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So I got the student discount version of win7 on a whim (figured 30 bucks plus the disk price why not) and now I have to install it. My only problem is that I've only ever installed OS's on a clean computer. If I install it will my hard drive be wiped, is there an easy way to prevent this? I have 300gbs of stuff on my HD and nothing that size to back it up on so I'm hesitant to do anything.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I also got the student one and found out that if you use Digital River your download is probably corrupt. If you paid for the disk it's no big deal. If you didn't you'll have to burn everything to a disk or mount it as an ISO to get it to work.

I decided just to wait on the disk.

And I've heard it will put all your old stuff on a directory and you won't lose it, especially if you are going from Vista.

Do you have 2 partitions?! If not, and nothing has changed in the last 2 years you're out of luck as it normally does wipe the one you're installing it to.

But external HDD's ain't that expensive...

My best suggestion would be to get a second hard drive, preferably a USB one and back up everything that you want to keep. You should always do a clean install of a new OS. When upgrading you do have the option of it transferring everything over, but the process doesn't work all that well.

And even if you get an external HDD you should partition the internal one just the same.

I really don't have the money to spend on an external HDD right now, despite the fact disk space is cheap as shit these days. Anyone have any experience with what Dave recommended? I do have Vista so supposedly my stuff would be stored right?

Skinny Santa said:

I really don't have the money to spend on an external HDD right now, despite the fact disk space is cheap as shit these days. Anyone have any experience with what Dave recommended? I do have Vista so supposedly my stuff would be stored right?

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Do you have any way to backup your data? Because if you haven't backed up your important files you should have spent that $30 on DVD-Rs or started saving for an external HDD. Do not, ever, I'm serious not ever, don't even think about it, do not upgrade your OS without backing up your important data. Doesn't matter if it's a clean install or an upgrade, you need to backup, at least the stuff you can't replace. Come back when you've figured out what files you'd be devestated if you lost them, back those up somehow, and then talk about an upgrade install (and the possibility that it will ruin your system or turn it into a turtle stuck in molasses)

So should I pick up Windows 7 at the student discount? Is it worth it? Does it come with Office? n00b questions, I know....

It's a good deal, so pick it up if you have the money. It doesn't come with Office, but a lot of schools offer it at a discount.

ElJuski said:

So should I pick up Windows 7 at the student discount? Is it worth it? Does it come with Office? n00b questions, I know....

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It does not come with Office, though it's possible to get a Student price on that as well.

As to being worth it, what are you running now, OS and hardware wise? If you've got a computer that could have run Vista but you got XP on it, then there's a good chance you'd benefit from the all the new features from Win7. If you're running Vista and you're happy with it, then it depends on how much spending money you've got. I'm not a student so I'm sticking with Vista, but I'd have to rethink if it were that cheap.

---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:52 PM ----------

Oh, yeah, how much time do you have to spend on installation? If everything goes smoothly on an upgrade, it could take a few hours. If you do a clean install, and count the time it takes to get all your programs and stuff back in working order, it could take the better part of a day, depending on your internet connection. And if something goes wrong with either path it could take a whole lot longer.

Here's my anecdotal evidence, use at your own peril.

I have Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit. I upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

I spent days prior to the upgrade backing up all my shit, just in case. This isn't my first rodeo.

I popped in the disc, it asked if I wanted to clean install or upgrade. I decided to upgrade, and see how well it worked.

Easiest OS install I've ever done. I came back a bit later to see I had to input a little information, and then came back an hour later to see my familiar desktop, only now running windows 7. All of my previous programs were still installed, still in the same directories I had left them, and were still working. Even some kludges that I had to set up to get older games working still worked perfectly. The only error I had was with the TAGES drm drivers, though one click was all it took for the system to locate and install the correct drivers.

I'm still using the same install, and it works like a dream.

So I thought about it and the only things I'd really regret losing overmuch would be my music which is all on my Ipod anyways. So since there are probably about 3000 freeware programs to take stuff off of an Ipod should I just go ahead and do it?

The IT part of me says, "I will not answer this question until you make a backup. Unless you are willing to chance to lose it. Some people might not lose ANY data, but there is a chance that you could. Not all PCs/OS are built the same."

If you feel comfortable, (it is your PC after all) then go for it, but remember, many of us recommend that you backup BEFORE upgrade. If you can't afford the backup, I personally recommend that you burn to DVDs BEFORE you upgrade.

Because, I personally wouldn't upgrade my PC without a backup of my important data.

If you do remember to make 2 partitions this time around...

My question is this. Are you going from 32 bit to 64 bit, 32 to 32, or 64 to 64.

If you're changing which one, you will have to do a clean install. If you're direct upgrading from the same bit size then you can just do the upgrade install and you shouldn't really have a problem. But I would still back up whatever you really want to keep just in case.

64 to 64 I made sure of that beforehand. I copied all my photos over to my brothers computer now I just have to wait for the disk and some free time.