Question about OS

So I plan to build a new desktop with the only part transferring from my old desktop being the hard drive. Windows Vista is already on there and I plan to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. Turns out I need Windows installed first on the hard drive before installing my Windows 7 copy. So should I upgrade to Windows 7 first then put the hard drive into the new build?

I'm also switching from AM2+ to AM3 and DDR2 to DDR3 if that helps.As you can tell, I'm am in no way an expert on computers, so any help is appreciated.

I never buy the upgrade version so I don't know.

My first question is- Why are you switching from AM2+ to AM3?

My first question is- Why are you switching from AM2+ to AM3?

hartsickdiscipl

haha I didn't read that, it makes no sense.

Wait until bulldozer.

never transfer pre-installed OS on HDD to a new build. you should always install a fresh OS to new builds. otherwise all the drivers and stuff would be messed up and it wouldn't work properly. new build -> install fresh Vista -> update to win7groowagon

^^ this more or less.

You can try just sticking in the vista into the new computer to see - but theres a very, very high chance that all you'll get is just a BSOD right before Windows starts to load.

Truth be told, you dont have to actually step through all that. You can do a "fresh install" of windows 7 upgrade. Leave Vista as is, plug it into the new drive, then place the windows 7 upgrade, boot from the cd, and install. You'll be doing the exact same thing as if it were a full copy of windows 7. in the process of formatting your drive, it'll detect your existing vista installation and use that as its validation of having had an existing copy.

Truth be told, you dont have to actually step through all that. You can do a "fresh install" of windows 7 upgrade. Leave Vista as is, plug it into the new drive, then place the windows 7 upgrade, boot from the cd, and install. You'll be doing the exact same thing as if it were a full copy of windows 7. in the process of formatting your drive, it'll detect your existing vista installation and use that as its validation of having had an existing copy.

XaosII