Shootout: Upgrade vs. Clean Installation Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Shootout: Upgrade vs. Clean Installation in the Windows Vista forums; Originally Posted by jerrybasham You guys lost me.. .. I got an error message when I attempted to install Vista Basic on a new hard drive (I was prepared to provide ...

[Znod]

Originally Posted by jerrybasham

You guys lost me.. .. I got an error message when
I attempted to install Vista Basic on a new hard drive (I was
prepared to provide my XP key from the CD package) saying
I had to install "from within XP" or some such wording.

Am I to take it that a clean install of Vista is only available to
"Pro" buyers (or premium or whatever it is)?

-- Jerry

And, my understanding it that you can do either type of clean install, or an "upgrade," with an upgrade disk consistently with the Vista EULA provided, as felix mentions, that XP is installed and your legitimate XP CD is on hand.

[jerrybasham]

Originally Posted by felix8406

If you bought an upgrade Vista DVD, it requires that you have Win XP installed and activated (registered). However, if you bought a retail copy, you should be able to do a clean install regardless of which edition you bought.

I went to a store and bought a Vista DVD in a big plastic box that
has on the label, "Windows Vista Home Basic" below a red stripe
that has "Upgrade" in white letters.

When I tried to do a clean install .. oh, I already said that. ..

[Znod]

I guess we didn't know exactly what you were trying to do. To see what is possible given your setup, check this link out: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

[jerrybasham]

Originally Posted by Znod

I guess we didn't know exactly what you were trying to do. To see what is possible given your setup, check this link out: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

I'll check out the link, Znod, but maybe I didn't post it very clearly:

I have an upgrade Vista DVD I got at a store. I have had XP, from a
CD I bought at a store years ago, that I wanted to keep but thought
a clean install would work better. I was forbidden by the Vista
installation program from doing a clean install. It said that I needed
to install Vista from within XP. Are you saying there's a workaround
for that error message?

[Znod]

I have not actually done a clean installation using an upgrade key/DVD. I don't remember the EULA-consistent procedure for doing so, but I will look around for it and get back to you. Someone probably will beat me to it.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by jerrybasham

I'll check out the link, Znod, but maybe I didn't post it very clearly:

I have an upgrade Vista DVD I got at a store. I have had XP, from a
CD I bought at a store years ago, that I wanted to keep but thought
a clean install would work better. I was forbidden by the Vista
installation program from doing a clean install. It said that I needed
to install Vista from within XP. Are you saying there's a workaround
for that error message?

Here you go Jerry:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b/930985/en-us

Let me know if you still have problems.

[jerrybasham]

Quote:

Method 1
Start the installation from a compliant version of Windows, such as Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000. After you have started the installation, you can select Custom at the installation choice screen to perform a clean installation.


I don't recall seeing any "custom" choice (that doesn't mean it
is not there ) .. anyway, I'm going to swap back to my
Vista hard drive and try that.. maybe a clean install will work
better than the one I did on top of my XP installation .. I sure
hope so, because XP was working just fine before I decided
to go with the latest and greatest.

Thanks for that important link!

-- Jerry

[Snuffy]

If you boot to DVD, not within XP, you can Clean Install..(anyway mine does).

[Znod]

Originally Posted by jerrybasham

Quote:

Method 1
Start the installation from a compliant version of Windows, such as Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000. After you have started the installation, you can select Custom at the installation choice screen to perform a clean installation.


I don't recall seeing any "custom" choice (that doesn't mean it
is not there ) .. anyway, I'm going to swap back to my
Vista hard drive and try that.. maybe a clean install will work
better than the one I did on top of my XP installation .. I sure
hope so, because XP was working just fine before I decided
to go with the latest and greatest.

Thanks for that important link!

-- Jerry

You are very welcome jerry. But, remember, XP needs to be installed before installing Vista.

[crabby]

If you dont have xp installed you can install Vista from an upgrade disc by not providing the installation with a CD key... you can then use the upgrade disc to 'upgrade' the vista install so that you may activate it.

Check out this thread:

http://www.vistababble.com/forums/in...nstall+upgrade

crabby