Pasted from:
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/070201#story1:
Here's a simplified overview of the steps that are required to
clean-install the upgrade version of Vista:
Step 1. Boot the PC from the Vista DVD.
Step 2. Select "Install Now," but do not enter the Product Key from the
try
Vista packaging. Leave the input box blank. Also, turn off the option
Automatically activate Windows when I'm online. In the next dialog box
that appears, confirm that you really do want to install Vista without
entering a Product Key.
Step 3. Correctly indicate the version of Vista that you're installing:
Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate.
Step 4. Select the "Custom (Advanced)" install, not the "Upgrade" install.
Step 5. Vista copies files at length and reboots itself one or more times.
Wait for the install to complete. At this point, you might think that you
could "activate" Vista, but you can't. That's because you haven't
installed the Vista upgrade yet. To do that, run the DVD's setup.exe
program again, but this time from the Vista desktop. The easiest way to
start setup again is to eject and then reinsert the DVD.
Step 6. Click "Install Now." Select Do not get the latest updates for
installation. (You can check for these updates later.)
Step 7. This time, do enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Once
again, turn off the option Automatically activate Windows when I'm online.
Step 8. On this second install, make sure to select "Upgrade," not "Custom
(Advanced)." You're not doing a clean install now, you're upgrading to
Vista.
Step 9. Wait while Vista copies files and reboots itself. No user
interaction is required. Do not boot from the DVD when asked if you'd like
to do so. Instead, wait a few seconds and the setup process will continue
on its way. Some DOS-like, character-mode menus will appear, but don't
interact with them. After a few seconds, the correct choice will run for
you automatically.
Step 10. After you click a button labeled Start in the Thank You dialog
box, Vista's login screen will eventually appear. Enter the username and
password that you selected during the first install. You're done upgrading
to Vista.
Step 11. Within 30 days, you must "activate" your copy of Vista or it'll
lose functionality. To activate Vista, click Show more details in the
Welcome Center that automatically displays upon each boot-up, then click
Activate Windows now. If you've dismissed the Welcome Center, access the
correct dialog box by clicking Start, Control Panel, System & Maintenance,
System. If you purchased a legitimate copy of Vista, it should quickly
activate over the Internet. (You can instead activate by calling Microsoft
on the phone, which avoids your PC exchanging information with Microsoft's
server.)
