Vista Upgrade

By andrew_f
in Microsoft (Windows)

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peach

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"you cannot use the upgrade option from boot on any version of Vista, be it full version or upgrade version. The only way to use the upgrade option is from within a Windows XP environment. The New Installation option on an Upgrade DVD can only be ran from inside a Windows 2000/XP environment due to the key restriction. However on a full version DVD you can run the New Install option from boot."

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srcdecay

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Assuming when you run the upgrade from within XP, it does a key check over the network or such? I have valid keys for both Home and Professional from OEM resellers - I'm just curious how this all works before I go and buy the upgrade edition. If it's too much of a pain, I don't have a *huge* problem blowing $90 more on the full install of home premium.

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Stefan.

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"you cannot use the upgrade option from boot on any version of Vista, be it full version or upgrade version. The only way to use the upgrade option is from within a Windows XP environment. The New Installation option on an Upgrade DVD can only be ran from inside a Windows 2000/XP environment due to the key restriction. However on a full version DVD you can run the New Install option from boot."

Where's that quote from? It can't be true because you can't upgrade from a running Windows 2000 to Vista. You have to perform a clean install. Look here.

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alerosenfeld

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Let`s say it is true, and the DVD for the Windows Vista Upgrade can`t even boot, what if I try to install with a Vista Full DVD and tries to use an Upgrade CD-Key, what would the installation do? Because upgrading Windows in-place has always been a painful experience.

I have another problem where my Windows XP installation CD is a OEM that formats my entire disk. So it would be VERY painful if I wanted a clean Vista installation (which would never be clean at all).

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James B

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I booted up the Vista Upgrade DVD and the install screen comes up. Checked the help and it suggests in a few places that this DVD can be used if your computer has no operating system, and there's something about choosing a Custom install. The instructions explain what to do if the PC has no operating system installed, but stops short of anything about having XP keys or CDs to hand. It just says something like follow the onscreen instructions.

If I get a chance to backup I'll go through it. Not keen on installing XP and then Vista on top.

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alerosenfeld

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I booted up the Vista Upgrade DVD and the install screen comes up. Checked the help and it suggests in a few places that this DVD can be used if your computer has no operating system, and there's something about choosing a Custom install. The instructions explain what to do if the PC has no operating system installed, but stops short of anything about having XP keys or CDs to hand. It just says something like follow the onscreen instructions.

If I get a chance to backup I'll go through it. Not keen on installing XP and then Vista on top.

Wow, thanks a lot. If you could test it out, it would be awesome.

Just hopes it will accept my OEM Windows XP CD (its a really screwed CD, it doesnt let me select any option other then Continue and erase HD or not! Damn Gateway).

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b0m8er

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I booted up the Vista Upgrade DVD and the install screen comes up. Checked the help and it suggests in a few places that this DVD can be used if your computer has no operating system, and there's something about choosing a Custom install. The instructions explain what to do if the PC has no operating system installed, but stops short of anything about having XP keys or CDs to hand. It just says something like follow the onscreen instructions.

If I get a chance to backup I'll go through it. Not keen on installing XP and then Vista on top.

thanks!

Wow, thanks a lot. If you could test it out, it would be awesome.

Just hopes it will accept my OEM Windows XP CD (its a really screwed CD, it doesnt let me select any option other then Continue and erase HD or not! Damn Gateway).

Ditto!

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Deihmos

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http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getr...pgradeinfo.mspx

You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista. Depending on which edition of Windows you are running and the edition of Windows Vista you would like to install, you have two options for the installation process:

In-place upgrade

You can upgrade in-place, which means you can install Windows Vista and retain your applications, files, and settings as they were in your previous edition of Windows.

Clean install

Upgrading to Windows Vista with a clean install means that you should use Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy all your files and settings to an extra hard drive or other storage device, and then install Windows Vista. After the installation is complete, Windows Easy Transfer will reload your files and settings on your upgraded PC. You will then need to reinstall your applications.

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James B

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Ok, I still plan to post that process later.

I was having some trouble with drive letters so cleared the drive and using one partition did a complete install from boot. However - I chose not to use the product key so it would continue. On entering the product key in working Windows I'm getting a message that says the key is only good for upgrades, not clean installs.

I can't find any option of using a previous CD or key to prove I have a full XP licence.

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alerosenfeld

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I'll do a post with images later, but I have done a clean install with the Upgrade DVD.

It wasn't that straight forward (more annoying than difficult) and would only start from within Windows XP, but it's on a clean partition which is nice.

Thanks. So, you couldn't start the installation by booting the DVD? It won't be possible to install an upgrade Windows Vista without Windows XP installed, even if I have the Windows XP cd and cd-key?

I just read http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2082979,00.asp which explains how to upgrade to Windows Vista, but it only covers in-place upgrades. However it says the upgrade process actually copies Windows Vista files separately from Windows XP and then removes Windows XP, contrary to previous versions which just overwritten the previous version. Whatever it does, I still think a clean install would be better.

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James B

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Posted (edited)
Thanks. So, you couldn't start the installation by booting the DVD? It won't be possible to install an upgrade Windows Vista without Windows XP installed, even if I have the Windows XP cd and cd-key?

I just read http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2082979,00.asp which explains how to upgrade to Windows Vista, but it only covers in-place upgrades. However it says the upgrade process actually copies Windows Vista files separately from Windows XP and then removes Windows XP, contrary to previous versions which just overwritten the previous version. Whatever it does, I still think a clean install would be better.

I started it and entered the key when prompted. It said that the key was only good for Upgrade and to restart in to a previous version of Windows to do the install. I rebooted, didn't enter a key and went through. Everything's installed, but obviously needs to be activated. I went to the bit to enter my product key and it came up with an error - the key can not be used for a clean installation.

I agree that a clean install would be better. I've got a restore partition I can install Windows out of, but was thinking of getting the refund from Dell for not using it, and would prefer not to install all the Dell, AOL, Tiscali, McAfee, etc software that comes with it. I'm now thinking of doing a clean XP install to the new big C: partition, then upgrading that. I understand you can choose a custom install and get it to go in another partition - but I want Vista on C:...

I looked through the article earlier today which is helpful - but it doesn't really say if and how to do a "clean" Vista install.

Hmmm, I have a similar problem. I want to do a clean install but i dont have my XP disc... Can i use any XP installation disc?

Do you still have XP installed? It seems like it won't take a CD or key during any part of the process to verify it... :(

It's fairly frustrating. I can see where MS are coming from though.

Personally it wouldn't matter if it's possible to create a 10GB partition on the drive for XP with the drive letter X (or something), then let Vista partition and format the remaining space and install to C:. If that's possible I'll be very happy, but I'm not sure you can set a drive letter or change it on a XP installation if it's the first on the drive?

Anyone know?

Edit: When installing RC1 it pushed XP down to D: and used C: for itself. When booting in to XP it would use C: for itself, and Vista would be on D:. That would also be fine, but I can't find how to do it.

Edited by James B
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James B

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Posted (edited)

Ok, this is what I've done... don't take this as gospel - there might be better ways of doing this and I'm sure as more people do it and post there will be enough information to put a good guide together.

The drive is 100GB, with a Dell recovery partition.

  1. Booting with GParted - the Gnome partition editor, I created a 60GB partition on the drive, leaving 20GB unpartitioned
  2. I then applied that, rebooted and installed Windows Vista to the C: drive, but without a key. This established C: as the home of Vista I guess - didn't think about this intentionally
  3. Booted from Windows XP CD and using that made a 10GB partition (F:) and installed XP there. I activated Windows XP to save any hassle - so can't say if you do or don't need to have an activated Windows
  4. Started the Vista install from XP on the F: drive, choosing the Custom option. This allowed me to choose the C: where I put Vista the first time. It moved everything already there to Windows.old
  5. Rebooted, deleted Windows.old to free up space, updated and activated - everything seems fine. On reflection might have been better to keep Windows.old for a while...

I guess now I can remove the old partition and either increase the Vista one, or use it for something else. This does appear to be a "clean" install on C:\ - despite having XP and Vista on here already.

Hope that's of some help! My poor MBR must be reeling from this...

Edited by James B
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James B

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That's strange. Let's say you buy a new (and empty, of course) HD. So you can't install the update version of Vista? You have to install your old Windows XP first? It's unbelievable. Since Windows 95 I was able to perform a clean installation with the update version on an empty HD.

Well - I agree completely.

As I say - I'm sure the Help on the DVD says about the PC having no OS installed and it being possible, but I couldn't see any way.

I'm sure when people start using it we'll find out if I'm dense or this really isn't possible. I'd place your bets on dense... :whistle:

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