Some information is not inherited for some OS combinations before and after upgrading. For instance, migration from Windows XP to Windows 7/8 should be considered carefully.
There are limitations on the combination of OS editions where "upgrade installation" is directly possible.
"New installation" is possible under the terms of the EES license even when a direct upgrade is not possible. (Note: No information will be inherited by the new OS in this case.)
Choosing a new installation results in no information being inherited even if an upgrade installation is possible.
Upgrade from
Windows Vista Business
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8 Enterprise
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8.1 Enterprise
For home use
XP Home Edition (after SP3)
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
For business use
XP Professional (after SP3)
Yes
No1
No1
No1
No1
-
-
For home use
Vista Home Basic
Yes
-
-
-
-
-
-
Vista Home Premium
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Vista Ultimate
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
For business use
Vista Bussiness (after SP1)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No2
No2
-
-
Vista Enterprise (after SP1)
-
-
Yes
-
No2
-
-
For home use
7 Starter
-
-
-
Yes
-
No1
-
7 Home Basic
-
-
-
Yes
-
No1
-
7 Home Premium
-
-
-
Yes
-
No1
-
7 Ultimate
-
-
-
Yes
-
No1
-
For business use
7 Professional
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
No1
No1
7 Enterprise
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
No1
For home use
8 (unmarked)
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
For business use
8 Pro
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
8 Enterprise
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
For home use
8.1 (unmarked)
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
-
For business use
8.1 Pro
-
-
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
8.1 Enterprise
-
-
-
-
Yes
-
Yes
Yes: Both upgrade/new installation are available.
No: Upgrade installation is possible, but some information will not be inherited.
Note1: Only "personal files" will be transferred. Neither "Windows settings" or "applications" will not．
Note2: Only "personal files" and "Windows settings" will be transferred. "Applications" will not.
-: Only new installation is possible.
Note regarding migration to another OS with different architecture（32bit/64bit）
Migration between OS’s with different arichitecutrue (such as 32bit/64bit) will not inherit any data even if both of the OS editions are same.
Note regarding migration to a different language version of OS
Migration between OS’s with different language versions, such as from an English version to a Japanese one, will inherit only personal files. Neither applications or Windows settings wil not be transferred.