Building New PC, Windows 7 Upgrade useable?

I'm currently on a Velocity Micro PC with an OEM copy of Windows XP Pro installed. I plan on building a new pc in the near future and have the Windows 7 upgrade preordered. Will I be able to install Windows 7 on the new rig? Or am I going to have to install Windows XP on it, then install Windows 7? Heck, will I be able to do this at all?

This gets asked several times a day, including right under your thread! There is no definitive answer at this point. Some sources are claiming that the previous OS will need to be installed and activated. Others are hoping/claiming the double install trick will work for W7 just the way it did with Vista. So, the best answer is....stay tuned.

Either way, you will have to install the OS twice with the upgrade product

panhead said:

Either way, you will have to install the OS twice with the upgrade product

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some are saying all you gotta do is give it a key from a previous version of windows and windows 7 will be happy.

whooo knows, but MS isn't one to screw you over here.

MrWizard6600 said:

some are saying all you gotta do is give it a key from a previous version of windows and windows 7 will be happy.

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No. You're misunderstanding. A 'qualifying' previous version needs to be installed on the machine or the 'upgrade' install key will be rejected.

Svengali is going to need to install XP on that new PC first, or he won't be able to use the Windows 7 Upgrade install key to install Windows 7 on it.

There's been indication, though, that if Windows 7 RC (build 7100) is installed on the rig then the Windows 7 upgrade key will be accepted just fine. I'd be suggesting that route, if there was no Windows XP install disk accompanied the Velocity Micro PC.

I have the disk. I was just hoping I wouldn't need to use it. It would definitely be nice to just enter the key at some prompt while installing 7 :/

Catweazle said:

No. You're misunderstanding. A 'qualifying' previous version needs to be installed on the machine or the 'upgrade' install key will be rejected.

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That could very well just be Microsoft Legal lingo for 'must own a copy of XP or Vista'. Even if the Upgrade was capable of being used for a clean install, there is absolutely zero way Microsoft would advertise that.