Vista not letting me upgrade from XP

[fustercluck]

Heyas, I'm trying to install Vista ultimate and was glad to see there was an "Upgrade" option where I could install vista but still keep all my program/file settings from my previous install of XP (SP2). That was an obvious choice for me, since it's a big hassle having to reinstall all my programs. HowevA, when I got the part of the install where I could choose between fresh install and an upgrade, it said "Upgrade has been disabled" and gave no reason why. I'll probably end up doing a fresh install of Vista anyhow, but would like to try the upgrade install if I could. Why's it restricting me from doing the "Upgrade" option? Maybe because I didn't enter a CD key right away? Thanks.

 

[Aberforth]

Make sure you are in Administrative mode during upgrade. Uninstall Anti-virus, Anti-spyware and other system modifying programs, services, drivers etc make it more compatible etc for example xp drivers are not needed so remove those and try again. Run Windows Upgrade advisor ( https://www.microsoft.com/wind...deadvisor/default.mspx )

 

[Scotteq]

The Ultimate package comes with TWO Discs - one for x86, and the other for x64. If you are trying to install Vista x64, then you may not 'Upgrade'. It is a clean install only.


Please note - If you install over it your old OS, then Vista will detect the previous installation (XP), will create a folder called "Windows Old", and will put your data/programs in that. You wont' be able to run any programs from there, but your data should be preserved.

 

[Ryland]

It would also be disabled if you have less that 15gig free on the destination drive.

 

[RebateMonger]

Did you run the Vista DVD while running XP, or did you boot from the DVD? If you boot from the DVD, you can't upgrade.

 

[Trashman]

If you boot from the DVD, you can't upgrade.

thought there was/is a way around that?

 

[fustercluck]

Can't do the upgrade thing from WinXP Pro SP2 to Vista ultimate x64 eh? Ok, thanks. I was able to boot into XP all of a sudden anyways, so I'm going to stick with this since it remember all my program settings and such. Vista is still installed on the same drive though, can I get rid of it or just better to leave it alone?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Scotteq
The Ultimate package comes with TWO Discs - one for x86, and the other for x64. If you are trying to install Vista x64, then you may not 'Upgrade'. It is a clean install only.


Please note - If you install over it your old OS, then Vista will detect the previous installation (XP), will create a folder called "Windows Old", and will put your data/programs in that. You wont' be able to run any programs from there, but your data should be preserved.

There isn't any in-place upgrade to Vista that keeps your documents and programs installed? That's news to me. I thought it said on the Vista upgrade retail box that it would do an in-place upgrade for XP SP2 systems.

 

[Aberforth]

Vista supports in-place upgrade: http://www.computerworld.com/a...8&pageNumber=2#options