Luke from Corpus Christi, TX recently asked:
"How do I know if I need the Windows 8 upgrade or the full retail version?"
If you already have Windows Vista or Windows 7 installed then the
Upgrade version is fine. If you have no operating system or a
non-Windows operating system installed, you will need the Full version
(also called System Builder version). In addition, upgrading from Windows XP requires a whole new set of gymnastics to get things going, which is something beyond the scope of this post.
Also, there are some additional limitations, depending on which Windows
edition you already have installed (i.e. Windows 7 Home, Professional,
etc.) and to which edition you'll be upgrading. Microsoft has been kind enough to provide specific info on that here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj203353.aspx
Finally, keep in mind that if you have a 32-bit version of a previous Windows operating system
installed, you can only directly upgrade to another 32-bit version. If you want to
upgrade to a 64-bit version, you'll need a System Builder/Full install.
Whew! I know! It's all so very confusing, but if this hasn't made things clear for you, please feel free to get in touch and I'll be happy to walk you through!
My professional option is if you have an old XP box, you will likely need new computer hardware anyway, so buy a new PC and Windows 8 will come preinstalled.
ReplyDeleteIf you already have Windows 7, go ahead and upgrade if you must stay current with the latest and (not so) greatest. Otherwise, be glad you've got a system that works and stick with it.
Regards,
Aaron