01-04-2010, 12:50 AM
I'm currently using a Sony Vaio VGN-Z620D Notebook with Vista Business (32 bit), and I want to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate, for which I have a key. When I insert the disk for the "Upgrade" option, I'm informed that my operating system and the version of Windows 7 on the disk are not compatible, and that I should run a clean install.
My room mate tried upgrading his Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate using the disk, and it went off without a hitch, so I suppose if I wanted to upgrade, I'd have to purchase a Windows 7 Business key. I don't mind wiping my hard drive, so this shouldn't be required, as long as I can wipe my drive and do a clean install.
What is a problem, however, is that my hard drive is in MBR format, and Windows 7 can only install on a GPT format hard drive. I understand that one can easily convert an unpartitioned (and empty?) drive to GPT using Vista's Disk Management utility, but mine is partitioned. I have an empty EISA configuration (8.47 GBs) and a larger NTFS partition which I can access (where everything is installed, including Vista).
From what I understand, the EISA config partition is protected by the original equipment manufacturer, and so far, I haven't found any way to interact with it at all. I can only guess that it's reserved space into which a recovery disk could install. (Install Vista?)
Any insights the more technically proficient here could offer would be well received.
PS: Would it be worthwhile copying my entire WoW folder to a portable hard drive and copying it back onto the fresh Windows 7 install, or should I download WoW from Battle.Net. My download speed caps off at 1.4 MB/sec, I'm assuming B.Net caps off much lower?
My room mate tried upgrading his Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate using the disk, and it went off without a hitch, so I suppose if I wanted to upgrade, I'd have to purchase a Windows 7 Business key. I don't mind wiping my hard drive, so this shouldn't be required, as long as I can wipe my drive and do a clean install.
What is a problem, however, is that my hard drive is in MBR format, and Windows 7 can only install on a GPT format hard drive. I understand that one can easily convert an unpartitioned (and empty?) drive to GPT using Vista's Disk Management utility, but mine is partitioned. I have an empty EISA configuration (8.47 GBs) and a larger NTFS partition which I can access (where everything is installed, including Vista).
From what I understand, the EISA config partition is protected by the original equipment manufacturer, and so far, I haven't found any way to interact with it at all. I can only guess that it's reserved space into which a recovery disk could install. (Install Vista?)
Any insights the more technically proficient here could offer would be well received.
PS: Would it be worthwhile copying my entire WoW folder to a portable hard drive and copying it back onto the fresh Windows 7 install, or should I download WoW from Battle.Net. My download speed caps off at 1.4 MB/sec, I'm assuming B.Net caps off much lower?
A plague of exploding high-fives.