Windows 7 Upgrade from Vista and XP Dual Boot

[safeguy]

OK guys...I've been thinking and have been Googling this for some time now but still I can't find a convincing answer....

I've an Acer laptop that comes with Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista Home Premium dual-boot (it wasn't set up by me...I've got no experience with setting up a dual-boot)....both of these are OEM and have been pre-installed on my PC...I don't know which one was installed 1st and I don't have any Windows XP, Vista or system recovery discs...nothing at all with me.

The issue now is I want to upgrade my Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Ultimate and not do a clean install...reason is I've got lots of files and folders right now on my PC and I don't have an external hard disk to backup to...

I've Googled for a solution and I found this:

How to Upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic to Windows 7 Professional

Problem is I don't know these 2 things:

1. Will that trick work for Windows 7 Ultimate (not Professional)...can someone confirm with me if it will work???
2. Will a retail (or to be more exact, MSDN/Technet) Windows 7 key be accepted to do an upgrade instead of a clean install???....

Another main concern is I want to retain my Windows XP Pro...in other words I still want to keep my Windows XP Pro with me....I want to dual boot Windows XP Pro and Windows 7 Ultimate

To summarise it up, here is what I want to do:

Convert "Windows XP Pro + Windows Vista Home Premium" to "Windows XP Pro and Windows 7 Ultimate" without doing any clean install or having to reinstall my XP....

Hope you guys understand what I'm saying...and please spare me from this 'burden'....

P.S. It would be nice if you post a step-by step guide....I'm tired of looking and reading from many various articles and sources at the same time...it's so f**ckin* confusing...

[Ranjan]

I don't know much about these as have never done any upgrade install yet.
As far as i know, you can insert the 7 dvd while in vista and run the win7 setup to upgrade. If it works, great or continue reading,
I also found on googling that the upgrade you wanna perform isn't possible. You'll have to do a clean install. Pls visit below link-
[url="http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/upgrading-to-windows-7-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know.ars"]http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/upgrading-to-windows-7-what-xp-and-vista-users-need-to-know.ars
You'll also get the migration list there.
PS: I know that your tired of reading articles, but no pain no gain!

[safeguy]

@Ranjan

Thanks for the input but I've already read that article on arstechnica....I know that by default, it's not allowed in the upgrade paths but like I've said earlier...MyDigitalLife has shared a "trick" on how to it here:

How to Upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic to Windows 7 Professional

Problem is will that trick work with Windows 7 Ultimate???

As for "no pain, no gain"....I agree but I've already had too much pain and no gain yet

[Ranjan]

Ok then i think we should wait for other members... Btw, have u tried contacting the technicians at the dealers from where you bought your laptop.?

[Ranjan]

Why don't you try this.? First log on to windows xp and then remove the entry of vista from the boot manager (steps in attachment) and then format the partition on which vista is installed.
Then simply install Windows7. Don't worry all your data will be there intact. You only need to backup data on the vista partition to any other partition before formatting that.
I've done so.
PS: But you will have to have Vista disc.

[dredge]

boot up with the windows 7 disc.If u don't have this option enabled, just switch it on from your bios setting(press delete after you press the power button and see the bios logo).if u already have the function enabled, press f12/f2 (depends on your model) to boot from win7 dvd. proceed to the setup. win7 will recognised all microsoft os installed in your pc. pick the partition where u install win vista to install win7. you can pick upgrade or clean installation but both choice will not affect your winxp. after you installed win 7 and restart your pc. you will have two option in windows boot manager before you can log in to either windows: 1. previous windows version ; 2. windows 7 ultimate. press 1, and you will see the option of windows xp is there. That's all. everything u save, install in windows xp will remain there if all those thing is exactly in your xp partition. if u have something in vista partition, it's advisable to choose upgrade option or do backup for the partition where u installed win vista before you proceed to clean installation of win 7. your win xp is always there as long as you do not upgrade or format the relevant partition.

[Newbie Comp user]

why don't you try to contacting if Microsoft and ask them away?

[BTOR]

Dual booting with seven is like someone feeding you a cake which you always wanted to have i have installed/upgraded xp,vista to seven in almost (n) number of system just install seven from within the vista
it would ask do you wanT to download a update select yes and let the installation do it work

[Ranjan]

What happened safeguy...? You gave up...?

[safeguy]

Almost.....I'm delaying my plan to upgrade to Windows 7 for now....I still have to backup some of my files/folders & I've got projects to do this 2-3 weeks....so I'll see how things go