Best way to legally upgrade Win 7.

PsiFox

PsiFox

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Asking as I won a shedload of RAM from crucial recently and I was not aware of the RAM limit on Win 7 Home Premium.

So in order to use it I need to go to Pro or Ultimate.

Is the easiest way through MS website or can I buy another version from a retailer which is cheaper than MS and use the key and upgrade over the top.

I know the MS path just downloads the differences between versions.
 
Thanks for that Neil, I was certain it was possible to legally beat MS price.

:)
 
How much RAM are you currently running and how much RAM do you plan to upgrade to?

The RAM limit is also affected if your running the 32bit or 64bit version also?

ALL 32bit versions of windows are restricted to 4GB RAM. 64bit versions vary from 8GB to 192GB limits.
 
16G for home premium
 
Phew cheers fella, hoping to get my machine back up and running when I get home on Monday,

Reusing my phenom II quad 3.6 processor with 16g of matched ddr3 and a 120g SSD drive. :D

Would think a system software upgrade would be best from scratch rather than load over the top unless specifically an upgrade disk.

How much memory did you win you jammy sod.
 
Never, ever upgrade different windows versions. Always a clean install. IMHO of course ;)
 
The online upgrade from MS only installs the missing bits in the different versions so no clean install is possible if doing it that way, so don't see it should be to much of a problem.

With older operating systems I would agree that clean was the way to go.
 
TopBanana said:
I'm glad you posted this as I'm about to build a new system and had no idea that there were different limitations. Is there any reason for this or is it just a harsh marketing ploy to make you buy a more expensive version?
Click to expand...

how many average home users have a need for more than 16gb. any more and rightly so youd move into a professional bracket.
 
PsiFox said:
The online upgrade from MS only installs the missing bits in the different versions so no clean install is possible if doing it that way, so don't see it should be to much of a problem.

With older operating systems I would agree that clean was the way to go.
Click to expand...

The actual W7 upgrade is simply a license, you get a product number to feed in to your existing installation and it unlocks the features you're paying for. All installations (afaik) are complete up to Ultimate but if you have a Home version only the Home components are enabled initially.
 
If you have the OEM version, you will need to buy a 64bit version. But if you have a retail version it comes with both 32 and 64 bit versions you just need to install using the correct DVD. Either will need a reinstall as going from 32 to 64 bit software is too much of a change.
 
TopBanana said:
I'm glad you posted this as I'm about to build a new system and had no idea that there were different limitations. Is there any reason for this or is it just a harsh marketing ploy to make you buy a more expensive version?
Click to expand...

The 32bit/4GB limitation is because of the processor architecture, whereas the 64bit restrictions are down to Microsoft wanting to define the product options and ensure a customer has clear reasons to move from one product version to the next... not necessarily a "harsh marketing ploy":)
 
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