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upgrade to WIn7 - any going back ?

B

- Bobb -

Flightless Bird
I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back to
OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on another XP,
Vista box instead ?

I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs and
it's fine now.
I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that just
for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd like to
upgrade an XP box instead ??
 
R

relic

Flightless Bird
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
> to OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on
> another XP, Vista box instead ?
>
> I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs
> and it's fine now.
> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>
>
>


How to uninstall Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971762
 
A

Alex Clayton

Flightless Bird
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
> to OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on
> another XP, Vista box instead ?
>
> I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs
> and it's fine now.
> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>
>
>


One way it can be done is just use the restore discs to go back to Vista. I
have a laptop running W-7 that started out as Vista. I had to format it one
time and it was again Vista until I used the upgrade to put W7 back.
Now as to whether MS would then let you use that W-7 license on a
different machine maybe, I would think yes. It may require a call. It is
going to depend on what happens when you try to register it. I know it does
work with Office 2007. I have 2, 3 license discs and over time as I have
deleted one license from one machine and installed it on another it goes on
line and lets it go through, but not sure if they would be as easy with a
copy of the OS.
As to the difference there is not a lot that I can see. If the machine has
the ability to run Vista without bogging down then it will run W-7. For XP
from what I have been told you need to check and make sure that the drivers
are available for it before you try to make it XP.
--
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks."

[Lazarus Long]
 
D

Dave

Flightless Bird
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
> to OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on
> another XP, Vista box instead ?
>
> I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs
> and it's fine now.
> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>
>
>


I upgraded two machines from Vista to Win 7 64 bit, one with Home Premium
and one with Professional. At least one of them, and possibly both, gave me
an option on install to have the ability to go back if I decided I wanted to
at a later date. I chose that option on one and after install there was a
directory on the drive called "Windows Old" or something to that effect.
Looking in the folder there were a conglomeration of files and folders, I
don't remember a lot about them, but it was the info Windows needed if I
wanted to go back to Vista. After using Win7 for a while I looked inside the
folder to see if there was anything I wanted, moved a few pictures and such
from it, which I later found were in a folder on the Win 7 install. I then
deleted the folder, all is well and it's been quite a few months of Win 7.
There is a learning curve to Win 7, but it's not that difficult and there's
plenty of help in this group as well as on the net.
HTH,
Dave
 
B

- Bobb -

Flightless Bird
"Alex Clayton" <alexx1403@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:_rqdnSsvLu_V4C3RnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@nventure.com...
>
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and just store-bought Win7 upgrade. I
>> got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn't
>> boot so I ordered restore CDs and it's fine now.
>> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
>> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
>> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>>

>
> As to the difference there is not a lot that I can see. If the machine
> has the ability to run Vista without bogging down then it will run W-7.
> For XP from what I have been told you need to check and make sure that the
> drivers are available for it before you try to make it XP.
> --
> "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
> Moderation is for monks."
>
> [Lazarus Long]
>
>


My objective is to end up with most useful use of resources.
So, for users of both OSes that use it mainly for media.... if I won't see
any advantage in upgrading Vista Home Premium to Win7, then you'd suggest
using the Win7 upgrade for an XP box ? ( provided it meets specs) One more
question then ....
I have one XP box that I've used as test box - 2 hard drives - one sata with
XP on C and also on E: (part #2)
and the other HDD is IDE 'was capable of, and still has the mbr records for'
multibooting XP,X64, Vista and Win7 although I've removed the Vista,Win7
directories.
I'd like to leave multiboot options because I use it still for alpha
testing.

Can I UPGRADE XP and leave XP on another partition on that same drive ?
SO: if I remove IDE drive, can I install Win7 on sata E ?
will installing an upgrade to win7 format the entire drive or just the
partition ?
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1751&tag=nl.e064
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1728&tag=nl.e132


Boot Flow is -
first drive boot = IDE drive
Menu =
XP on IDE
XP on SATA
XP64,Vista,Win7 on IDE
( Vista,Win7 entries still show up although would fail - I left alone just
to have MBR/HDD "understand" Win7,Vista)
timesout then to SATA C: boot menu which is
XP on sata C (default), or
XP on sata E

Ideally sata will end up with
Win7 on E
XP on C
 
A

Alex Clayton

Flightless Bird
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:i8sh9m$9r0$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> "Alex Clayton" <alexx1403@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:_rqdnSsvLu_V4C3RnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@nventure.com...
>>
>> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>> news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and just store-bought Win7 upgrade. I
>>> got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn't
>>> boot so I ordered restore CDs and it's fine now.
>>> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
>>> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
>>> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>>>

>>
>> As to the difference there is not a lot that I can see. If the machine
>> has the ability to run Vista without bogging down then it will run W-7.
>> For XP from what I have been told you need to check and make sure that
>> the drivers are available for it before you try to make it XP.
>> --
>> "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
>> Moderation is for monks."
>>
>> [Lazarus Long]
>>
>>

>
> My objective is to end up with most useful use of resources.
> So, for users of both OSes that use it mainly for media.... if I won't see
> any advantage in upgrading Vista Home Premium to Win7, then you'd suggest
> using the Win7 upgrade for an XP box ? ( provided it meets specs) One more
> question then ....
> I have one XP box that I've used as test box - 2 hard drives - one sata
> with XP on C and also on E: (part #2)
> and the other HDD is IDE 'was capable of, and still has the mbr records
> for' multibooting XP,X64, Vista and Win7 although I've removed the
> Vista,Win7 directories.
> I'd like to leave multiboot options because I use it still for alpha
> testing.
>
> Can I UPGRADE XP and leave XP on another partition on that same drive ?
> SO: if I remove IDE drive, can I install Win7 on sata E ?
> will installing an upgrade to win7 format the entire drive or just the
> partition ?
> http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1751&tag=nl.e064
> http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1728&tag=nl.e132
>
>
> Boot Flow is -
> first drive boot = IDE drive
> Menu =
> XP on IDE
> XP on SATA
> XP64,Vista,Win7 on IDE
> ( Vista,Win7 entries still show up although would fail - I left alone just
> to have MBR/HDD "understand" Win7,Vista)
> timesout then to SATA C: boot menu which is
> XP on sata C (default), or
> XP on sata E
>
> Ideally sata will end up with
> Win7 on E
> XP on C
>
>
>



Your Way, Way over my knowledge base here, hopefully someone else can answer
that one.
--
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks."

[Lazarus Long]
 
D

Dave

Flightless Bird
"Alex Clayton" <alexx1403@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:_rqdnSsvLu_V4C3RnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@nventure.com...
>
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
>> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
>> to OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on
>> another XP, Vista box instead ?
>>
>> I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs
>> and it's fine now.
>> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
>> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
>> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>>
>>
>>

>
> One way it can be done is just use the restore discs to go back to Vista.
> I have a laptop running W-7 that started out as Vista. I had to format it
> one time and it was again Vista until I used the upgrade to put W7 back.
> Now as to whether MS would then let you use that W-7 license on a
> different machine maybe, I would think yes. It may require a call. It is
> going to depend on what happens when you try to register it. I know it
> does work with Office 2007. I have 2, 3 license discs and over time as I
> have deleted one license from one machine and installed it on another it
> goes on line and lets it go through, but not sure if they would be as easy
> with a copy of the OS.
> As to the difference there is not a lot that I can see. If the machine
> has the ability to run Vista without bogging down then it will run W-7.
> For XP from what I have been told you need to check and make sure that the
> drivers are available for it before you try to make it XP.
> --
> "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
> Moderation is for monks."
>
> [Lazarus Long]
>
>


I haven't talked to MS about Windows, but did call them concerning MS Office
2007. When Office 2010 came out I wanted it, but wanted to sell my 2007 if
possible. MS techs told me if I uninstalled it while online, or my internet
connection was live, the program would un-register itself and now have the
multiple-point license again for whoever purchased the software. So, I
uninstalled it from both my computers, sold it and the new owner said the
verification was fine.
I don't' know for sure, but I am assuming Windows will do the same, under
the same conditions.
Dave
 
B

- Bobb -

Flightless Bird
Thanks for the feedback.


"Dave" <dave@unknown.invalid> wrote in message
news:-OvidnZJhm_jL2y7RnZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@sigecom.net...
>
> "Alex Clayton" <alexx1403@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:_rqdnSsvLu_V4C3RnZ2dnUVZ_hOdnZ2d@nventure.com...
>>
>> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>> news:i8pqks$42s$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
>>> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
>>> to OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on
>>> another XP, Vista box instead ?
>>>
>>> I got the Lenovo as a freebie that didn;t boot so I ordered restore CDs
>>> and it's fine now.
>>> I've never used the Lenovo box for anything yet. Thinking of using that
>>> just for media and if not much difference between Vista/Win7 maybe I'd
>>> like to upgrade an XP box instead ??
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>
>> One way it can be done is just use the restore discs to go back to Vista.
>> I have a laptop running W-7 that started out as Vista. I had to format it
>> one time and it was again Vista until I used the upgrade to put W7 back.
>> Now as to whether MS would then let you use that W-7 license on a
>> different machine maybe, I would think yes. It may require a call. It is
>> going to depend on what happens when you try to register it. I know it
>> does work with Office 2007. I have 2, 3 license discs and over time as I
>> have deleted one license from one machine and installed it on another it
>> goes on line and lets it go through, but not sure if they would be as
>> easy with a copy of the OS.
>> As to the difference there is not a lot that I can see. If the machine
>> has the ability to run Vista without bogging down then it will run W-7.
>> For XP from what I have been told you need to check and make sure that
>> the drivers are available for it before you try to make it XP.
>> --
>> "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
>> Moderation is for monks."
>>
>> [Lazarus Long]
>>
>>

>
> I haven't talked to MS about Windows, but did call them concerning MS
> Office 2007. When Office 2010 came out I wanted it, but wanted to sell my
> 2007 if possible. MS techs told me if I uninstalled it while online, or my
> internet connection was live, the program would un-register itself and now
> have the multiple-point license again for whoever purchased the software.
> So, I uninstalled it from both my computers, sold it and the new owner
> said the verification was fine.
> I don't' know for sure, but I am assuming Windows will do the same, under
> the same conditions.
> Dave
 
M

milt

Flightless Bird
On 10/9/2010 8:27 AM, - Bobb - wrote:
> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back to
> OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on another XP,
> Vista box instead ?
>


No, once you change an OS you can't simply "uninstall" and have the old
OS back. You would have to reinstall the original OS from the original
discs.
 
D

Doum

Flightless Bird
milt <theatre_nospam_guy@miltsweb.com> écrivait news:i91dmj$v5r$2
@news.eternal-september.org:

> On 10/9/2010 8:27 AM, - Bobb - wrote:
>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
>> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back

to
>> OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on another

XP,
>> Vista box instead ?
>>

>
> No, once you change an OS you can't simply "uninstall" and have the old
> OS back. You would have to reinstall the original OS from the original
> discs.
>


I know that's true for XP but are you sure about Vista?

In the past when you upgraded an OS with a newer OS upgrade disk, there was
an entry in Add/Remove programs to go back.

Since the Win7 upgrade DVD will actually upgrade a Vista installation
(unlike an XP installation), I guess it would leave an entry in Programs in
the Control Panel to go back; but it's just a guess since I never had Vista
and never upgraded a Vista installation.
 
B

- Bobb -

Flightless Bird
But if used as just a media box then I'll only use the media features of the
Win7/Vista box and if not much change - if there's "no way that will work",
then I'd not go from Vista to Win7. I asked because I want to be sure that
if I decide that it wasn't worth it, Win7 will then work on another box.
I'd use Win7 upgrade for an XP box.


"milt" <theatre_nospam_guy@miltsweb.com> wrote in message
news:i91dmj$v5r$2@news.eternal-september.org...
> On 10/9/2010 8:27 AM, - Bobb - wrote:
>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
>> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
>> to
>> OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on another
>> XP,
>> Vista box instead ?
>>

>
> No, once you change an OS you can't simply "uninstall" and have the old OS
> back. You would have to reinstall the original OS from the original discs.
 
C

chrisv

Flightless Bird
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:i91l5b$42d$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> But if used as just a media box then I'll only use the media features of
> the Win7/Vista box and if not much change - if there's "no way that will
> work", then I'd not go from Vista to Win7. I asked because I want to be
> sure that if I decide that it wasn't worth it, Win7 will then work on
> another box.
> I'd use Win7 upgrade for an XP box.


"milt" doesn't know what he's babbling about. You have been given a link to
Microsoft's instructions on removing Windows 7 after you install it. Use
that link and close this thread.


>
>
> "milt" <theatre_nospam_guy@miltsweb.com> wrote in message
> news:i91dmj$v5r$2@news.eternal-september.org...
>> On 10/9/2010 8:27 AM, - Bobb - wrote:
>>> I have a Lenovo box with OEM Vista and store-bought Win7 upgrade.
>>> Wondering though, if I upgrade that box can I "remove Win7" and go back
>>> to
>>> OEM's Vista ( just curious) and perhaps use that Win7 upgrade on another
>>> XP,
>>> Vista box instead ?
>>>

>>
>> No, once you change an OS you can't simply "uninstall" and have the old
>> OS back. You would have to reinstall the original OS from the original
>> discs.

>
>
 
A

Auction Secrets

Flightless Bird
On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:33:14 -0700, "chrisv" <chrisv@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

>
>"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
>news:i91l5b$42d$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> But if used as just a media box then I'll only use the media features of
>> the Win7/Vista box and if not much change - if there's "no way that will
>> work", then I'd not go from Vista to Win7. I asked because I want to be
>> sure that if I decide that it wasn't worth it, Win7 will then work on
>> another box.
>> I'd use Win7 upgrade for an XP box.

>
>"milt" doesn't know what he's babbling about. You have been given a link to
>Microsoft's instructions on removing Windows 7 after you install it. Use
>that link and close this thread.


FYI, this is USENET. There is no such thing as closing a thread.
 
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