Dirty install of Vista possible? Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Dirty install of Vista possible? in the Windows Vista forums; Is it possible to install Vista over XP? During the installation process there's a message saying that to upgrade, do so from within Windows. I suspect that means to ...

[mistywindow]

Is it possible to install Vista over XP?
During the installation process there's a message saying that to upgrade, do so from within Windows.
I suspect that means to upgrade Vista from within Vista, because I can't run the Vista installation from within XP.
Just opening the disc in Windows Explorer freezes everything.

[Galt]

in a word yes. I simply pulled up the drive the install disk on, and double clicked and up came the install window. I tried it for Build 5600 and Build 5728, just haven't fully installed it on one of my other XP systems. Did you get a clean ISO file from the RAR? They warn you to copy at slow speed.

[mistywindow]

I've already done a clean install from the disc I've burned, so I assume it's OK.
But within XP if I try to access the disc in any way, Win Explorer stops responding and if I kill it with the 3 fingered salute all I'm left with is wallpaper. If I then shut down XP from the Task Manager it hangs up during the shutdown.
One of life's great mysteries.

[Galt]

Sounds to me, like an issue with XP itself. Have you tried doing a repair on XP?
I personally did a clean install, as I didn't want to play with all the software issues, that I knew were going to crop up, installing over XP. Why don't you just setup for a Dual boot?

[Znod]

In moving, for evample, from eitther XP or 5600 to 5728, you can clean install, install from within (i.e., upgrade), or install over without formatting. In the last case, you will be left with a Windows-old folder that contains all your files and a jillion other things you eventually will want to get rid of.

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by mistywindow

Is it possible to install Vista over XP?
During the installation process there's a message saying that to upgrade, do so from within Windows.
I suspect that means to upgrade Vista from within Vista, because I can't run the Vista installation from within XP.
Just opening the disc in Windows Explorer freezes everything.

Mistywindow, like Galt mentioned, ur problem might be with XP. If u still want to upgrade, boot up with your XP CD and use the repair console to check your disk for errors. Also, (you probably know this, but just in case) once you upgrade, you won't be able to restore back to XP. As Vista is just a Beta, the best choice for most people is dual booting with XP.

[mistywindow]

Thanks very much people.

This is a clean install.

I have images of several steps along the way, so I'll load an image from an earlier point in the installation and see what transpires.

Before that I'll try disabling all Startup items in msconfig.

I wanted to try the upgrade route to establish how that affected compatibility of programs which won't install under Vista RC1.

And because I found the Vista replacement for XP's perfectly satisfactory Settings Transfer Wizard to be a PITA without a USB transfer cable. It didn't want to know my USB HDD or my USB pen drive.

[awm]

I too did an upgrade install (over an existing xp )which didn't work (windows explorer crashes repeatedly) whereas a clean install worked perfectly. Even with all the old files still available on the upgraded drive, I don't think you can uninstall vista and return to xp without a reformat. Also, if you upgrade xp to beta vista you will be unable to install the real vista over the beta whereas you will be able to install it over a fresh install of the beta.
awm

[airman]

I was wondering has anyone did a clean install of RTM on a separate hard drive which in my case has a working copy of RC2 on it and still be able to dual booting Xp on a separate hd