even officially out yet, only to RTM.
Posted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberI have the install file...but no DVD, or flash drive big enough. Can I use DOS somehow to delete Vista (I know, its much harder than getting rid of a program), and install 7?
Here is the page that has all the different software (to download you will need a login, which comes through my school).
http://msdn01.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Storefront.aspx?campus=usu_cs&np1=112
Sorry about lack of info...OS's I have no clue about.
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
BlockedWindows 7 should fit on a DVD without problem. I've downloaded a few betas of Vista and Win7 and they tell you to burn it on to a DVD. It's only 2.some gigs for the 32-bit version.
No, you can't use DOS to install Win7 (it's not like Windows 98). But you can delete the partitions that Vista resides on so that you can't boot from it anymore.
The link you provided is down. Also, without a login, no one would know what's on that page. You should either take a screenshot or copy and paste the page's contents here.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Robert
StrayCatBy the looks of it you are getting an 'academic' version for free.
Academic and oem versions normally can't be used for upgrading nor can they be used for dual boot purposes.
The file you downloaded (or are entitled to when Windows7 is launched) probably is an iso file that you can burn on a dvd.
This dvd should be bootable and can be used for a clean install (...thus wiping your Vista)
But make sure to backup your personal data first...........................part 2
There is another option you can try to keep your Vista for a while longer
(just in the odd case you don't like Windows7 or in case if you have too many programs that won't run in the new OS)Here how you *might* be able to do it:
(or maybe someone else could try it for you)
Make a bootable cd with a partitioning program on it.
The aim is to resize your current hard drive with Vista on it.
Create some unallocated space big enough to install Windows7 at the end of the partition and set your Vista partition inactive.
Rebooting your computer with the Windows 7 dvd should enable you to install this new OS.Wish I could join my comments myself,but maybe some kind mod will...
....edited...all mods are kind :)Posted 14 years ago # -
Shizen
MemberHello,
I guess your Win7 is in a .ISO file. So, you can use this method:
1/ Your PC/laptop should have at least 2 partition with NTFS format. Drive C: is the current partition that your Windows Vista is installed. Let's call the other partition is "D:"
2/ Install a virtual driver software (like UltraISO or Alcohol 120%...) . How to use this application? It is very easy, you can read their instruciton.
3/ Copy your Win7 .iso file into driver D:
4/ Mount the Win7 .iso file into the virtual drive (now it will be treated as a DVD drive), then run it and follow the instruction to install your file.[link to warez related site removed]
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
Blocked@Shizen: If you read the posts above you, you'll notice that this version does not allow upgrades, and must be run on boot before Windows starts to install a fresh version. As Windows is not running and the virtual CD software are not system devices, they won't work. The only way to install the edition of Windows is to use a physical media, either a DVD or a flash drive or external hard drive.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Shizen
Member@BuBBy: sorry, I now read the rules :) Not to promote that site, because I am only a normal member.
@GMMan: actually I DID install my Win7 using this method. I am not a advanced user, but I can guess like this:1/ partition "D:" have the installation files, and is a bootable partition so it can boot after we run setup file.
2/ the virtual drive only plays the part as an extracter. after that, all the content of Win7 installation files was stored "somewhere" and used for the installation.
3/ in the installation progress, I did choose the option to install a brand new version of Windows, NOT upgrade.
So maybe you should try my suggestion, it is kind of easy so I can do it very smoothly.
Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
Blocked@Shizen: Ahh... You never said bootable. That'll probably work if it's a bootable partition. Though I do wonder how you got the boot sector from the CD onto your partition. Did you edit the BCD to boot from the second partition? It's most likely because when Windows Setup starts in boot mode it actually boots a base copy of Windows 7.
Posted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberYes, thats what I'm wondering. A virtual CD/DVD drive will no work, because they don't exist at the very beginning. Now how do I do I boot from GMMan? I'm confused.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Shizen
MemberLike I said, I am not a advanced user.
So all I did to install my Win7 version:
1/ Install a virtual drive manager.
2/ Copy my win7 (.iso) into drive D: (NTFS format)
3/ Mount the .iso file into the virtual drive
4/ Run the virtual drive
5/ In the installation progress, choose customer install instead of upgrade (this will install a fresh version of Win7)
6/ Then wait for Win7 to install.I do install my Win7 that way. And it's kind a easy. May you try it or google some words like how to install Win7 using HDD / .iso ...
Have fun, guys.Posted 14 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredwindows 7 Release Candidate will expire on June 1,2010 you will need to replace the OS, so keep Vista,dual boot be good it not be academic' version as it not out only RC if you say it not RC then you are IT Pros, Tech Enthusiasts, or Developers. more info at
http://www.microsoft.com/springboard more information on windows 7
http://microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/windows7PS you not say if window 7 is a DVD, exe, or ISO, and you can not fit it with CD Drive need to be a DVD Drive.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Shizen
Member@hotdoge3: your knowledge is quite hard for me to understand.
@thenameipicke: I have found a much easier and efficient way to install your win7 without any complicated job:Just use Winrar (kind of free!) to extract your Win7 .iso file and then run the setup.exe
Very simple!
Good luck.Posted 14 years ago # -
Anonymous
UnregisteredShizen are you saying iso to setup.exe just unZip? with Winrar? Info for thenameipicke on ELMS http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/academic/bb250597.aspx
Posted 14 years ago # -
Shizen
Member@hotdoge3: yeah, I meant, using Winrar, you can extract an .iso file into a folder which includes all the content of that .iso file.
It's surprisingly simple, I've learnt this trick from my friend. I've just reinstall my Win7 with that method, it works. You may try to check if I'm right or wrong :)Posted 14 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
Blocked@Shizen: Last time I tried to unrar a Windows DVD image (Vista Beta 2), I only got a single file telling me that I need to burn the disc to a DVD instead of a CD. I'm not sure if WinRAR detects it properly now, though.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Anonymous
Unregisteredhttp://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/102561/q-when-did-windows-7-and-windows-serv
er-2008-r2-release-to-manufacturing-rtm.htmlQ. When did Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 release to manufacturing (RTM)?
A. Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 were officially RTM'd on July 22, 2009. They'll be
available on MSDN and Technet August 6, 2009, with an October 22 general release.http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx
Need to register or find your product key? Start hereSorry, the Windows 7 RC is no longer available for download. If you’ve got the download and need a product key, they’ll be available until October 21, 2009.
Posted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberYes. I am part of MSDN. (Actually, MSDNAA with the AA standing for Academic Alliance)
Posted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberSheesh. I wish this could be easier. I got a DVD, put windows on it, cleared up some space for windows, and I go into installation mode (on startup). I get through the inital stuff, and it starts packing my previous version of windows into old.windows. (Or so it says). At about 19 percent, it gives me an unrecognizable error, and I am forced to restart. So, I retry, and this time it gets to...34 percent. Same error, but I can't remember it. Finally, I decide to try one more time. It immediately jumps to 100% and continues onto the next option (unpack windows)...and hangs there at 0% for a long time. I decide to manually power off and restart. Getting sick of this I try 1 more time, but start by formatting my hard drive (one of the options, and I have my essentials backed up on a different DVD). Nothing changes, and it hangs around 0%. I power off again, and decide to not start up from the CD...and I get a new start-up screen. (Apparently the one of 7). However, before I can do anything, "Startup Repair" starts up and finds an error, and is unable to fix it, and asks me to restart the computer, as that may do something. So I restart...one more time. I try the installation one more time, and decide to have a lot of patience. I finally get another unrecognizable error, and I get sent back to the windows 7 starting installation screen. I notice that there is an advanced options button, so I click it. I get the following 5 options:
Startup repair (Ya right...like its going to do anything different)
System restore (I have backed up, but windows can't find any of them)
System Image recovery (Wish I had)
Windows Memory Diagnostic (Pretty sure it isn't this)
and finally, Command Prompt...which I am not very experienced in using. Now, my question is...what do I do?(I am writing this on a friend's computer.)
*sigh*...so much work for Windows 7. It had better be worth it :PPosted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberOk, an update. I have officially wiped my hard drive. There is nothing there besides launch essentials (which is on a different partition). However, when it tries to unpack Windows files, it still sticks at 0%. So, I decided (because the DVD is a DVDRW) to rewrite the iso file onto it. Updates coming soon (When I finish this...which may take a while.)
Posted 14 years ago # -
aRenegade
MemberMore than likely your registry has been compromised. If you have the MS start-up disks that came with your PC try running the repair utility. If that doesn’t work you might as well go ahead will a full blown clean install of the OS. You could also consider running chkdsk from the command prompt; specifically chkdsk /r. That procedure has saved many a PC from being thrown out a window. Here are a couple links to Microsoft support sites that if for nothing else, should be kept in mind.
Windows 7 Solution Center
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/windows7#tab0Windows installation problems: frequently asked questions
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Windows-installation-problems-frequently-asked-questionsThen after all that along with everything else you’ve already done to get your PC back in reasonable running condition, you could have another go at installing your pre-release version of Windows 7; if that’s what you really want to do.
Good Hunting ;)
Posted 14 years ago # -
thenameipicked
MemberWell...I figured it out. It actually wasn't my registry...it was my DVD...I had burned it too fast, and it was corrupt. So, after formatting it, and burning it at 2X speed, I was able to install Windows 7!!! (Also, this is not the pre-release version, this is the full thing, because I am part of MSDN).
And yes, it was totally worth it!
Thanks all and everyone...I couldn't have done it without you guys!Posted 14 years ago #
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