I have on one of my comps installed Windows 7 RC build 7100 I believe.. I was wondering, so as to avioid going thru the whole uninstall(maybe) and re-install process again, if I were to input a valid reg. code or serial would it then magically convert to the full retail (pro, ultimate, whichever).. Is there even and option TO enter a serial in the RC versions?? You'dve thought M$ would have imbedded that option that way the program is already installed on the masses computers all has to be done now is DL the "full" version, patch, and of course $$$ for the serial #. Anyone know what the deal is on this? Thanks,.
No that's never been possible. Download the rtm iso and install that way no magically being able to make the rc into rtm.
Will the RTM know to overwrite the RC version? Comp. came stock with XP, which I also plan to upgrade (not clean install) so drivers etc or kept intact.
If I recall correctly, and please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no way to do an inplace upgrade from RC to RTM and keep all settings etc, nor is there a way to directly upgrade from XP to win7, though I suppose on could try and go from XP to Vista to win7, though I'm sot sure how well that would work.
Well then if I must I suppose Ill have to clean install an RTM version. Anyone know if win7 formats HDD prior to installation? If so, then all my progs would be wiped out.
You can upgrade from RC to RTM. 1. Download the ISO and burn the ISO to a DVD. 2. Copy the whole image to a storage location you wish to run the upgrade from (a bootable flash drive or a directory on any partition on the machine running the pre-release build). 3. Browse to the sources directory. 4. Open the file cversion.ini in a text editor like Notepad. 5. Modify the MinClient build number to a value lower than the down-level build. You need to change the value to 7000 as it is the beta version build number. 6. Save the file in place with the same name. 7. Run setup like you would normally from this modified copy of the image and the version check will be bypassed.
Just a friendly warning about forcing a RC upgrade (as posted in the Win7 Repository) In short: You may, or may not, encounter issues. So if you have any critical data on your RC system that you don't want to lose, make a backup before you attempt anything. --DKnight
I have upgraded RC to RTM using the method as described by thepretender and did not have any problems. It was just to test the method. The only thing of note is that it took about 60min instead of 20min for a new installation.
I did RC to RTM one two laptops both had a lag after welcome screen for 4 seconds. It longer to inplace then it would of to copy my files to a external do a fresh install and copy all my files and install my programs again.
It's okay, my friend burned win7 ISO to DVD, installed over winXP, formatted partition that had win7 RC on it, merged the two, and WALLAH, Win7 full version rippin away on PC... Saved ALL old folders, pics, docs, and vids, and even stored entire XP OS in folder called windows.old (which he later erased, took up well over 50 GB)... Happy to report alls well.. He is happy, that is.