Upgrading to Vista

[Guest]

Could someone please clarify how I can do a clean install of Vista. Can I
purchase an Upgrade version or do I have to purchase a full Retail copy to
enable me to do a clean install. I have always purchased the Upgrade copy of
previous Windows versions but this time things seem to be different. Help
please.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

In theory you can do a "clean" install of Vista but it must be started from
within Windows. That will mean that you would have both your old version of
Windows and Vista on the system, would need two hard drives or partitions to
install to, and so on. If you want to wipe the hard drive clean and start
all over an upgrade copy won't do for you.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Rock]

Could someone please clarify how I can do a clean install of Vista. Can I
purchase an Upgrade version or do I have to purchase a full Retail copy to
enable me to do a clean install. I have always purchased the Upgrade copy
of
previous Windows versions but this time things seem to be different. Help
please.

Vista's upgrade process is different in several respects. Assuming you mean
upgrading from XP x86 to Vista x86, XP must be installed, activated and
genuine. If you plan to do an in place upgrade - to carry over data and
programs, then XP must also be at the SP2 level. The upgrade is started
from the XP desktop. You can choose to do either the in place upgrade or a
custom install. A custom install is similar to a clean install. Neither
data nor programs are carried over, what was on the old installation is
archived in a windows.old directory. This data is set aside, and a fresh
image of Vista is laid down. It's not a file by file copy but an image, so
it is in that sense a clean install. The archived data is then moved to the
windows.old folder.

If you don't want to start from XP being installed, then buy a full version
of Vista. Note, depending on what version of XP you're upgrading and to
what version of Vista, the in place upgrade may not be possible, the only
choice might be the custom install.

For a custom install use Vista's Windows Easy Transfer program (WET) to
transfer data and settings from your old installation, and install
applications clean from their original media.

 

[Conor]

In theory you can do a "clean" install of Vista but it must be started from
within Windows. That will mean that you would have both your old version of
Windows and Vista on the system, would need two hard drives or partitions to
install to, and so on.

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.

If you do a "clean" install using an Upgrade CD, it creates a
windows.old folder and sticks the contents of your XP \windows,
\program files and \Documnets and Settings folders in it and therefore
creates a completely seperate Vista installation on the same partition
giving you the same benefits as a clean install.

 

[Steve]

According to Microsoft
www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
"If you are currently using windows 2000 Professional or windows XP
Professional x64, you are eligable for an upgrade copy to a corresponding or
better edition of windows Vista, but a clean install is required."

Does the upgrade have to be started within Windows 2000 Professional or
Windows XP x64, or can the computer boot from the Upgrade Vista DVD to do a
clean install?
Stevek

 

[Roscoe]

In theory you can do a "clean" install of Vista but it must be started
from within Windows. That will mean that you would have both your old
version of Windows and Vista on the system,

That's "dirty" in my book

 

[John Barnes]

Does the upgrade have to be started within Windows 2000 Professional or

Windows XP x64, or can the computer boot from the Upgrade Vista DVD to do
a clean install?

All Vista64 installs are done from the Upgrade DVD. All Vista86 installs
from XP must be done from the desktop of the qualifying OS. I have seen
Win2k described both ways and no authoritative testing done, so I will pass
on that one, except that is must be a clean install whether from the desktop
or from the DVD.

 

[John Barnes]

There is no need for two drives or partitions. Only enough space to hold the
'clean' Vista bits and the .old file(s) which can then be deleted.

In theory you can do a "clean" install of Vista but it must be started
from within Windows. That will mean that you would have both your old
version of Windows and Vista on the system, would need two hard drives or
partitions to install to, and so on. If you want to wipe the hard drive
clean and start all over an upgrade copy won't do for you.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Could someone please clarify how I can do a clean install of Vista. Can I
purchase an Upgrade version or do I have to purchase a full Retail copy
to
enable me to do a clean install. I have always purchased the Upgrade copy
of
previous Windows versions but this time things seem to be different. Help
please.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Windows 2000 Pro: You must boot with the x64 dvd if you are migrating from
Win2k since x64 Setup is a 64bit program and will not run on a 32bit
desktop. The upgrade option will be disabled. You must do a custom
install.

XP Pro x64: You have a choice of booting with the x64 dvd or running Setup
from the XP Pro x64 desktop when migrating from XP Pro x64 to Vista x64. In
either case, the upgrade option will be disabled. You must do a custom
install.

When you boot with a Vista x64 dvd and enter your upgrade edition product
key, Vista x64 will NOT require you to run from a desktop like Vista x86
does.

 

[Ed Forsythe]

Follow the Yellow Brick Road here; http://tinyurl.com/328n39

 

[Stefan Rohde]

No word that I have to install my old Windows XP first. Hmm, maybe the guide
is related to the full retail version?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is. Nobody has had access to the upgrade edition product keys and so
guides and reviews don't cover it yet.

You must have a qualifying operating system installed on your computer. If
you are using a Vista x86 upgrade edition you must run Setup from the legacy
system desktop. If you are using a Vista x64 upgrade edtion you must run
Setup from a dvd boot of the computer with the x64 dvd if Win2k or XP x86 is
the legacy sytem. If you are using Vista x64 UE on a computer with XP Pro
x64 as the legacy system you may either boot with the x64 dvd or run Setup
from the XP Pro x64 desktop.

All installations of Vista are clean installs of the OS. "Clean" is a
concept, not an option. The two options in Setup are "upgrade" and
"custom." You may do a custom install using a Vista UE in all scenarios.

If you mean can you format the target system drive using an upgrade edition,
the answer is "it depends." If you are using a Vista x86 UE then you cannot
format the target drive because you must run Setup from the desktop and thus
the system drive is in use and cannot be formatted. If you are using a
Vista x64 UE then I beleive that you can format before installing because
you can run Setup from a dvd boot.

 

[Conor]

It is. Nobody has had access to the upgrade edition product keys and so
guides and reviews don't cover it yet.

WRONG. Everyone who gets the Action Pack has had access to the upgrade
edition as that's all you get.

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve, I have a windows xp 64bit system, I would like to upgrade to
windows vista, but I do not know how to go about getting the upgrade, how
much would the upgrade cost, and is the upgrade as good as any other. And
lastly what version of upgrade would I expect to get in return