Vista Upgrade Path

[Guest]

Some questions I need clarification for

Can OEM versions of XP/2000 be upgraded to Vista Upgrade Retail versions or
do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
If the XP OS isn't genuine can you still upgrade it to Vista Upgrade Retail
versions or do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
Does XP/2000 have to have the latest Service Pack installed before you can
perform an upgrade?

Thanks

 

[Tom Porterfield]

Some questions I need clarification for

Can OEM versions of XP/2000 be upgraded to Vista Upgrade Retail versions
or
do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?

An OEM version of XP or 2000 can be upgraded to Vista using the Vista retail
upgrade.

If the XP OS isn't genuine can you still upgrade it to Vista Upgrade
Retail
versions or do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?

The Vista upgrade has to be started from within a legitimate XP
installation.

Does XP/2000 have to have the latest Service Pack installed before you can
perform an upgrade?

XP should be at SP2. Windows 2000 should be at SP4.

 

[Juan Perez]

Hi: I found this link by chance. I hope it helps to see the diferent ways.
Even you have the tool Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to find which edition
of Windows Vista is right for you.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/default.mspx

I hope it helps.

 

[Ron Sommer]

Vista upgrade must be started from within a running copy of Windows.
If you ever need to reinstall Vista, you have to install XP or 2000 first.
Or make an image of the new Vista install.
--
Ronald Sommer

: Some questions I need clarification for
:
: Can OEM versions of XP/2000 be upgraded to Vista Upgrade Retail versions
or
: do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
: If the XP OS isn't genuine can you still upgrade it to Vista Upgrade
Retail
: versions or do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
: Does XP/2000 have to have the latest Service Pack installed before you can
: perform an upgrade?
:
: Thanks
:

 

[John John]

What's the purpose of that? Other than further aggravating the
customers? I understand that in many cases an in-place upgrade is
preferable and nearly flawless but often it isn't and a clean
installation is preferable. So now Microsoft is trowing broomsticks in
the spokes with this yet unnecessary restriction on upgrade versions...

It will be very efficient for those who maintain computers for others to
now have to spend twice as much time as needed to do a simple operating
system installation, in certain cases the cost of installing Vista has
just doubled. Kudos to Microsoft for these new "features" that make
things easier and increase efficiency in the workplace! What would we
do without all their brilliant innovations!

John

 

[Eric]

It should work the same as every previous Windows version.
That might involve something different if you are upgrading from XP, since
XP started the verification process to make sure your copy is legit.
I believe on previous Windows versions, the upgrade install can be run on a
PC with no OS, and will ask you at some point to put in the disk for your
previous version.

 

[John John]

I'm not upgrading anything to Vista so spare me the unnecessary
instructions! Your post contradicts the findings of others who have
stated that upgrade editions cannot be cleanly installed thus creating
additional work and reducing workplace efficiency for IT professionals.
Computers are supposed to evolve the other way around, making work
more efficient and easier with every new "innovation". Microsoft is
making thing less efficient with this upgrade kind of nonsense! What
will IT professionals do when customers come to see them with completely
borked Vista installations that can only be fixed with clean
installations? They will waste their time installing old Windows
versions in order to install customer owned upgrade versions! Of course
now a $50 format/installation job has just gone up to $100.00. Complete
nonsense!

John

 

[Bob I]

Seems it should, but it seems it has been changed, please see the
articles below.

How to install Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884/en-us

Upgrade installation keys are blocked when you start from the Windows
Vista DVD
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930985/en-us

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It should work the same as every previous Windows version.

Perhaps it should, but it doesn't.

That might involve something different if you are upgrading from XP,
since XP started the verification process to make sure your copy is
legit. I believe on previous Windows versions, the upgrade install can be
run on a PC with no OS, and will ask you at some point to put in the
disk for your previous version.

Yes, that's true of previous versions. It is *not*, however, true of Vista.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Some questions I need clarification for

Can OEM versions of XP/2000 be upgraded to Vista Upgrade Retail versions or
do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?

The qualifying OS for an Upgrade may be either OEM or retail; it
doesn't matter.

If the XP OS isn't genuine can you still upgrade it to Vista Upgrade Retail
versions or do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?

Vista's Upgrade is specifically designed to work only if the qualifying
OS is genuine and has been vaildated. To "upgrade" from an illicit copy
of WinXP, you'll need a full retail license for Vista.

Does XP/2000 have to have the latest Service Pack installed before you can
perform an upgrade?

WinXP requires SP2, but there is no direct upgrade from Win2K to Vista
- a clean installation is required.

Windows Vista: Upgrade Paths from Previous Versions
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradepaths.mspx


--

Bruce Chambers

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Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Rock]

Some questions I need clarification for

Can OEM versions of XP/2000 be upgraded to Vista Upgrade Retail versions
or
do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
If the XP OS isn't genuine can you still upgrade it to Vista Upgrade
Retail
versions or do you have to buy a full Vista retail copy?
Does XP/2000 have to have the latest Service Pack installed before you can
perform an upgrade?

There are Vista newsgroups for these questions. They have been covered over
and over in there. Just search through the posts, you will find several
thousand recently dealing with upgrades.
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general is the general newsgroup.