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Is installing Windows 7 in-situ (on a machine running Windows already) less clean that installing at boot time?
For example - you can autorun a Windows 7 disk on a machine that is already booted up into Windows (earlier version).
Does this give a clean install (or is there an option to wipe the hard disk before the install begins?)
therobyouknow
Posted 2011-11-25T02:45:15.923
Reputation: 3 596
4
You can only upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, it will not upgrade from XP.
If you insert a Windows 7 disk and run it from Windows in XP, it would require you to restart and also require you install a clean copy of Windows 7 and generally delete/overwrite the XP partition.
If done from Windows Vista, an upgrade check would be performed, and then rebooted and you are given the option to upgrade, or do a clean installation.
Generally a clean installation would be better, but upgrading shouldn't degrade performance much if at all if the system was in good working condition. Still, I always prefer a clean installation.
Update:
I tested inserting a Windows 7 DVD into my computer running Windows 7 Pro, I clicked install, it copied some files and then rebooted where I was given the option to upgrade or do a clean install. Hope that helps you.
drew010
Posted 2011-11-25T02:45:15.923
Reputation: 351
2
Yes, you can. The only difference is that, when finished, you will have an archive of your previous installation, in a folder named WINDOWS.OLD. It takes up a substantial amout of disk space but is, in fact, deletable.
mikey
Posted 2011-11-25T02:45:15.923
Reputation: 21
+1 @drew010. Thanks and can you re-install Windows 7 on an existing Windows 7 machine by autorunning the DVD from Windows? – therobyouknow – 2011-11-25T08:35:36.653
Let me know your answer to my further question above and I hope to accept your answer. – therobyouknow – 2011-11-25T15:12:08.967
Updated answer to address your question. Hope that helps. – drew010 – 2011-11-26T18:38:06.487