Clean Install not possible with Vista Upgrade Discs

[Zensal]

I have a quick question about the Upgrade vs. OEM. I'm always swapping out parts in my computer and I'm thinking about upgrading to C2D sometime in the next 6 months or so. If I got an OEM copy of Vista, would I be able to install it now with my old equipment and then install it again on my new stuff? People are saying that the OEM is tied to the Motherboard...

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Zensal
I have a quick question about the Upgrade vs. OEM. I'm always swapping out parts in my computer and I'm thinking about upgrading to C2D sometime in the next 6 months or so. If I got an OEM copy of Vista, would I be able to install it now with my old equipment and then install it again on my new stuff? People are saying that the OEM is tied to the Motherboard...

That's correct. So legally your OEM copy of Vista will be tied to the motherboard it is first paired with.

However if you already have an older copy of Windows you can get a Retail Upgrade for pretty cheap.

 

[Zensal]

Sorry, forgot to mention this. I want a clean install, obviously. Which is why I am worried about the Upgrade copy. Is it confirmed that it is possible to do a clean install yet?

 

[MrUniq]

as in may posts before...based on my experience I don't have very high opinion of upgrade copies. The key they send you is pretty much a one time use deal...any subsequent installs require you to call in your installation ID. In that sense, I don't see how much different it is from OEM. Also I'd never upgrade an liscensed XP (I've read that your key may get invalidated)...just install a 30 trial of Vista or XP then do a clean upgrade from there.

 

[sam509]

Originally posted by: Zensal
Sorry, forgot to mention this. I want a clean install, obviously. Which is why I am worried about the Upgrade copy. Is it confirmed that it is possible to do a clean install yet?

Yes... confirmed. You can do a clean install to a freshly formatted HD using the upgrade workaround method.

 

[jedisponge]

Hey guys I have a quick question about the upgrade and oem copies.

I tried searching and looking through the threads, but at this point it's going to take forever to get a definite answer if I'm to search through everything. I looked and I see some answers that are pointing in one direction, but I just want to be absolutely sure.

Will I be able to move the upgrade OS from computer to computer like a full retail version if I plan on buying a new system in the future, unlike OEM's which are tied to one system?

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: jedisponge
Will I be able to move the upgrade OS from computer to computer like a full retail version if I plan on buying a new system in the future, unlike OEM's which are tied to one system?

The upgrade can be moved from PC to PC, as long as it is uninstalled from the prior PC. The upgrade does not make the underlying upgraded OS a full retail version. So if you upgraded an OEM version, you still have an OEM version under a retail upgrade version. The retail upgrade may be transferred, the underlying OEM version may not.

If the PC on which you intend to use the upgrade has its own qualifying OS, you're good to upgrade. You could not, as someone suggested, use a different PCs qualifying OS on the new PC, and then upgrade it. Each computer upgraded still must have its own qualifying full product (OEM or retail).

If the underlying upgraded version IS a full retail product, then you can transfer the underlying OS and upgrade to the new PC (after uninstalling both from the prior PC...leaving the prior PC with no OS).

 

[jedisponge]

Thank you very much for the answer!

So by uninstalling it... how would you go about doing it officially? Is it any different from just formatting the pc?

 

[tcsenter]

There may or may not be an option to uninstall the upgrade. I haven't used an upgrade version in years so I don't know. If there is no uninstall option, the only way to do it is to re-install or restore the underlying operating system that was upgraded (whether or not you format the disk it is up to you).

 

[pcgeek11]

There is no " uninstall " option with an upgrade.

pcgeek11

 

[Tom]

Something that isn't clear to me-

if I install a retail upgrade version of Vista over a legitimate retail install of XP, in the offical, correct, manner, does the XP install get permanently disabled ? If so, this means that if I decide I don't want Vista on that machine anymore, I can't reinstall my retail XP ?

But if I use the tricky method of installing the retail Vista Upgrade, which to me seems quasi-legitimate as long as I stop using XP, then I'm actually better off because I can stop using Vista and go back to XP ?

If that's true, it doesn't make sense to me, so maybe it isn't true ?

also, if the version of XP I upgraded was an oem version that came with a prebuilt HP, would it make any difference ? Will upgrading to Vista make it impossible to go back to the XP version I paid for with the system ? And if I install a retail upgrade of Vista on an oem machine, can it even be removed and reinstalled on a different machine that has it's own XP, or has my retail Vista turned into an oem version ?

Some of these questions have been semi-answered, but in more than one way, so I'm still hoping for some clarity.

 

[michaels]

I just called Microsoft and talked to a tech and she informed me that we can indeed still use our XP after an upgrade. She supposedly verified it and I asked for a reference number so I can call and complain if this isn't the case.

And what if we use Norton Ghost and made an image, would that work as well?

 

[Griffinhart]

Your old copy of XP will work just fine. The rumor that MS would disable your old key was a FUD article from an anti-windows site mis-interpreting the EULA.

Your Retail version will follow you to what every machine you move it too. They limitation is only one machine per license, but it's not tied to specific hardware.

btw, I found this: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2089952,00.asp and interesting read. They did an in-place install and compared it to a clean install. I ended up doing an inplace install myself and it seems to have gone fine so far.

 

[tcsenter]

And if I install a retail upgrade of Vista on an oem machine, can it even be removed and reinstalled on a different machine that has it's own XP, or has my retail Vista turned into an oem version ?

I've already answered these questions.

Retail Full Product + Retail Upgrade = transfer rights for both. You may install the qualifying full product on another PC and apply the upgrade to it (this would leave the first PC without an OS since you're transferring it all)

OEM Product + Retail Upgrade = transfer rights only to install the retail upgrade on another PC which has its own licensed qualifying full OS (retail or OEM), provided you uninstall/remove the upgrade from the first PC (by restoring the original underlying OS, however you go about it). You cannot transfer the underlying OEM version to any other PC, period.

A retail upgrade does not turn an underlying OEM OS into a full initial retail license with transfer rights. From Microsoft:

There is currently a misperception that the upgrade license agreements for Microsoft Windows XP Professional provide a full and initial license for the Microsoft Windows desktop operating system. This is incorrect; the Windows XP Professional upgrade license is for upgrades only. [emphasis mine]

Vista is no different.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: michaels
I just called Microsoft and talked to a tech and she informed me that we can indeed still use our XP after an upgrade. She supposedly verified it and I asked for a reference number so I can call and complain if this isn't the case.

And what if we use Norton Ghost and made an image, would that work as well?

Can you PM me the tech's contact info and the case (SRX or SRZ) number?


I do not believe you were told correctly.

 

[DJ-phYre]

Can you still do a format and clean install of Vista if you have XP on the hard drive?

 

[dcuccia1]

Originally posted by: sam509

Originally posted by: Zensal
Sorry, forgot to mention this. I want a clean install, obviously. Which is why I am worried about the Upgrade copy. Is it confirmed that it is possible to do a clean install yet?

Yes... confirmed. You can do a clean install to a freshly formatted HD using the upgrade workaround method.

Can anyone confirm/deny that this might also work with the Vista Anytime Upgrade license + disk? I have a work copy of Business that I want to upgrade myself to get Media Center capabilities.

 

[FlasHBurN]

Quick question...

I have a friend that has his 64-bit Vista DVD. I am planning on buying the Vista Home Premium Upgrade. Can I do the exact same "upgrade with clean install" steps with his full 64-bit DVD and just entering the upgrade key at the final prompt, or will that not work?

 

[FlasHBurN]

Originally posted by: FlasHBurN
Quick question...

I have a friend that has his 64-bit Vista DVD. I am planning on buying the Vista Home Premium Upgrade. Can I do the exact same "upgrade with clean install" steps with his full 64-bit DVD and just entering the upgrade key at the final prompt, or will that not work?

Anyone?

 

[bigdaddy51]

Originally posted by: dcuccia1

Originally posted by: sam509

Originally posted by: Zensal
Sorry, forgot to mention this. I want a clean install, obviously. Which is why I am worried about the Upgrade copy. Is it confirmed that it is possible to do a clean install yet?

Yes... confirmed. You can do a clean install to a freshly formatted HD using the upgrade workaround method.

Can anyone confirm/deny that this might also work with the Vista Anytime Upgrade license + disk? I have a work copy of Business that I want to upgrade myself to get Media Center capabilities.

You might want to be a little careful here, as using the anytime upgrade option, the eula is different ,and only allows for 1 transfer of the os. It's an exception in the eula under anytime upgrade. From the EULA: "The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device one time only."

 

[mflacy]

I have no idea what all this clean install, jibba jabba is about.

I did a clean install today with an upgrade disc without having to jump through any hoops or use that workaround method. I installed it while in Windows XP rather than booting from the disc.

Of course, my main XP windows directory was labeled C:/windows1 rather than C:/windows. I just had to create an empty c:/windows folder and it installed without any problems.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: mflacy
I have no idea what all this clean install, jibba jabba is about.

I did a clean install today with an upgrade disc without having to jump through any hoops or use that workaround method. I installed it while in Windows XP rather than booting from the disc.

The "clean install" that is being discussed here refers to installing Vista on a PC that HAS NO XP installed. A primary reason for wanting to do this is to avoid having to re-install and Activate XP just so you can THEN run the Vista Upgrade to get back to where you were before your computer failed and you lost your Vista OS.

 

[mflacy]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: mflacy
I have no idea what all this clean install, jibba jabba is about.

I did a clean install today with an upgrade disc without having to jump through any hoops or use that workaround method. I installed it while in Windows XP rather than booting from the disc.

The "clean install" that is being discussed here refers to installing Vista on a PC that HAS NO XP installed. A primary reason for wanting to do this is to avoid having to re-install and Activate XP just so you can THEN run the Vista Upgrade to get back to where you were before your computer failed and you lost your Vista OS.

Ah, my bad. I get it now.

 

[Dogsbody]

Does anybody know if you have to activate XP before installing Vista? What I mean is, if I'm going to install XP on a new hard drive so that I can upgrade to Vista, do I have to activate XP online, or can I just do the install without activation? Thanks!

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Dogsbody
Does anybody know if you have to activate XP before installing Vista? What I mean is, if I'm going to install XP on a new hard drive so that I can upgrade to Vista, do I have to activate XP online, or can I just do the install without activation? Thanks!

I think so because Vista installation invalidates your XP key preventing future XP activations.