Install Vista Full Version?

[Thomas Jones]

If I choose not to wait for the OEM upgrade disk for Vista from Dell, can I
purchase a retail "full" version (not upgrade version) of Vista and do a
"clean install" on my new dell latitude D820?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Yes. Open the Dell BIOS and set the DVD drive as the first
boot drive, then boot from the Vista DVD. Delete the current
partition(s), create a new partition, format the new partition,
install Vista on that new partition. Afterward, visit the Dell
support web site and download and install any available
Vista compatible drivers designed for your specific Dell notebook
model.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

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:

If I choose not to wait for the OEM upgrade disk for Vista from Dell, can I
purchase a retail "full" version (not upgrade version) of Vista and do a
"clean install" on my new dell latitude D820?

 

[Guest]

Just make sure you have a retail key because the OEM key from dell will not
work with the Retail media.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Yes, but the retail disk may not contain needed proprietary drivers for the
Dell system. You would be better off getting Dell's OEM disk that is
designed specifically for their machines.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

As Rick says -- beware of not having all the Dell specific files you
need since it is a laptop. Much more difficult to upgrade than a
desktop.

We see a lot of this in Laptop Forum on Compuserve.

Having said that I was surprised how well my WIN98SE Thinkpad T20
upgraded clean to XP Pro. It worked fine and once I got the Thinkpad
utility for updating installed it went on line and got all the Thinkpad
specific files and utilities.

 

[Roy Coorne]

If I choose not to wait for the OEM upgrade disk for Vista from
Dell, can I purchase a retail "full" version (not upgrade version)
of Vista and do a "clean install" on my new dell latitude D820?

Yes, if
- you have enough cash and
- your Dell ist Vista capable which you may check via

<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx