Paul Thurrott has got all the workarounds for doing a clean install from Upgrade media:
Paul Thurrott – Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media
Acronis True Image Home 2010 Updated
Acronis True Image Home 2010 Updated to Build 6029. TI 2010 is what you’ll need for Windows 7.
Log in to your account to get the update. Acronis Product Updates
Buy Acronis True Image 2010 Now ($49.99 U.S.)
Upgrade To Version 2010 Now ($29.99 U.S.)
Got a Netbook? You’ll want the Acronis True Image Home 2010 Netbook Edition ($29.99 U.S.)
iTunes 9.0.2
About iTunes 9.0.2
iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility.
System Requirements
* Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, or 32-bit editions of Windows 7
* 64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 require the iTunes 9.0.2 64-bit installer
Download iTunes
Be sure to see: Ed Bott – Slimming down the bloated iTunes installer
Firefox 3.5.4
Mozilla Firefox 3.5.4 has been released.
v.3.5.4, released October 27th, 2009
* Several security issues.
* Fixed several stability issues.
* Added the ability to re-submit crash reports (bug 378528)
* After using Clear Recent History some SSL sites would not load all images and styles without pressing reload (see bug 480619)
CCleaner v2.25.1025
v2.25.1025
——————————————–
– Improved Windows 7 jump list cleaning.
– Improved Windows 7 thumbnail cache cleaning.
– Added support for Windows Server 2008 R2.
– Improved 64-bit support and performance.
– Fixed issue with Windows 7 task scheduler.
– Fixed issue with Startup tool, displaying incorrect folder contents.
– Added support for AVG Antivirus 9.0.
– Added support for ExcludeKey in INI files.
– Improved support for wildcards and RECURSE/REMOVESELF.
– Fixed minor GUI bugs in non-English versions.
– Fixed minor GUI usability issues.
– Improved input validation.
– Lots of minor bugs fixed.
New Intel SSD Downloads
*IMPORTANT UPDATE
Intel has pulled the firmware update. It seems it is cause no shortage of problems for people (thankfully it didn’t bite me. yet…).
See this thread at the Intel forums.
Intel SATA SSD Firmware Update Tool v1.4
This firmware update tool provides the latest firmware for the following Intel SSDs in all capacities:
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8820
– Intel® X25-E SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8850
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 34nm (silver case) – updates to FW version 02HAIntel Solid-State Drive Toolbox v1.1
The Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a set of applications to easily manage the health and optimize the performance of your Intel SSD. The Toolbox includes a powerful set of management, information, and diagnostic tools, and is designed to work best with 34nm Intel® High Performance SSDs.
The Intel SSD Optimizer utilizes the new ATA Data Set Management Command (Trim Attribute) to help maintain performance of the 34nm Intel® High Performance SSD at out-of-the-box levels and is specifically designed to run with Microsoft Windows 7*. Intel SSD Optimizer also works with Windows Vista* and XP* through the use of the Intel SSD Toolbox.
*edit – Anandtech has benchmarks and more info: The SSD Improv: Intel & Indilinx get TRIM, Kingston Brings Intel Down to $115
Windows 7 Compatibility Center Up And Running
“Know what works. Get drivers, updates, and downloads.” Windows 7 Compatibility Center
Windows Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista
HappyAndyK from over at The Windows Club let me know about a new cool tool. It’s called Windows Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista.
We are pleased to release Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista. While you can use Control Panel to change settings which control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, in some cases to access these very controls , or the in-built Windows programs, requires you to engage in multiple clicks or know their names. Windows Access Panel v 1.0 is meant to minimize your trouble in accessing such programs. It has been tested on Windows 7 & Windows Vista…With this program, you have all, or at least most of such programs at your fingertips. The present download is for 32-bit version only; 64-bit version will be added soon.
It looks to be quite a handy tool, I look forward to trying it out once a 64-bit version is released.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0 Released
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0 – Get it while it’s hot!
Installing Windows 7
I’ve completed my guide on Installing Windows 7 . I hope you find it useful.
I have also begun work on the Windows 7 page. I could really use some good links for this page if you have any.
Some you have asked if I’m working on a Windows 7 Tweak Guide. Of course I am. It will be a bit different than previous tweak guides.The first reason for that is that Windows 7 needs far less performance tuning than Vista and XP (but there are some tweaks here and there). The second reason is that there are a ton of new features in Windows 7. While I will show you how to turn some of these off, I hope to explain why these features may just help you get things done faster and to tweak the features to your needs. Writing, researching, testing, and double-checking all this does take a considerable amount of time though. I do not know if it will be ready by the launch date or not (Oct. 22nd) but I’m trying.