Upgrading Windows to 7 via OEM?

[devhyfes]

Hello All-

I currently have 3 computers (Mine, Wife's and HTPC) running Vista Home Premium. I want them to be running Win7 Professional (not home premium!). The Vista was installed a year and a half ago using OEM discs bought from New Egg.

I would prefer not to pay $200 to upgrade, when I can get the Win 7 OEM Full install for $60 less.

1) Is it possible to perform an upgrade using the Win 7 OEM discs, or do they only give you the option of doing a clean install?

2) Another possibility I considered was buying three copies of the Vista Pro OEM with the Free Upgrade vouchers included. My thought was I could then set the discs aside and order the Upgrade discs from Microsoft- in essence getting an Upgrade disc for $150 instead of $200. Would this work? Will the install disc that comes with this offer actually upgrade me from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Pro, or will it insist that I have Vista Pro installed?

I really wanted to avoid re-installing all the stuff I have installed on my computers, so any input on the above options or other ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[devhyfes]

Hello All,

I think I figured out the better option, so I'll post my suggestion here for posterity.

1) Buy the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Upgrade Pack - $149 for 3 licenses.

2) Upgrade Win7 Home Premium to Win 7 Pro - $85 per license.

That comes out to $405, which is basically what I would have spent on the Win 7 Pro OEMs (3 * $140 = $420).

DONE!