Vista Upgrade Coupon clarified

[Mark]

Ok, I posted in a previous posting from the 13/11/2006 about vista upgrade
coupons. However, I never got the answers I was seeking.

So here's a few questions for you Microsofties.

I already own Windows XP Pro OEM.

* If I buy a SECOND Windows XP Pro OEM + vista coupon, is it possible (like
previous windows versions) to install Vista (business once it's released) to
a seperate partition without installing over the top of my current XP
install?

* Is this Vista coupon for an upgrade version (as in requires a cd or
install of windows to verify before installing) or is it the full oem
version of vista?


I'm not wanting to have my main machine running Vista only, i've played with
a release candidate and some of my games run significantly slower as well as
the annoyances of vista. However, I accept i'll have to go over to it at
some point.


Thanks

Mark

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Ok, I posted in a previous posting from the 13/11/2006 about vista
upgrade coupons. However, I never got the answers I was seeking.

So here's a few questions for you Microsofties.

I already own Windows XP Pro OEM.

* If I buy a SECOND Windows XP Pro OEM + vista coupon, is it
possible (like previous windows versions) to install Vista (business
once it's released) to a seperate partition without installing over
the top of my current XP install?

OEM media is usually designed for a clean install. Obviously you are
not entitled to run the qualifying windows XP and the Express Upgrade
Vista at the same time as you are effectively swapping out your OEM XP
for Vista. If you have a second or existing license for another OS on
that same machine then this will depend to a certain degree on what
exactly you are sent as the generic Express Upgrade

* Is this Vista coupon for an upgrade version (as in requires a cd
or install of windows to verify before installing) or is it the full
oem version of vista?

From the web site where you redeem you software from the coupon
http://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/vista/
it does state
.. The Upgrade Software is available on DVD or CD media. A DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM drive is required to install the Upgrade Software. Upgrade
Software must be installed on your PC with Windows XP preloaded.

this is followed by
.. MS highly recommends that End User Customers back up their hard
drive and settings prior to upgrading their PCs. Some upgrades may
require additional installation requirements and instructions. Certain
upgrades may not allow the End User Customer to retain applications,
files and settings as they were in the previous installed edition of
Windows. You may be required to perform a clean install of Windows
Vista and then reinstall your existing files, settings and programs.

This is due to the fact that if you take the Express Upgrade to
certain versions from certain previous versions you have to clean
install
see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx

So for your case of XP Pro to Vista Business it look like an inplace
upgrade.

I'm not wanting to have my main machine running Vista only, i've
played with a release candidate and some of my games run
significantly slower as well as the annoyances of vista. However, I
accept i'll have to go over to it at some point.


Thanks

Mark

 

[Mark]

See below;

OEM media is usually designed for a clean install. Obviously you are not
entitled to run the qualifying windows XP and the Express Upgrade Vista at
the same time as you are effectively swapping out your OEM XP for Vista.
If you have a second or existing license for another OS on that same
machine then this will depend to a certain degree on what exactly you are
sent as the generic Express Upgrade

So, I take it you don't know either? I wonder whether it's an upgrade
version (requiring an install or a previous version cd) or whether it's a
full non-upgrade oem cd of vista.
This is a Microsoft group, you'd think some MS people would hang around
here.

From the web site where you redeem you software from the coupon
http://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/vista/
it does state
. The Upgrade Software is available on DVD or CD media. A DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM drive is required to install the Upgrade Software. Upgrade Software
must be installed on your PC with Windows XP preloaded.

this is followed by
. MS highly recommends that End User Customers back up their hard drive
and settings prior to upgrading their PCs. Some upgrades may require
additional installation requirements and instructions. Certain upgrades
may not allow the End User Customer to retain applications, files and
settings as they were in the previous installed edition of Windows. You
may be required to perform a clean install of Windows Vista and then
reinstall your existing files, settings and programs.

This is due to the fact that if you take the Express Upgrade to certain
versions from certain previous versions you have to clean install
see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx

So for your case of XP Pro to Vista Business it look like an inplace
upgrade.


Mike Brannigan

So, you reckon from that site that vista installs over the top of your
current XP install? Regardless of whether you've setup a partition to
install Vista to?

I wish MS were bloody clearer on this.

 

[John Barnes]

Mike is MSFT.
In the past upgrades have been full versions, not OEM. Seems as though even
MSFT employees are having trouble getting all the specifics of the Vista
products, regulations etc. so far.

 

[Richard Urban]

Ok, I posted in a previous posting from the 13/11/2006 about vista upgrade
coupons. However, I never got the answers I was seeking.

So here's a few questions for you Microsofties.

I already own Windows XP Pro OEM.

* If I buy a SECOND Windows XP Pro OEM + vista coupon, is it possible
(like previous windows versions) to install Vista (business once it's
released) to a seperate partition without installing over the top of my
current XP install?

* Is this Vista coupon for an upgrade version (as in requires a cd or
install of windows to verify before installing) or is it the full oem
version of vista?


I'm not wanting to have my main machine running Vista only, i've played
with a release candidate and some of my games run significantly slower as
well as the annoyances of vista. However, I accept i'll have to go over to
it at some point.


Thanks

Mark

You have to check with the store supplying you with the upgrade coupon. They
should know the details of their coupon. We don't. Dell is charging, other
manufacturers are giving it away. I suppose the actual upgrade varies as
well.

And, Newegg - of all retailers - was offering an upgrade to a RC version of
Windows Vista. Now, how good is that.

Let the buyer beware. Check the actual details (which are not available
here).

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[John Barnes]

Let's be accurate, NewEgg is providing an immediate copy of RC1. They will
be honouring the coupon, like everyone else, at the time that RTM is
available, with the usual 6-8 week provision.

 

[Alfred Kaufmann]

See below;
So, I take it you don't know either? I wonder whether it's an upgrade
version (requiring an install or a previous version cd) or whether it's a
full non-upgrade oem cd of vista.
This is a Microsoft group, you'd think some MS people would hang around
here.

An upgrade version would be nice because that gives you the choice of doing
a clean install or an upgrade.

So, you reckon from that site that vista installs over the top of your
current XP install? Regardless of whether you've setup a partition to
install Vista to?

Again I would hope that the install program gives you the choice of where
you want it installed. I hope it is better than Windows XP at that because
I know I have to unplug my IDE drives if I want it installed how I want it
installed.

I have another question about this upgrade coupon; I went to the coupon
redemption site and it offered me a choice between the 32bit or 64bit
version. I know that it will work with the 32bit version and I am not very
sure about the 64bit version. I do have an AMD 64bit X2 processor and in
the future I want to go that route but for right now I am worried about
finding the right drivers for all the other hardware. Should I stick with
32bit? (Sorry if this sounds a bit like asking you all to answer the age
old chicken and egg question - which came first.

Al

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No. If you use the XP license to qualify for upgrade then the XP license
becomes void for any other purpose. If you want to maintain the XP license
buy a Vista full edition.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Yes, they are. However OEM media for upgrades have existed in the past. In
the event a manufacturer provides a coupon for upgrading from the system
available at the time you purchase their product to the new system about to
be released, they will provide an OEM disc to do the upgrade. Such upgrade
discs generally only work if the original system is still on the computer.
Just before XP came out several of the larger system builders like HP and
Dell were providing such coupons. The upgrade cd they shipped after XP
released did not work if the customer had modified the system in the
meantime.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Mike is MSFT.

If you are talking about me - then I have never claimed this in any of
my recent posts.

 

[Kevin Young]

No. If you use the XP license to qualify for upgrade then the XP license
becomes void for any other purpose. If you want to maintain the XP
license buy a Vista full edition.

Does this mean if you purchase and install an upgrade version of Vista RTM
then find that it does not meet your needs that you cannot legally remove
Vista from your machine and reinstall your original version of XP?

 

[John Barnes]

Actually, it does.

Does this mean if you purchase and install an upgrade version of Vista RTM
then find that it does not meet your needs that you cannot legally remove
Vista from your machine and reinstall your original version of XP?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If you reinstall the XP edition and no longer use the Vista sku then you
have reinstated the XP license. You can later use the Vista Upgrade sku
again and it will depend on which XP cd you use to qualify for the Upgrade
pricing as to which XP license is tied to the Vista installation.

What you cannot do is use an XP cd during a Vista installation and then
reuse the same XP cd to install XP and Vista concurrently on two different
machines or two different partitions on the same machine.

The fundamental principal that Microsoft states in these cases is
"preservation of the user's value." MS does not require you to sacrifice
your investment in XP if you choose not to continue to tie the XP license to
a Vista license.

Another example of preserving value is found in volume licensing. If users
who qualify for the perks associated with Vista Enterprise Edition decide to
upgrade from Enterprise to Ultimate, all the perks from the Enterprise
Edition "migrate" to the Ultimate Edition.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

"Mike is MSFT"
I believe your fact is a little outdated.

 

[Kevin Young]

Thanks Colin, glad to hear that. I find it odd that Microsoft doesn't allow
individual users to continue to use both versions on the same machine
whether in a dual boot or virtual machine configuration. It would make the
transition easier for folks with a considerable amount of software on hand
that may not be compatible with the new operating system. As it stands,
with the upgrade version at least, you lose this ability. I can certainly
see not allowing you to run each on two separate machines but the either or
scenario means you must spend an additional $140 or so to make sure over the
short term that you can continue to run some of your applications until you
can afford updated versions or until updated applications become available.

 

[William]

How would Microsoft know that you have installed on another computer the XP
disk that you qualified in an install of Vista?

 

[Rock]

See below;



So, I take it you don't know either? I wonder whether it's an upgrade
version (requiring an install or a previous version cd) or whether it's a
full non-upgrade oem cd of vista.
This is a Microsoft group, you'd think some MS people would hang around
here.



So, you reckon from that site that vista installs over the top of your
current XP install? Regardless of whether you've setup a partition to
install Vista to?

I wish MS were bloody clearer on this.

This is a peer to peer newsgroup. MS staff usually don't post in here and
when they do, they do so unofficially. If you want an MS answer call them,
but it may be a bit before it's all specified.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You find it odd because it is your ox that is gored, as the expression goes.
All of us feel that way at times including me. The topic is one of the most
rehashed topics in the history of Windows and the EULA. The fact remains
that you are out of compliance if you tie an XP license to a Vista Upgrade
license and then reuse the XP license while the Vista license is still in
use.

Each installation of Windows constitutes a computer. The physical box is
not what counts so there is no point in trying to make that distiction.

As for virtual machines, read the Vista EULA for a change from XP. I have
heard that there is some relaxation but I have not verified that for myself
yet.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Just keep in mind that what you
buy from MS is not the software but the license.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The issue is licensing. I am not about to get into a discussion of how to
get away with "casual copying" (Microsoft's term for this sort of thing).
If you decide to do that is your business but I suggest that you not bring
it to a public newsgroup.

In point of fact MS is working to make the Windows Genuine Advantage
software capable of detecting and informing you about when you are out of
compliance with any of your Windows licenses, including the scenario you
refer to. That does NOT mean that they intend to kill computers that are
out of compliance. It just means that sometime soon they will be able to
advise you that you are out of compliance and suggest or offer you solutions
to help you get back into compliance.

 

[Kevin Young]

Actually I'm not upset with it, if that is the arrangement I am free to
accept it or reject it. It just seems odd that MS would not want to
encourage more people to upgrade by ensuring they can continue to run
existing applications during the transition without paying a surcharge for
that ability. If software incompatibility is an issue for someone then MS
seems to be willing to risk losing the revenue from a potential Vista sale.
I guess from a business perspective it is a matter of whether double the
people will pay the additional $140 for the full version than the lost $259
upgrades from folks that won't upgrade as they may have XP specific
applications they want to continue to use.