Staff Techdrunk 
Microsoft will help its users upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 by selling upgrade media, but at the same time it has also warned XP users they must do a “clean” installation of Windows 7.
“Regarding XP, customers can purchase upgrade media and an upgrade licence to move from Windows XP to Windows 7,” a Microsoft spokeswoman told Computerworld US. “However, they will need to do a clean installation of Windows 7.”
“The ‘upgrade’ part is referring to the licence,” the spokeswomen said. “You will be able to get the discounted ‘upgrade’ licence, but it will include full bits.”
That’s was the same way David Smith, an analyst with Gartner, interpreted ‘upgrade’ in Microsoft’s description of what it would offer XP owners. “They’re talking about the upgrade price,” he said,
Smith along with other analysts applauded Microsoft’s decision to not provide in-place upgrades from XP to Windows 7. “I’m not a big fan of them,” said Smith. “They’re tough enough from one version to the next, and from two versions [behind], it would be pretty challenging, technically.”
Michael Gartenberg, who was earlier an analyst at JupiterResearch, and is currently a vice president of mobile strategy with JupiterMedia, agreed. “For most end users, it will probably mean that they end up with a more reliable installation,” he said.
Microsoft benefits, too. “It makes life a lot easier for Microsoft by not having to support an XP to Windows 7 transition,” said Gartenberg. “It means that it’s something they can get out the door earlier.”
But the process of upgrading a PC from Windows XP to Windows 7 will not be an easy task, Gartenberg predicted. “It’s a double-edged sword. For many consumers who may be looking to go directly from XP to Windows 7, the idea of doing a clean install, backing up their applications, backing up their data, can lead to a lot of hassles,” he said.
“Considering that there’s a lot of XP out there, one has to wonder why Microsoft is taking this approach,” Gartenberg added. “It’s not going to be the simplicity of sticking a disc in the drive and upgrading. We’ll have to see if that affects the upgrade market.”
“Microsoft plans to have other tools and ways to help people get through that process, but we don’t have full details on that at this time,” the company’s spokesman said today.
