Upgrading from Windows 2000 to Vista Question

[jcarson]

I have seen people say that you need a working install to use the upgrade versions. Now, 2000 says that you must do a clean install, SO..

Going from Windows 2000 to Home Premium, will I have to install 2000 THEN Vista should I need to reinstall it all at some point?

 

[Shawn]

Pretty much. You can also install Vista without a cd key then run the upgrade software from within vista and reinstall. But either way you will need to install windows twice.

 

[jcarson]

Anyone else got a thought?
Seems to me IMHO like it would create a messy system, and if you HAVE to do a clean install (per Microsofts page) from 2000 then you would just be wasting hard disk space and creating problems.. Anyone have some hard facts?

 

[InlineFive]

I won't create a messy system. If you install Vista first you can simply have it do a Clean/Full Install over the "old" system.

 

[Shawn]

Not really. It simply does a clean install and renames your old windows directory. You can safely delete it.

 

[bigdaddy51]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Not really. It simply does a clean install and renames your old windows directory. You can safely delete it.

What is stated here is true for W2K BUT W2k with sp4 must be on the drive you are going to put Vista on. Vista then rolls it into a Windows.old folder and does a "clean/full install of Vista. This is the LEGAL way to do your UPGRADE.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: bigdaddy51

Originally posted by: Shawn
Not really. It simply does a clean install and renames your old windows directory. You can safely delete it.

What is stated here is true for W2K BUT W2k with sp4 must be on the drive you are going to put Vista on. Vista then rolls it into a Windows.old folder and does a "clean/full install of Vista. This is the LEGAL way to do your UPGRADE.

As long as you already own a previous copy of Windows I don't see a problem with doing the Vista upgraded from Vista method.

 

[luigionlsd]

To avoid a "messy" system, just make sure to keep all of your OSes on the same hard drive, and always follow the rule of installing OSes oldest to newest (2000 -> Vista). That way, your boot config files will not get screwed up, and your Vista install will detect 2000 and make the boot file accordingly. You can just make a partition like 2-3 GB for 2000, and save the rest for Vista. I really would recommend installing 2000 first, in case MS looks to see what keys upgrade Vista licenses are bound to, in case they start blacklisting keys for being tied with "trials" of Vista. Just my two cents.

 

[bigdaddy51]

Originally posted by: InlineFive

Originally posted by: bigdaddy51

Originally posted by: Shawn
Not really. It simply does a clean install and renames your old windows directory. You can safely delete it.

What is stated here is true for W2K BUT W2k with sp4 must be on the drive you are going to put Vista on. Vista then rolls it into a Windows.old folder and does a "clean/full install of Vista. This is the LEGAL way to do your UPGRADE.

As long as you already own a previous copy of Windows I don't see a problem with doing the Vista upgraded from Vista method.

If the old OS isn't installed, there's no way to verify you even own it. The old cd in the tray don't work anymore.

 

[bigdaddy51]

Originally posted by: luigionlsd
To avoid a "messy" system, just make sure to keep all of your OSes on the same hard drive, and always follow the rule of installing OSes oldest to newest (2000 -> Vista). That way, your boot config files will not get screwed up, and your Vista install will detect 2000 and make the boot file accordingly. You can just make a partition like 2-3 GB for 2000, and save the rest for Vista. I really would recommend installing 2000 first, in case MS looks to see what keys upgrade Vista licenses are bound to, in case they start blacklisting keys for being tied with "trials" of Vista. Just my two cents.

Although MS has stated that they are aware of the "hole" and that Vista over Vista isn't adhering to the EULA, They also stated that FOR NOW, they don't intend to do anything about it.What happens in the near future remains to be seen.

 

[bigdaddy51]

www.vnunet.com for the latest of Vista over Vista

 

[bigdaddy51]

Originally posted by: bigdaddy51
www.vnunet.com for the latest of Vista over Vista

" People without a licensed copy of XP that use this workaround, are violating the terms of of the use agreed to when they purchased the upgrade version of Vista". So sayeth Microsoft.

 

[jcarson]

I have a full windows 2k winstall disk and number that is mine. I just wish that Microsoft could have a web key inquiry thing that would, instead of making you install the old OS, check your old KEY and log it into a database, then set your new Vista upgrade key to allow an install. That doesnt seem like a hard thing to do technically, but I guess anything like that would be a door for abuse..

Looks like its easier to do it the "vista over vista" way. Its too bad that copy protection crap is making it HARD for people that actually buy software to use it without jumping through hoops. 🙁

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am just trying to decide how best to upgrade from 2k.

 

[gwag]

Originally posted by: jcarson
but I guess anything like that would be a door for abuse..

No that would make sense and perhaps prevent abuse. Their greed has left a gaping whole for abuse and may cost them money, some people will just buy the upgrade now.(right or wrong)