Windows 8 upgrade paths 'leaked', XP, Vista and 7 supported

[Matthew DeCarlo]

Although it's obvious that Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 (and cheaply too, if you bought a new system recently), the company hasn't offered a detailed upgrade path for all Windows 7 editions, nor older versions. However, sources privy to such information have reportedly spilled the beans to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.

Users of Windows 7 Home Basic and Home Premium will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 (the non-Pro version) while keeping their Windows settings, personal files and applications, while Windows 8 Pro will let folks upgrade from any consumer Windows 7 edition (Starter through Ultimate) while maintaining OS settings, user data and programs.

Users hoping to upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise will need to be running Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise to keep all their settings and data, while those coming from Windows XP or Vista will be able to perform a limited upgrade. XP SP3 can shift to Windows 8 without OS settings, Vista (no service packs) will only maintain personal files, while Vista SP1 will carry over personal files and system settings.

Upgrading From	Rumored Paths	You Can Keep
Windows XP SP3	Windows 8	Files, Apps
Windows Vista	Windows 8	Files
Windows Vsta SP1+	Windows 8	Files, Apps
Windows 7 Starter	Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro	Files, Apps, Settings
Windows 7 Home Basic	Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro	Files, Apps, Settings
Windows 7 Home Premium	Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro	Files, Apps, Settings
Windows 7 Professional	Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise	Files, Apps, Settings
Windows 7 Ultimate	Windows 8 Pro, (Enterprise?)	Files, Apps, Settings
Windows 7 Enterprise	Windows 8 Enterprise	Files, Apps, Settings

It was noted that cross-language installations won't be able to upgrade without starting from fresh, nor will cross-architecture installations -- the latter of which shouldn't come as a surprise. It'd be awesome if you could seamlessly migrate from XP onward, but if the above information is accurate, Microsoft has at least improved the process over Windows 7, which required XP users to perform a clean installation.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/49196-windows-8-upgrade-paths-leaked-xp-vista-and-7-supported.html

 

[lawfer]

I need to know exactly what changes they've made to mouse/keyboard navigation first. According to some rumors and leaked images of some of the latest builds, they've supposedly done some apparent changes on M/K navigation, mostly thanks to the (negative) feedback they've been getting around the web. If they did, good thing you can keep system settings, as I'll upgrade through my Windows 7 Ultimate.

 

[Guest]

MS can have my Win 7 when they pull it from my dead cold hands. Win 8 is a farce for desktop use. Great for tablets or mobile phones but next to useless for desktop users. Why they decided to force this on PC users is beyond me. They just created the next Win XP in Win 7 with this new OS.

 

[MrBungle]

The only upgrading I plan on doing is upgrading my OEM copies of Windows 7 to full retail copies of Windows 7 so that I can keep using the same OS until either Microsoft comes to their senses or I migrate to Linux.

 

[psycros]

The only upgrading I plan on doing is upgrading my OEM copies of Windows 7 to full retail copies of Windows 7 so that I can keep using the same OS until either Microsoft comes to their senses or I migrate to Linux.

In this particular case I <I>do</I> want to be a Mr. Bungle!

 

[Guest]

You people are ****ing *****s. Making fun of Windows 8... Windows 8 Pre-release was amazing and the leaked version is EPIC. Its perfect for desktop use and much easier to find files. Practice something for me... Think before you type.

 

[Zen]

You people are ****ing *****s. Making fun of Windows 8... Windows 8 Pre-release was amazing and the leaked version is EPIC. Its perfect for desktop use and much easier to find files. Practice something for me... Think before you type.

Now, now, we don't need all this excitement here! Just because people decide to trash talk something like Windows 8, it really doesn't give us the right to trash talk the people.

My only question here is how would you know that the leaked copy of Windows 8 is epic? In all honesty, for you'll only ever really know the truth to the question, but how do you know it's epic, or great, or awesome, how? If you have indeed downloaded the leaked copy from any the various torrent sites, than you might just be the first person here on TechSpot to do, and if you've paid attention to previous topics in regards to this matter, than you would know that TechSpot frowns upon such activity! I suspect that you have downloaded and proceeded to use the leaked copy, and in my opinion, that copy was intended to generate a revenue for Microsoft, hence....make them money, therefore with your use of the leaked "unpaid for copy" you are indeed one of the first take some food off the plate of some Microsoft employee! I don't care if the launch date is sometime in October, your using a copy that was intended to be released at such time!

Maybe you should be the one who thinks before they type!

 

[DMMc_]

Above article is wrong on at least one upgrade path. WIn7 Enterprise to WIn8 Enterprise is NOT being allowed. DLd the iso from Technet and attempted inplace upgrade to the following notice...

" Windows 7 Enterprise N cannot be upgraded to Windows 8 Enterprise N. You can choose to install a new copy of Windows 8 Enterprise N instead, but this is different from an upgrade, and does not keep your files, settings, and programs. You?ll need to reinstall any programs using the original installation discs or files. To save your files before installing Windows, back them up to an external location such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive. To install a new copy of Windows 8 Enterprise N, click the Back button in the upper left-hand corner, and select ?Custom (advanced)?. "

This will keep our company, 300+ systems, from upgrading to 8 till it is allowed.