Solved another crazy ? about M$ activations and upgrades

Hello extended friends and family,


What I want to do is buy another HDD-$77 and an OS//full blown-$199 or, from what I understand here, an upgrade-$89


If I do a clean install from the purchase of an upgrade, I understand it's the same as a full blown product?

I want to be able to keep my current {win7 64bit setup on my current HDD-with clones to other same size HDD's} and then, the new HDD, put the win7 Professional 64bit OS version on it and be able to use the XP Mode to play around.

when I want to come back to my current win7 64bit setup I can just flip the HDD's. ((( is this an issue with M$?))

and when I flip, will the computer know I have both paid for OS's and no question about activation?

(the current setup is from gateway; they sent me reinstall discs after me begging for a month)

this may sound convoluted but it's the only way I can explain what I want to do.
if you need more info, I'll try to explain, sorry, I've been up for 38hrs.


I thought about buying:

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-AS7741G-7017-17-3-Inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B003ZUXX1K/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1286465170&sr=8-16

or:

http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-NV79C51u-17-3-Inch-Laptop/dp/B003Y733KK/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1286465217&sr=8-21


Love and Respect,

Carmine



PS... I don't want to do a dual boot thing and I cant grasp it anyway

Hi Carmine,

I will try to help as much as possible
Yes, an upgrade is the same as a full retail.

When you install an upgrade it must be over a qualifying OS (XP, Vista etc)
You cannot install over a qualifying OS, then use both OS.
If I misunderstood, please repost, if you can, one question at a time.

Hi,

My understanding & evidence from the pre-release version of Windows 7 & a full ultimate version of Vista is: -

You can do an install (without activation code) complete the install etc.

Then using the same disk & previously installed system, upgrade what you have just done, using the same disk but this time insert the activation code & it will install afull version activate (if the licence has never been used before).

Hope this is the answer you wanted.

richc46 said:

Hi Carmine,

I will try to help as much as possible
Yes, an upgrade is the same as a full retail.

When you install an upgrade it must be over a qualifying OS (XP, Vista etc)
You cannot install over a qualifying OS, then use both OS. there's the answer
If I misunderstood, please repost, if you can, one question at a time.

Click to expand...

thanks !!!!!