Microsoft has already released its newest version of the Windows operating system – none other than Windows 7 – last October 22. There is so much interest generated over this new offering from Microsoft in the computer world to the point that the number of pre-orders for the new OS in the months following its launch have shot through the roof. But this is not really surprising at all. The word is that Windows 7 is a lot better than its predecessor, Windows Vista, and it is even said that Windows 7 is every bit the way that Vista should have been and more.

Are you one of those PC users who are thinking of upgrading from Windows Vista or Windows XP to Windows 7? If you are, you have two options for going about this; either you buy an upgrade disk or a full installation disk. The question is: Which option would be better for you – the Windows 7 upgrade disk or the full version?

Transitioning to Windows 7 Using an Upgrade Disk

Choosing to change your PC’s operating system to Windows 7 may be as simple as getting the upgrade disk if you are already running Windows XP or Vista on it. For one, the Windows 7 upgrade disk is a lot cheaper than the full version by a full $100, regardless of what edition you choose. You can even get the upgrade disk for free if you bought your computer from a Microsoft partner company like Dell or HP any time between June 26, 2009 and January 31, 2010, depending on a few conditions of eligibility.

There are a few risks of choosing a Windows 7 upgrade rather than a clean install of the OS. The biggest of these risks is that the upgrade can wreak havoc with the recovery applications that your computer manufacturer has set up on your PC. Also, there are reports that the upgrade can erase restore points previously made on your system, so if the upgrade process causes some kind of system failure, you cannot revert to a previous restore point. Moreover, if you take your computer to an accredited service center for repairs, the technicians will reinstall Windows Vista.

Transitioning to Windows 7 Using a Clean Installation

There are obvious advantages to using the full version of the new Windows OS rather than just the Windows 7 upgrade disk. For one, your computer will be reformatted completely, thus greatly reducing the possibility of system errors or incompatibilities. After all, you will be installing the operating system on a clean slate.

On the other hand, the full version of Windows 7 is a lot more expensive than the upgrade disk. In addition, if you are in a hurry to experience the power of Windows 7 compared to Vista, you have no choice but to suck it up and wait since the installation can take a long while.

Eventually, it is up to you to decide which one you want, whether the Windows 7 upgrade version or the full version. You should choose which one best suits you.

Tags: windows 7, windows 7 upgrade, windows 7 upgrade disk, windows compatibility center, windows vista | Category: Computer and Technology, Other | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL