Upgrade your Windows
 Custom: Clean install so back-up your files |
 Upgrade: Doesn't affect your files during installation |
| You have, but want: |
 Windows 7 HomePremium |
 Windows 7Professional |
 Windows 7Ultimate |
| Windows XP, all editions |
 Custom |
Custom |
Custom |
| Windows Vista Home Basic |
Upgrade |
Custom |
Upgrade |
| Windows Vista Home Premium |
 Upgrade |
Custom |
Upgrade |
| Windows Vista Business |
Custom |
Upgrade |
Upgrade |
| Windows Vista Ultimate |
Custom |
Custom |
Upgrade |
What kind of installation will you need to do?
There are two ways to install Windows 7 on a PC: a custom (or clean) installation or an upgrade installation. The table above shows the type of installation you'll need to do based on the version of Windows you have and the one you want to install. Here's the difference between the two methods:
A custom installation erases everything on your hard drive. So you need to back up all your files, photos, music, and settings on an external hard drive or on CD's or DVD's and then transfer them back to your PC after you install Windows 7. You'll also need to reinstall all your programs from their original installation disks. If you have Windows XP, you need to do a custom installation. Don't worry, we've got a great selection of devices that will help backing up your files.
With an upgrade installation, Windows 7 will simply replace Windows Vista without affecting anything else on your PC. You can do an upgrade installation from many editions of Windows Vista to whichever edition of Windows 7 you want to install.
