An Upgrade Installation is a useful tool to upgrade your operating system while keeping your personal data and settings! For Upgrade Installation instructions, please choose your operating system:

• Windows
• Mac OS X

Windows

If you have not already determined what version of Windows to run on your PC, download Windows Upgrade Advisor.

Depending on what version of Windows you are currently running and what version of Windows you wish to install, you may not qualify for the Upgrade option. Please check this table to see if you qualify for the upgrade:

If you do not qualify for an upgrade, you will have to perform a Custom Installation which is basically a clean installation.  You can follow the steps outlined in our Clean Install Windows 7 Guide to upgrade to Windows 7.

Windows 7 provides you with two discs that contain both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.  If you are currently running on a 32-bit version of Windows and your PC is 64-bit capable, you will also not be able to use the Upgrade option.  For more info on upgrading to a 64-bit operating system from a 32-bit operating system, consult our guide on Upgrading to 64-bit from 32-bit.

If you qualify for the Upgrade option, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows 7 Upgrade Disc.
2. In the window that appears, click “Install Now.”
3. Select “Get the latest updates for the installation.”
4. Read and agree to the License Agreement.
5. When prompted to choose the installation type, click on “Upgrade.”
6. Windows will begin copying files to your hard drive, when this is complete, your PC will reboot.
7. Run Windows Update to make sure all your drivers are up to date.

For a detailed step-by-step guide of the Windows 7 Upgrade with Screenshots, please download our PDF version here.

Mac OS X

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc.
2. In the window that pops up, double click on “Install Mac OS X”
3. Confirm the installation by entering your administrator password.
4. Agree to the License Agreement.
5. Select the volume on which your old version of OS X is already installed.
   • If you are upgrading from 10.4 Tiger to 10.5 Leopard, click options and select “Upgrade Mac OS X”
6. Click “Continue” and OS X will begin copying files to your hard drive.
7. Once the upgrade is complete, your Mac will reboot and are all done!

For a detailed step-by-step guide of the Windows 7 Upgrade with Screenshots, please download our PDF version:

Leopard

Snow Leopard