installing upgrade from a rc2 version

[Guest]

hello.....i've been running a rc2 ultimate version....decided to purchase a
vista business upgrade from windows marketplace...downloaded the files from
digital river and have my license key...but cant seem to get it
installed...get error message that the "install.wim" cant be found <in the
vista folder that was created>..the "install.wim" file is there so i'm a bit
confounded...any help would be greatly appreciated...also the size indicated
for the "install.wim" file before i downloaded it was 2.54 gig if i
recall...actual size of the "install.wim" file is 166 k...i know that its
some new deployment thing but total files <3 files
actually...install.wim...boot.wim...and an exe file> i get add up to much
less than that or at any rate less than that would indicate all added
together should be...
thanx

 

[John Barnes]

First, you cannot use an upgrade version to downgrade from Ultimate to any
other version. Only clean installs can be done.

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi Thomas--

I'm guessing you don't have a legacy OS (XP most of the time) from which to
upgrade?

Officially and probably legally MSFT requires you to upgrade from an
installed and activated legacy or older OS that is eligible for Vista
upgrade.

I want to urge you that while you could upgrade from RC2--not to do it. It
isn't supported--a number of bugs were fixed in Beta between RC2 and RTM
before Vista was put in escrow--and although I don't know and you can do the
search if that error is more prevelant with RC2 upgrades--it makes more
stability sense for you to upgrade from a non-beta version. There were
several builds and actually builds everyday at Redmond between RC2 (and a
lot of months) and RTM.

There is also a way to install an upgrade version without first activating a
legacy, but it's not "legal" as to MSFT's EULA and not supported by them but
does work:

Here's what you can do:

Vista Hands On #4: Clean install with an upgrade key by Ed Bott
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=196

Windows Vista Inside Out
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1591

Additional Articles on using the "workaround":

Workaround Discovered For "Clean Install" With Vista Upgrade DVDs
Microsoft Confirms Vista Upgrade Limitations (Updated with Workaround)
http://www.dailytech.com/Workaround...stall+With+Vista+Upgrade+DVDs/article5932.htm


Paul Thurrott / January 29, 2007
http://www.windowsitpro.com/mobile/pda/Article.cfm?ArticleID=95011&News=1

MSFT Ignores Vista Upgrade Loophole
http://www.mstalkonline.com/microsoft-ignores-vista-upgrade-loophole/

Good luck,

CH

 

[Guest]

hi chad...thanks for all the info...you are correct ...i dont have a legacy
OS from which to install from...i thought purchasing the upgrade would make
me good......i will explore the other info you have provided...thanks again

 

[dean-dean]

Maybe this will help (written by Nick White, Product Manager at Microsoft
working on the Windows Vista launch team):

Windows Vista Beta 2, RC1 and RC2 Set to Expire
http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/w...s-vista-beta-2-rc1-and-rc2-set-to-expire.aspx

Excerpt from the article:

Customer Preview Program Expiration FAQ
1. Can I install editions of Windows Vista other than Windows Vista
Ultimate?

Yes, it is possible for you to install other editions (except for Windows
Vista Enterprise) of Windows Vista (e.g., Windows Vista Home Premium). To
install a different edition, you will need to purchase the Upgrade version
of that edition and perform a clean installation. You must back up any
data, as this process will overwrite all data that you have on your hard
disk or on your installation partition. The overwritten data will be lost
and unrecoverable.