Windows 7 SKU Supported and Unsupported Upgrade Paths (Official)
After a false start in publishing Windows 7 Upgrade Paths Matrix which was retracted and took down almost as immediately as it went up, Microsoft has finally published a document that outlines supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 edition SKUs. Comparing with previous version, the upgrade paths scenarios are very much simplified and make very easy to understand.
Do take note that the “upgrade” described as in upgrade paths means whether user can perform in-place direct upgrade to Windows 7 from earlier operating system, retaining all applications, programs, documents, settings, personalization and other user data automatically without having to clean install from scratch (which Windows 7 setup refers as Custom Installation). Do not confuse “upgrade” here with Windows 7 Upgrade version license, which an user is entitled to purchase Windows 7 at cheaper price if he or she has earlier Windows OS, although the upgrade path is not supported.
Unsupported Upgrade Scenarios
- Upgrades to Windows 7 from the following operating systems are not supported:
- Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows Vista RTM, Windows Vista Starter, Windows 7 M3, Windows 7 Beta, Windows 7 RC, or Windows 7 IDS
- Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2
- Cross-architecture in-place upgrades (for example, x86 to x64) are not supported.
- Cross-language in-place upgrades (for example, en-us to de-de) are not supported.
- Cross-SKU upgrades (for example, Windows 7 N to Windows 7 K) are not supported.
- Upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows N, Windows K, Windows KN, or Windows E are not supported.
- Cross-build type in-place upgrades (for example, fre to chk) are not supported.
- Pre-release in-place upgrades across milestones (for example, Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM) are not supported.
Supported Upgrade Scenarios
| From Windows Vista (SP1, SP2) | Upgrade to Windows 7 |
|---|---|
| Business | Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate |
| Enterprise< | Enterprise |
| Home Basic | Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate |
| Home Premium | Home Premium, Ultimate |
| Ultimate | Ultimate |
| From Windows 7 | Upgrade to Windows 7 |
|---|---|
| Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Home Basic | Home Basic |
| Home Premium | Home Premium |
| Professional | Professional |
| Starter (x86 only) | Starter (x86) |
| Ultimate | Ultimate |
| From Windows 7 | Anytime Upgrade to Windows 7 |
|---|---|
| Home Basic | Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate |
| Home Premium | Professional, Ultimate |
| Professional | Ultimate |
| Starter | Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate |
There is also Windows 7 upgrade chart available, which details the above nicely in chart format. The document can also be downloaded from Microsoft Download Center or view online at TechNet. Check out also the full coverage information on Windows 7 RTM.
Related Articles
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Edition Supported and Unsupported Upgrade Paths
- Windows 7 Supported and Non-Supported Upgrade Paths Test Matrix
- Custom Install or In-Place Upgrade to Windows 7? (Official Upgrade Paths Chart Reference)
- Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU) for Windows 7 Official Prices List and Details
- How to Install Windows Live Wave 3 Beta Programs (include Messenger) on Unsupported x86 and x64 of Windows Server 2003 or 2008
- Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade – How to Upgrade Edition Guide and Price
- Free Upgrade to Windows 7 Program for Windows Vista PC from July 1
- Windows Vista In-Place Upgrade from Windows XP Support Matrix and Options
- Windows Anytime Upgrade Another Vista Computer
- Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit (x86 and x64) Maximum Supported RAM Physical Memory Limit
Entries (RSS)
November 3rd, 2009 13:12
[...] either Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 to 64-bit (x64-based) Windows 7 OS is not a supported upgrade paths to Windows 7. When user tries to run 64bit setup.exe Windows 7 installer from within 32bit operating system, the [...]
October 27th, 2009 01:49
[...] system, via “in-place upgrade” or custom install, which replaces old Windows. Even if upgrade path from some versions of older Windows cannot perform “in-place upgrade”, and require user [...]
August 10th, 2009 03:23
[...] existing PC cannot be “upgraded” to Windows 7 via in-place upgrade method. If the official Windows 7 supported and unsupported upgrade paths is too complicated to understand, Microsoft has also made available an upgrade chart, which showing [...]
August 5th, 2009 23:34
[...] has published Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document which outlines the upgrade paths that are supported and not supported by Windows [...]
July 29th, 2009 01:51
[...] blocked upgrade path is similar to Windows 7 RC, which does not allow in-place upgrade from Windows 7. The blocking of [...]
July 28th, 2009 09:22
So, if I upgrade my copy of Vista, will I have to have an upgrade key too? Or is it just going to use my Vista key?
July 26th, 2009 03:16
Burn the iso, launch setup.exe and choose upgrade… 40 minutes, 3 or 4 reboots and it’s done!
If you can boot after the upgrade, you can delete folders C:\$WINDOWS.~Q and C:\$Upgrade.~OS to free about 2Go.
July 26th, 2009 01:57
[...] setup performing installation of Windows 7. Windows XP to Windows 7 upgrade path is not one of the supported Windows 7 upgrade paths. Instead, user who tries to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 will be shwon the following [...]
July 25th, 2009 16:39
@3 Noz:
So how did you do it?
I tried upgrading from RC to RTM but the installer just wouldn’t let me…
July 25th, 2009 01:57
Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM are not supported?
I just upgraded from Seven RC 7264 to RTM (7600 16385). Yes, upgraded with all softs and data, no Windows.old or format needed…
July 25th, 2009 00:16
[...] Update: Updated Windows 7 Upgrade Paths [...]
July 25th, 2009 00:15
[...] than Windows 7 supported and not supported upgrade paths, Microsoft has also published a document that outlines Windows Server 2008 R2 upgrade paths [...]