Best legal path to upgrade to vista?

[Xellos2099]

I am considering buying a legal version of Vista since it coem with dx 10 and Alan Wake will only support Dx 10 so far. Anyway, What would the cheapest path to upgrade to Vista. I am cosidering this path: Window 98, upgrade disk to Window xp home, and then upgrade disk to Window vista. Does it sound feastiful?

Alsao, another question, how much would it cost to get another coa for window 98? I got a legal version of Window 98 se when i bough a dell diemension quite a few years back. I found my original win 98 disk but not the COA booklet. Any advise is appreciated.

 

[Nick5324]

Using amazon's pricing, Vista Home Premium upgrade is $160, Full is $240. Assuming you don't already have a WinXP home upgrade disk, that will run you around $80, the difference between the upgrade and full versions of Vista. About a month ago there was a sale on WinXP Home uprgrade that was cheap after a mail in rebate. I guess if something similar came up, this would be a cheaper option.

 

[Xellos2099]

yes paying 240 for an os just SEEMS wrong to me, no matter how hard microsft worked on it.

 

[Xellos2099]

Also, do oem disk suck very badly? I seen soem for sale for relatively cheap price on fs/ft forum.

 

[Lemon law]

I find it very wrong to price an OS that high----especially since the major manufacters can get the same OS--pre install that OS on a brand new PC for peanuts--and then charge you big bucks when you buy that brand new PC.

What I want to know is what a BIG company like Dell pays for a license to pre-install windows on a computer?----answers anyone---and think about it---anti-trust anyone when the small system builder guy can't compete with the big guy?

 

[Xellos2099]

I think they use oem version of the window.

 

[Smilin]

you can't upgrade off of an upgrade.


Retail version of old OS + "upgrade new version" = legal new version

Retail version + "upgrade new version" + "upgrade newer version" = illegal newer version.

 

[Xellos2099]

Did microsoft ever say that you must have a full version of window xp to order to get the Vista update work?

 

[stash]

I'm pretty sure that's the way it has always worked.

 

[tersome]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Also, do oem disk suck very badly? I seen soem for sale for relatively cheap price on fs/ft forum.

No... it's software, it doesn't matter what disk it's on. There's no difference between OEM and Retail except that OEM technically should be purchased with hardware and only used on one computer ever, not just one computer at a time.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
I find it very wrong to price an OS that high----especially since the major manufacters can get the same OS--pre install that OS on a brand new PC for peanuts--and then charge you big bucks when you buy that brand new PC.

What I want to know is what a BIG company like Dell pays for a license to pre-install windows on a computer?----answers anyone---and think about it---anti-trust anyone when the small system builder guy can't compete with the big guy?

Companies that buy in huge volume almost always get discounts. Unit pricing differences on a dozen of electronic component X and 100,000 of the same can be enormous. This is a normal business practice.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
yes paying 240 for an os just SEEMS wrong to me, no matter how hard microsft worked on it.

easy solution...don't buy it. If it's too much, talk with your wallet

 

[Xellos2099]

ok will this upgrade path work? Buy an oem version fo the Window xp home and then buy Vista home Preium upgrade?

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: tersome

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
Also, do oem disk suck very badly? I seen soem for sale for relatively cheap price on fs/ft forum.

No... it's software, it doesn't matter what disk it's on. There's no difference between OEM and Retail except that OEM technically should be purchased with hardware and only used on one computer ever, not just one computer at a time.

And OEM is not supported by Microsoft.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
ok will this upgrade path work? Buy an oem version fo the Window xp home and then buy Vista home Preium upgrade?

Buying an OEM version without a piece of hardware is not a legal (or at least EULA-compliant) way to acquire Windows (for buyer and seller). You're making this a lot more work than it should be, especially since a clean install is better anyway.

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: A5

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
ok will this upgrade path work? Buy an oem version fo the Window xp home and then buy Vista home Preium upgrade?

Buying an OEM version without a piece of hardware is not a legal (or at least EULA-compliant) way to acquire Windows (for buyer and seller). You're making this a lot more work than it should be, especially since a clean install is better anyway.

It's been perfectly legal for over a year now. The hardware requirement is gone.

If you don?t open the pack, you can redistribute to other system builders without any hardware.
OEM system builder software packs are intended for PC and server manufacturers or assemblers ONLY. They are not intended for distribution to end users. Unless the end user is actually assembling his/her own PC, in which case, that end user is considered a system builder as well.

The first sentence says Newegg (or whomever) can sell you the OEM copy without hardware. The second part says that if you are building your own system, you are considered a system builder, so it is absolutely legit for you to be purchasing an OEM copy.

 

[Xellos2099]

Can someone point me to s site where it say i can;t use a window xp home upgrade disk to upgrade to vista with upgrade disk? Because comousa is selling a upgrade disk tomorrow for 50 after rebate, which is pretty tempting

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: stash
I'm pretty sure that's the way it has always worked.

I disagree. Microsoft has never specified that the upgrade "candidate" had to be a full version. And the upgrade software has certainly never looked at this aspect.

Sure, technically, you are supposed to have ALL the original CDs and documentation for all of the various upgrades you've done. But, historically, as long as you have a legal license of any sort for the previous version, you can upgrade. it to the next version.

I've been "upgrading Windows OS's and MS Office probably since Windows 1.x, and I probably don't technically have a single PC that isn't an upgrade of an upgrade of an upgrade of an upgrade (I've always purchased Upgrade Retail versions of all of MS's software, never OEM, so I have freely (and legally) migrated my "upgrades" with each new generation of motherboard).

 

[Xellos2099]

so how does the upgrade work? for exmaple you want to upgrade to xp form 98, u install xp and it ask you to input the code for 98 or ask you for the disk and the code or just the disk?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Xellos2099
so how does the upgrade work? for exmaple you want to upgrade to xp form 98, u install xp and it ask you to input the code for 98 or ask you for the disk and the code or just the disk?

Unless something has changed with Vista, you'll start the install process from your Vista CD as normal. At some point, you'll be asked to insert your qualifying previous version for upgrade verification. Once this is done, the Vista disc goes back in and the installation continues.

 

[Bozo Galora]

could be free if you buy a new PC: (Dailytech)

Buy a new PC this holiday season, get a free piece of paper

While Windows Vista expected to be released to manufacturers around October 25, retail PC pre-loaded with the new operating system won?t be available until the New Year. Microsoft and its partners are doing their best to get the new operating system into consumer hands this holiday season, even if it may come in the form of a piece of paper.

Microsoft is planning an upgrade program for those who purchase new PCs this holiday season. According to Information Week, the upgrade coupons will either be free or provide discounted pricing:

Customers who buy systems running Windows XP Home Edition can upgrade to Vista Home Basic Edition for a flat $49 fee and to the higher-end Windows Vista Home Premium Edition for a cost of $79.

The Windows Vista Technology Upgrade Program runs from Oct. 26, 2006, through March 15, 2007. Distributors are expected to have the new SKUs in house for system builders by Oct. 15.

Microsoft has not officially announced the coupon program, but has commented that it is currently working with its partners on a plan for such an offer.

Those who wish to preview a Windows Vista might want to clear their schedules for tomorrow?s RC2 release

..............................

I will make a wild guess that these free upgrade coupons will appear on eblay, that even a market will be created in them.

 

[Xellos2099]

Well I already build myself a new conrow so that out of question. So I can get window xp home edition working as long as I have a legal window 98 disk but nto the coa? Because i think I lost my coa for 98

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
What I want to know is what a BIG company like Dell pays for a license to pre-install windows on a computer?----answers anyone---and think about it---anti-trust anyone when the small system builder guy can't compete with the big guy?

Oh, get off the anti-trust horse. Dell gets a better deal because they install MILLIONS of copies of Windows. The "small system builder guy" does not. It is no different in any other product purchasing situation. Wal-Mart buys goods cheaper than other retailers for the same reason.

 

[Bill Kunert]

Originally posted by: stash
I'm pretty sure that's the way it has always worked.

I upgraded from WFWG 3.11 to Win 95 to Win 98 to XP. All upgrades except the WFWG3.11. I think there is a continuous upgrade path. The upgrade versions are full versions 'cause you can install on a clean disk. You just have to have the previous version disk so it can be checked.

Bill