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Upgrading from RC to OEM version. RRS feed

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    Hey,

    I have a quick question. My installation of WHS v1 is in a boot loop and I figured now would be the time to migrate over to WHS 2011. I am planning on installing the RC that is available via connect, but when the full OEM version comes out will I be able to upgrade seamlessly (like Windows 7 RC to retail Windows 7) or will I encounter problems? Also how long is the RC version good for?

    Thanks,

    Ken

    Sunday, February 6, 2011 1:11 AM

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    On Sun, 6 Feb 2011 01:11:55 +0000, linkink wrote:

    I am planning on installing the RC that is available via connect, but when the full OEM version comes out will I be able to upgrade seamlessly (like Windows 7 RC to retail Windows 7) or will I encounter problems? Also how long is the RC version good for?

    Currently no one knows whether there will or will not be an upgrade path
    from the RC release to the RTM release. Frankly, as a beta tester that
    really shouldn't matter.
    Since Drive Extender is no longer part of the product, all of your data
    storage drives should be readable in any modern Windows OS so if worse
    comes to worse and you can't upgrade from the RC, you'll still be able to
    recover your data.
    As far as expiration goes running winver on my WHS 2011 box shows 8/1/2011
    as the expiration date. Of course, if RTM occurs before that your legal
    license to use the RC will expire sooner.
    With Windows 7 Microsoft never intended one to be able to upgrade from an
    RC to RTM and in fact blocked the upgrade. It was only with a hack of one
    of the files on the install media that an upgrade was possible. Personally
    I never upgrade from pre-RTM to RTM builds. You leave yourself open to
    lingering issues from the pre-RTM builds that may not exist in the RTM
    code.

    Paul Adare
    MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
    http://www.identit.ca
    One man's constant is another man's variable.  -- Perlis

    • Proposed as answer by Qlaras Sunday, February 6, 2011 2:49 PM
    • Marked as answer by Jonas Svensson -FST- Sunday, February 6, 2011 5:17 PM
    Sunday, February 6, 2011 6:49 AM

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    >I am planning on installing the RC that is available via connect, but when the full OEM version comes out will I be able to >upgrade seamlessly (like Windows 7 RC to retail Windows 7) or will I encounter problems? Also how long is the RC version >good for?
    ===============
    Maybe, maybe not. So far, we've been required to flatten our servers with each new build. I don't know how long this version is good for, but it may be in the Getting Started Guide. I'll look again.

    The Getting Started Guide (January 2011) is in the downloads section. I've downloaded it, printed it, and put it into a notebook for easy reference. Further, I've clicked on every link throughout the Guide and bookmarked them all. In the next couple of days, I'll print what I need from those links and put that into the notebook also.

    I just feel better when I have my material organized in this manner.

    Nancy Ward
    Windows 8 BetaFerret
    Please Don't Text and Drive
    My Grand Kids May be in Your Path

    Nancy Ward
    Sunday, February 6, 2011 3:13 AM
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    On Sun, 6 Feb 2011 01:11:55 +0000, linkink wrote:

    I am planning on installing the RC that is available via connect, but when the full OEM version comes out will I be able to upgrade seamlessly (like Windows 7 RC to retail Windows 7) or will I encounter problems? Also how long is the RC version good for?

    Currently no one knows whether there will or will not be an upgrade path
    from the RC release to the RTM release. Frankly, as a beta tester that
    really shouldn't matter.
    Since Drive Extender is no longer part of the product, all of your data
    storage drives should be readable in any modern Windows OS so if worse
    comes to worse and you can't upgrade from the RC, you'll still be able to
    recover your data.
    As far as expiration goes running winver on my WHS 2011 box shows 8/1/2011
    as the expiration date. Of course, if RTM occurs before that your legal
    license to use the RC will expire sooner.
    With Windows 7 Microsoft never intended one to be able to upgrade from an
    RC to RTM and in fact blocked the upgrade. It was only with a hack of one
    of the files on the install media that an upgrade was possible. Personally
    I never upgrade from pre-RTM to RTM builds. You leave yourself open to
    lingering issues from the pre-RTM builds that may not exist in the RTM
    code.

    Paul Adare
    MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
    http://www.identit.ca
    One man's constant is another man's variable.  -- Perlis

    • Proposed as answer by Qlaras Sunday, February 6, 2011 2:49 PM
    • Marked as answer by Jonas Svensson -FST- Sunday, February 6, 2011 5:17 PM
    Sunday, February 6, 2011 6:49 AM
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    +1

    --
    _________________
     
    BullDawg
    In God We Trust
    _________________

    On Sun, 6 Feb 2011 01:11:55 +0000, linkink wrote:

    I am planning on installing the RC that is available via connect, but when the full OEM version comes out will I be able to upgrade seamlessly (like Windows 7 RC to retail Windows 7) or will I encounter problems? Also how long is the RC version good for?

    Currently no one knows whether there will or will not be an upgrade path
    from the RC release to the RTM release. Frankly, as a beta tester that
    really shouldn't matter.
    Since Drive Extender is no longer part of the product, all of your data
    storage drives should be readable in any modern Windows OS so if worse
    comes to worse and you can't upgrade from the RC, you'll still be able to
    recover your data.
    As far as expiration goes running winver on my WHS 2011 box shows 8/1/2011
    as the expiration date. Of course, if RTM occurs before that your legal
    license to use the RC will expire sooner.
    With Windows 7 Microsoft never intended one to be able to upgrade from an
    RC to RTM and in fact blocked the upgrade. It was only with a hack of one
    of the files on the install media that an upgrade was possible. Personally
    I never upgrade from pre-RTM to RTM builds. You leave yourself open to
    lingering issues from the pre-RTM builds that may not exist in the RTM
    code.

    Paul Adare
    MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
    http://www.identit.ca
    One man's constant is another man's variable.  -- Perlis

    BullDawg
    Sunday, February 6, 2011 8:37 AM
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    Thanks for the information everyone! I thought I was able to upgrade from my Windows 7 RC to my retail Windows 7 copy but I guess I was wrong. Also if I back up all my data from the RC version to an external drive and then I install the OEM version will I be able to copy the data over, or is it going to ask me to format my drive?

    Thanks again everyone!

    Sunday, February 6, 2011 5:36 PM
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    You could upgrade from Win7 RC to RTM if you had a license for Win7 Ultimate, which is what the RC was. All other versions of Win7 RTM would not upgrade.
    Sunday, February 6, 2011 6:12 PM