Another Vista Upgrade Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alfred Kaufmann
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Alfred Kaufmann

I am running windows xp pro and I realize that if I go the upgrade route and
want a clean install I would have to install windows xp pro first every
time. However right now I am running a 32bit system and in the future I
want to go with the 64bit Vista operating system. If I choose to upgrade to
the Vista 32bit now will I be forever stuck in 32bit mode? Right now I am
still not comfortable that I can get all the 64bit drivers.

Al
 
Alfred said:
I am running windows xp pro and I realize that if I go the upgrade route and
want a clean install I would have to install windows xp pro first every
time. However right now I am running a 32bit system and in the future I
want to go with the 64bit Vista operating system. If I choose to upgrade to
the Vista 32bit now will I be forever stuck in 32bit mode? Right now I am
still not comfortable that I can get all the 64bit drivers.

Al
Click to expand...

I can't answer your 32/64bit question but I have a suggestion for your
premise. After you have your basic Visa install, make an image backup
either on another drive (if you have one) or on to DVDs (preferred) or
CDs. Then, whenever you want to reinstall for whatever reason, you
start from your image rather than having to reinstall XP first. Should
save alot of time and energy.
 
Al

You will be stuck in the 32 bit mode until you upgrade your computer with a 64 bit capable CPU(Mother Board) and hardware. Then you can install the 64 bit.

But if your present system is not 64 Bit capable then you cannot use the 64 bit Vista. You are stuck with the 32 bit install only
 
To the first part of your question, if you go the upgrade route, no you do
not have to install your previous version first. Upon installation it will
ask that you insert your cd from your previous version so that it confirm
you had one. Once confirmed it will allow you to install the new one. At
least that is how it has worked in the past.
 
cdv said:
To the first part of your question, if you go the upgrade route, no you do
not have to install your previous version first. Upon installation it will
ask that you insert your cd from your previous version so that it confirm
you had one. Once confirmed it will allow you to install the new one. At
least that is how it has worked in the past.
Click to expand...

But that's not how it works in the future. Not with Vista anyhow.
 
cdv said:
To the first part of your question, if you go the upgrade route, no you do
not have to install your previous version first. Upon installation it will
ask that you insert your cd from your previous version so that it confirm
you had one. Once confirmed it will allow you to install the new one. At
least that is how it has worked in the past.
Click to expand...

The last 3 words in your post are the key. That was how the XP upgrades
worked. From everything I have read, that is no longer the case and a
full install of XP (or whatever) is required to upgrade. That is what
all of the noise is about, as this will make many very unhappy.
 
You guys are right that will be a big pain. I know I perform a clean install
at least once a year if not more just to get rid of the garbage and keep my
computer running in an optimum state.
 
Nope. This is not how Vista does it.

And with all the excellent upgrade posts here, including Colin Barnhorst's I
haven't seen this little issue raised. Suppose that you cannot use Win RE's
major components to repair Vista which would be Startup Repair, System
Restore *from Win RE which I find superior to SR using the Volume Shadow
system adapted from the Windows Server environment, restoring the boot
sector using the bootsect /nt52 SYS from the Windows Recovery Environment
discussed in the MSKB directly below

How to troubleshoot scenarios in which the rollback phase was unsuccessful
after you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927523/en-us

and something that has not been mentioned that I can tell to date on this
group or much in the TBT groups:

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to
troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us

Startup Repair can also be used when there is not a problem booting into
Windows Vista and when it works which is not all the time (you should repeat
2-3 times if it does not) fix major broken Vista components:

A Stop error occurs, or the computer stops responding when you try to start
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

So suppose all these repair modalities used correctly and I emphasize there
are a minority of times when Startup Repair may need to be tried, i.e.
repeated 2-3 times until it works, and you have this scnario mentioned by
George Ou on his ZDNET blog this morning (January 29, 2007) in my time zone:

(I would think you could avoid a lot of "Geek Squad" money by the way by
simply searching this group, the setup group and the other MSFT Vista public
groups using View>Find):

From George Ou and a point that has not been raised that I can tell on this
group or the setup group and certainly has not been touched by Jill Zoeller
or Darrel Gorter who occasionally particpate here from MSFT:

From:
January 29th, 2007
Vista Upgrade Edition is lame by design

by George Ou

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=414&tag=nl.e589


"These new Vista Upgrade DVDs which I'm assuming have already been stamped
out will lack the ability to install on a system unless Windows XP or 2000
was present. This means anyone looking to do a fresh install for any reason
will not be able to. Someone who is doing disaster recovery after a hard
drive failure or a virus infection won't be able to wipe their hard drive
and install Vista, they'll have to install XP first and then install Vista
on top of XP. That could easily mean nearly an hour wasted. If you're
paying someone to rebuild your computer, this will mean an extra hour of
labor that will be billed to you for the installation of Windows XP. Will
Microsoft pick up the extra hour tab from Geek Squad for everyone?"


MSFT's current MSKB covering Upgrades and leaving much out:

How to install Windows Vista (See upgrade section of this MSKB)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884/en-us

MSFT's Current Upgrade to Vista Page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradepaths.mspx

Extreme Tech's article on Vista Upgrades:

Upgrade From Windows XP to Vista

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2082979,00.asp

What's the real story with Vista upgrades?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=189

Vista Upgrade Edition is lame by design

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=414&tag=nl.e589

CH
 
My present system is fully 64bit capable but when I built it I installed the
32bit XP Pro system tio avoid any problems.

Al


Al

You will be stuck in the 32 bit mode until you upgrade your computer with a
64 bit capable CPU(Mother Board) and hardware. Then you can install the 64
bit.

But if your present system is not 64 Bit capable then you cannot use the 64
bit Vista. You are stuck with the 32 bit install only
 
CybrGuy said:
I can't answer your 32/64bit question but I have a suggestion for your
premise. After you have your basic Visa install, make an image backup
either on another drive (if you have one) or on to DVDs (preferred) or
CDs. Then, whenever you want to reinstall for whatever reason, you start
from your image rather than having to reinstall XP first. Should save
alot of time and energy.
Click to expand...

Yes I can easily do that just pull out one drive from my mirrored Raid
system will do it the trick. :-) However I really wish that somone here
could answer my question. If I need to upgrade to 64bit right from the
start I will make sure I can get all the drivers I need before doing the
64bit Vista upgrade.

Al
 
You guys are right that will be a big pain. I know I perform a clean
install at least once a year if not more just to get rid of the garbage
and keep my computer running in an optimum state.
Click to expand...

Why did you reinstall XP that often? If properly maintained with the right
tools, that's not needed.
 
During the course of a year I will install new programs, remove some
programs, and update existing ones including XP, etc I notice that the
machine becomes slower and sluggish. When I notice performance sliding I do
the usual stuff like defrag and remove unecessary files but when
performance becomes unbearable I will make sure that my files are backed
up, reformat the drive and reinstall the operating system with the latest
updates reinstall my rpograms and everything runs better than ever. Kind of
like spring cleaning.
 
No. Be sure to request an x64 dvd ($9.95 shipping) if you are not buying
Ultimate (it is include in the Ult. eds). Put it away until you decide to
switch. When you are ready, reinstall XP and activate it, then boot the
computer with the x64 dvd, enter the same product key you used for the x86
version, and proceed. You do not have to buy x64 separately. It is
included in the initial price but you may have to request the x64 dvd be
mailed to you.
 
NOT TRUE.

Al

You will be stuck in the 32 bit mode until you upgrade your computer with a
64 bit capable CPU(Mother Board) and hardware. Then you can install the 64
bit.

But if your present system is not 64 Bit capable then you cannot use the 64
bit Vista. You are stuck with the 32 bit install only
 
During the course of a year I will install new programs, remove some
programs, and update existing ones including XP, etc I notice that the
machine becomes slower and sluggish. When I notice performance sliding I
do the usual stuff like defrag and remove unecessary files but when
performance becomes unbearable I will make sure that my files are backed
up, reformat the drive and reinstall the operating system with the latest
updates reinstall my rpograms and everything runs better than ever. Kind
of like spring cleaning.
Click to expand...

Look at investing in a drive imaging program such as Acronis True Image.
Imaging to an external drive prior to software installs, and good
maintenance obviate the need to reinstall periodically. This installion I'm
replying on is running Vista Ultimate RTM in a dual boot with XP Pro. I
used it during the TechBeta for Vista doing numerous installs. The system
is almost 5 years old and hasn't needed a reinstall of XP.
 
Colin

You mean to tell me that if someone has a 32bit system they are capable of installing a 64bit OS?
 
No, I meant even if he has a 32 bit system he is not stuck in the 32 bit
world because he can obtain the 64bit dvd and store it until he has 64bit
capability. I don't recall why I reacted to your post. I think I had the
wrong post highlighted. Sorry about that.

Colin

You mean to tell me that if someone has a 32bit system they are capable of
installing a 64bit OS?
 
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