Upgrading from XP to Windows 7 from within VirtualBox

[troyvit]

I'm pretty new to virtualization in general so pardon the newb question. I searched the site and didn't find an answer to my question.

I have a Windows XP insall that works well enough for my needs, but I also need Windows 7. At Microsoft's web site I can buy and download an upgrade from XP to 7. Before I spend the money though I need to make sure I understand what I'm getting into.

If I download and run the updater from inside my Windows XP VM will it work?

If so I take it that when I'm done I'll need to edit the Version in my General settings, changing it from Windows XP to Windows 7. Is that correct? Is there anything else I need to do?

If that's it I was just going to clone my XP set up, buy the updater, run it, then change the settings and restart the VM. Am I missing anything?

Host: Ubuntu Oneiric laptop with no CD/DVD
Vbox 4.1.8
Guest WinXP

Thanks,

Troy

[stefan.becker]

Let it be, makes no sense.

Make a clean install of win 7.

[troyvit]

So you're saying it's simpler to download a windows 7 iso and boot my VM from it (remember I don't have an optical drive) and then install it on an empty virtualbox instance compared to just booting into XP and running the updater? Is that just because of all the XP cruft that would be left behind?

[stefan.becker]

You have to create a new guest. The ISO File from MS must be choosen as install medium.

[BillG]

Apart from other considerations, what you aim to do is not legal. If you puchase an upgrade version of the OS you are only entitled to run the upgraded system. The original license for XP is no longer valid. To keep the XP license valid you need to buy a normal retail version of Win 7.

Technically it would be a waste of time. There is not really any way to "upgrade" XP to Win 7. It is purely a financial arrangement to encourage users to upgrade. The installer does a clean install of Win 7 then tries to restore as much as possible. The installer will give you a list of what will not work before it begins. And it is slow. You are better off using migwiz to save your files and settings (if you want to preserve them) and do a clean install.

[troyvit]

Thanks for the good info. I just bought the full version and ran a clean install.