Can i do this?

I have WinXP Pro installed on my Dell XPS 600 system, and what I would
like to do is buy the upgrade version of Vista Ultimate, ( I'm a
developer ), and install it while at the same time reformatting and
completely cleaning everything out of my computer's hard drive now
installed.
I've heard confusing reports about this, some saying the upgrade won't
reformat the entire HD and will leave all the old stuff on it but won't
register it, and other say that you can make a choice when you do the
installation to do it either way.
Just to be sure I'm clear about what I wish to do so that someone can
please tell me the best way of doing it. I wish to install the upgrade
version of Vista Ultimate over my presently installed winXP Pro while at the
same time clearing everything off the hard drive except the new OS. I will
then re-install all my applications. Thanx in advance for any help!

--
from Robert Meek dba Tangentals Design
meekTAN@comcast.net

Read this MS KB article. Scroll down to:
"Perform a clean installation of Windows Vista"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884/en-us



"Robert Meek" <meekTAN@comcast.net> wrote in message news:evbTGQtRHHA.488@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> I have WinXP Pro installed on my Dell XPS 600 system, and what I would like to do is buy the
> upgrade version of Vista Ultimate, ( I'm a developer ), and install it while at the same time
> reformatting and completely cleaning everything out of my computer's hard drive now installed.
> I've heard confusing reports about this, some saying the upgrade won't reformat the entire HD
> and will leave all the old stuff on it but won't register it, and other say that you can make a
> choice when you do the installation to do it either way.
> Just to be sure I'm clear about what I wish to do so that someone can please tell me the best
> way of doing it. I wish to install the upgrade version of Vista Ultimate over my presently
> installed winXP Pro while at the same time clearing everything off the hard drive except the new
> OS. I will then re-install all my applications. Thanx in advance for any help!
>
> --
> from Robert Meek dba Tangentals Design
> meekTAN@comcast.net
>