Vista Basic (OEM Dell) to Retail Vista Ultimate upgrade

[Willy]

the Vista advisor says its doable, but i certainly don't want to do a fresh
install. But the upgrade is grayed out when i run setup. I can certainly see
why a novice user would just get disgusted and return the 200 + dollar
software package to the store. And no i don't have a FAT C: disk, not
booting off the vista DVD, got 360 gig free, blah blah. and the rest of the
list of possible issues in not upgrading. I really hate to burn up a SA
hours on something that should be a normal upgrade. so if there is some REAL
trick (reg key, file edit, etc) to make this upgrade work then yell. not
interested in the reiteration that i am booting from the cd\dvd, etc

 

[Mr. Arnold]

the Vista advisor says its doable, but i certainly don't want to do a fresh
install. But the upgrade is grayed out when i run setup. I can certainly see
why a novice user would just get disgusted and return the 200 + dollar
software package to the store. And no i don't have a FAT C: disk, not
booting off the vista DVD, got 360 gig free, blah blah. and the rest of the
list of possible issues in not upgrading. I really hate to burn up a SA
hours on something that should be a normal upgrade. so if there is some REAL
trick (reg key, file edit, etc) to make this upgrade work then yell. not
interested in the reiteration that i am booting from the cd\dvd, etc

Well, if you got the retail version of the upgrade Vista Ultimate DVD,
then you have to boot off the DVD and install the O/S, which will
upgrade to Ultimate leaving everything in-tac, programs settings and
everything else in-tac that Vista Basic was using or software you had
installed. It's an upgrade over the existing Vista O/S when the install
is done.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

Well, if you got the retail version of the upgrade Vista Ultimate DVD,
then you have to boot off the DVD and install the O/S, which will
upgrade to Ultimate leaving everything in-tac, programs settings and
everything else in-tac that Vista Basic was using or software you had
installed. It's an upgrade over the existing Vista O/S when the install
is done.

You couldn't be MORE wrong. An UPGRADE is accomplished by loading the
disc from within Windows. The upgrade option is not available when
booting to the disc.

 

[GordonK]

So are you guys saying though that an Ultimate U/G WILL leave everything as
before in terms of settings etc and all the OEM apps/utilities..(I love my
Lenovo one's for instance and dont want to lose them)

 

[DDW]

So are you guys saying though that an Ultimate U/G WILL leave everything as
before in terms of settings etc and all the OEM apps/utilities..(I love my
Lenovo one's for instance and dont want to lose them)

An upgrade - a process started from **within** Windows, not by booting
to the CD - is SUPPOSED to do that if all goes well.

I would strongly suggest you have a backup of at least all your
important data - just in case.

DDW