Clean Install - 2 computers

[NSA]

I have two computers both with WIN XP. I purcahsed two Vista's OS. The Vista
Home Premium was for a clean install on one computer (desktop); the other
Vista is a Home Basic upgrade intended for the laptop. I now prefer to do a
clean install on both computers. Can I clean install the Premium on the
laptop as a trial; then install the upgrade Basic on the laptop as a
registered; and then clean install the Premium on the desktop as a
registered version?

NSA

 

[pvdg42]

I have two computers both with WIN XP. I purcahsed two Vista's OS. The
Vista Home Premium was for a clean install on one computer (desktop); the
other Vista is a Home Basic upgrade intended for the laptop. I now prefer
to do a clean install on both computers. Can I clean install the Premium on
the laptop as a trial; then install the upgrade Basic on the laptop as a
registered; and then clean install the Premium on the desktop as a
registered version?

NSA

You're going to run into trouble when you attempt to install the VHB upgrade
on the laptop after installing the VHP full.
Upgrades require an existing installation of a "lesser" OS, and VHP won't
work. You'll have to delete VHP from the laptop, then reinstall and
reactivate XP before installing the VHB upgrade.

If you are going to do this, be careful not to allow any temporary
installation to be activated. That way, you won't have activation hassles on
the second installation of a given product.

 

[Mellowed]

When I installed Vista Ultimate I didn't provide the registration key. I
just told the install that it was an Ultimate. The install did not know
what version was being installed until the Key is provided. The
installation program noted that when the Key is installed, I would lose
features if the Key wasn't the Ultimate.

So, install Vista without providing the Key. Just tell it that you have
Premium. Premium will be installed. When you finally install the Basic Key
(within 30 days) you will then have Vista Basic. All versions are on the
same disk.

 

[Saucy]

I have two computers both with WIN XP. I purcahsed two Vista's OS. The
Vista Home Premium was for a clean install on one computer (desktop); the
other Vista is a Home Basic upgrade intended for the laptop. I now prefer
to do a clean install on both computers. Can I clean install the Premium on
the laptop as a trial; then install the upgrade Basic on the laptop as a
registered; and then clean install the Premium on the desktop as a
registered version?

NSA

Yes, you can. Only you will have to use a special technique to do so if you
use upgrade media to do a clean-from-scratch installation:

[How to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Media]
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

Unlike the install routine with XP, Vista makes no provision for providing
"qualifying media" to prove that one is eligible to use the upgrade version
to do a clean install. But there is a way around it. One clean installs the
upgrade version, but does not provide a key, nor permit an activation. Then
you 'upgrade' the clean Vista installation - essentially installing the
exact same thing twice: clean first, then right over itself again as an
upgrade. For the second time 'round you *do* provide the key and land
yourself at a clean installed activatable Vista.

Read Paul Thurrott's article for more detail.