clean install of vista with an upgrade dvd?

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I purchased a downloaded copy of vista today, and was having some issues with
installation process. After the 1st restart it would come to what I would
assume is the Vista Logo screen sans the Vista Logo, and then it would just
stay there. I would then restart the PC, and boot into the previous version
of Windows, which in my case is XP Media Center Edition. After some browsing
of the boards here, I have seen many posts regarding the clean install of
Vista with only the upgrade version. Am I correct in understanding that all
I have to do is skip the activation key page, and choose clean install? I
have also seen a few posts that state you have to go back and do a upgrade
over the clean install for the activation key to work. Is this true? I have
gone back and updated all of my drivers to Vista compatible ones (the ones
that will let me do it with XP installed anyway) and uninstall Norton 360
(which I can't figure out how to disable), and then try the upgrade path to
see if that works first, but if I have to I would like to try the clean
install if its possible. Thanks for your input,
Todd
 
Todd Marks said:
I purchased a downloaded copy of vista today, and was having some issues
with
installation process. After the 1st restart it would come to what I would
assume is the Vista Logo screen sans the Vista Logo, and then it would
just
stay there. I would then restart the PC, and boot into the previous
version
of Windows, which in my case is XP Media Center Edition. After some
browsing
of the boards here, I have seen many posts regarding the clean install of
Vista with only the upgrade version. Am I correct in understanding that
all
I have to do is skip the activation key page, and choose clean install? I
have also seen a few posts that state you have to go back and do a upgrade
over the clean install for the activation key to work. Is this true? I
have
gone back and updated all of my drivers to Vista compatible ones (the ones
that will let me do it with XP installed anyway) and uninstall Norton 360
(which I can't figure out how to disable), and then try the upgrade path
to
see if that works first, but if I have to I would like to try the clean
install if its possible. Thanks for your input,
Click to expand...

See this article for a how to.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
 
I haven't tried it personally, but it appears that it can be done the way
you describe.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Todd said:
...try the upgrade path to
see if that works first, but if I have to I would like to try the clean
install if its possible...
Click to expand...

Based on my reading in this group I would urge you to reverse that order
and try a clean install first, just to make sure you and your machine
are both happy with Vista. (Upgrading is fraught with unpredictable
perils at this early stage.)
 
Problem is Don he needs a full version of Vista for that. Using the upgrade
option for a clean install relies upon a little trickery where Vista is
concerned. I could say 'confusion' but then Vista is already confused, so
I'll stick to trickery. Under normal circumstances you cannot do a clean
install from an upgrade DVD simply by running the DVD at startup.
But, yes I agree with you, a clean install is far better than an upgrade.
But, as many people are either not able to afford or unwilling to pay the
extra cost for a full retail version of the product, then an upgrade is
their only option.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
John said:
Problem is Don he needs a full version of Vista for that. Using the
upgrade option for a clean install relies upon a little trickery where
Vista is concerned. I could say 'confusion' but then Vista is already
confused, so I'll stick to trickery. Under normal circumstances you
cannot do a clean install from an upgrade DVD simply by running the DVD
at startup.
But, yes I agree with you, a clean install is far better than an
upgrade. But, as many people are either not able to afford or unwilling
to pay the extra cost for a full retail version of the product, then an
upgrade is their only option.
Click to expand...

What I was thinking (but neglected to write) is to do a clean install
without entering a product key, which will allow Todd to use Vista for
30 days legally while deciding if it works on his machine. (Yes, that
was a big mouthful that I left unsaid ;o)
 
Yes, that is what I was thinking. Then you just use the upgrade feature over
that, and the activation key will then be valid.
 
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