clean install using upgrade version of vista Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss clean install using upgrade version of vista in the Windows Vista forums; Like I mentioned on previous post, it's has been a long time since I've done an upgrade from Win 98 to Win XP. What I do remember is ...

[felix8406]

Like I mentioned on previous post, it's has been a long time since I've done an upgrade from Win 98 to Win XP. What I do remember is that during Win XP upgrade setup process, after the Win 98 CD was inserted and verified by Win XP to be a legit copy, I could turn around and install that same Win 98 disc into another PC. What I'm trying to get at is that maybe MS wants to make sure the user doesn't turn around and use the Win XP copy on another computer. That's the only thing I can think of. But still, some people would rather format the HD prior to installing Vista, so apparently people who purchase a PC to take advantage of the Express Upgrade Program won't be able to do that unless they purchase the full version.

There's also the possibility that the program itself is manufacture driven, not necessarily MS. If it's the manufacture that's purchasing the license, they wouldn't want to purchase a full license because it would cost them more. I imagine that MS has a contract that detail how much they'll reimburse the manufacture for each Express Upgrade copy of Vista, and that it would be based on the price of an upgrade as opposed for a full version.

[Znod]

I can see the possible validity of your second explanation. But, the first one? Isn't the issue the same whether one bought the XP disk before the Express Upgrade Program came into existence or afterwards? Either way, he or she has a legitimate copy of XP with a legitimate product key, etc.

[felix8406]

I see your point. The only thing that I can think of is that when you purchase a PC. is supposed to come with an OEM Win XP version installed as opposed to a retail version. So I guess MS wants to make sure that that the copy of the Vista upgrade stays with that PC.

By the way, what would happen to the restore partition that comes with most PCs nowadays? If you use it, wouldn't the PC will be restored back to Win XP?

[Znod]

My understanding is that once Vista is installed the restore partitions don't work any more. I have heard of some, on the Dell site, fixing them using an incredibly detailed seriers of steps.

[felix8406]

I thought so. I found that out when I upgraded my Win XP to Vista on my eMchines PC. Actually it was when I went back to Win XP that the entire partition was deleted. I did made a copy though, so I do have access to all drives and programs that came installed with the PC.

[Znod]

Yes, I made a copy on my Dell laptop C drive also. But, I went one step farther. I decided that I should have purchased a 7200 RPM drive in the first place. So, I still have my original 5400 RPM XP Pro drive intact.

[ttremeth]

Originally Posted by felix8406

As for the "read and weep" reply I usually don't take it personally because of the possibilities of misinterpretation. .

That's all it was. Read and weep that they say we will have to have a valid install of xp to upgrade to vista.

The comment about being asked for the xp key is also interesting. I called my local rep. (who said that it would be like an xp upgrade) She did not know for certain until it came out. (amazing that such a major product release would still have such fundamental questions unanswered at this late stage) Is this a ploy of MS? Or do they like to leave people in the dark? They have been working on this for how many years? Yet they still do not know these simple basic things. We are not asking them to explain how the HAL works.


The comment about the second language being English is right, I am Australian. I rushed the post as I was seeking the answer at several forums.

[crabby]

I suppose it's a 'wait and see' question. But I think people were so unhappy with the new licensing ideas that Microsoft just reverted to the XP system as it worked well

crabby

[felix8406]

Another possibility is that all these instructions and information is written by lawyers and engineers. They write the stuff and expect everyone else to interpret what they meant.

This is from MS website: “You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista.” (Say what?) "Depending on which edition of Windows you are running and the edition of Windows Vista you would like to install, you have two options for the installation process:"

In-place upgrade

You can upgrade in-place, which means you can install Windows Vista and retain your applications, files, and settings as they were in your previous edition of Windows.

Clean install

Upgrading to Windows Vista with a clean install means that you should use Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy all your files and settings to an extra hard drive or other storage device, and then install Windows Vista. After the installation is complete, Windows Easy Transfer will reload your files and settings on your upgraded PC. You will then need to reinstall your applications. (So this kind of provide some explanation)

[Znod]

Right, I have read those paragraphs many times. They contradict the idea that a retail upgrade copy will allow a clean install given an XP disk. MS writes a lot of inaccurate/wishy washy stuff. For example, you can get the impressions that there are more than two shades of Aero depending on the machine used. But, I think that there are only two shades: Vista/No Aero (for Vista, but not premium, reaady PC's) and Vista/Full Aero (for Vista premium ready PC.s). Did you ever say where you, and others, found the info that a retail upgrade copy will allow a clean install given an XP disk?