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Upgrading Windows 7 Release candidate

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A few months back - before Windows 7 came out I built myself a new machine and put Windows 7 Release candidate on it. Of course now I need to replace the release Candidate with the real thing - accordingly I have obtained Windows 7 Home premium OEM for this purpose. My question is this can I use the OEM version to upgrade the release candidate (I have programs and data there I would like to preserve) - or do I have to got the long way about it and back everything up ie:- format the drive etc....

Monday, December 7, 2009 9:34 PM

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Hi Furiousjim,

Microsoft stating: “Please note: All users of the Windows 7 Release Candidate (including Windows Vista users who have upgraded to the Release Candidate) must do a clean installation of Windows 7 RTM. Please keep this is mind as you consider downloading the Release Candidate as opposed to waiting for the general availability release.”

For more information, you may refer to the following links:

http://www.microsoft.com/ireland/technet/windows7.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/haroldwong/archive/2009/07/08/can-i-do-an-in-place-upgrade-from-windows-7-release-candidate-to-release-code.aspx

Generally, the OEM version of Windows 7 is depended on the BIOS information. For example, the HP OEM copy of Windows 7 cannot be installed on a Lenovo computer. If you want to perform a Clean Install for this OEM copy of Windows 7, you had better contact the OEM vendor to check if it can be installed on your computer.

Good luck!
Arthur Li - MSFT
- Marked as answer by Arthur_LiMicrosoft contingent staff Monday, December 14, 2009 5:44 AM
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 5:55 AM