The upgrade horse may be gone, but ...

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Wilkinson
  • Start date Start date
D

David Wilkinson

It seems to me that the new rules for Vista upgrade versions are going
to create a huge mess. I understand the desire to prevent "borrowing" of
previous version CD's for qualifying purposes, but there must have been
a better way.

It may be too late, but wouldn't something like the following have been
much better:

1. The basic idea is to tie upgrade qualification to validation, not to
installation.

2. Only upgrades from XP would be allowed (at least by this method).

3. All Vista DVD's would be the same. Only the Product ID's for upgrade
versions would be different (just as MSDN product ID's are different).

4. The owner of an upgrade could install Vista in any way he/she
chooses, just as for a full version.

5. When the time comes for validation (for the first time using this
Product ID), the user would be asked to provide both the XP CD and its
Product ID. A warning would be issued that proceeding would invalidate
the XP Product ID, preventing validation or Windows Update for this copy
of XP in the future.

6. The Vista upgrade version is now the same as any full version that
has been previously validated. There is no need to ever provide the XP
CD or its Product ID again.

Wouldn't something like this have worked much better? A bit more work
for the Validation Server, but much less hassle for the user.

David Wilkinson
Visual C++ MVP
 
Wouldn't something like this have worked much better?

My list of things that could be better on vista, if written on a peice of
paper,
would go to the moon and back, and still have enough length to wrap 10 times
around the globe.
 
David Wilkinson said:
5. When the time comes for validation (for the first time using this
Product ID), the user would be asked to provide both the XP CD and its
Product ID. A warning would be issued that proceeding would invalidate the
XP Product ID, preventing validation or Windows Update for this copy of XP
in the future.
Click to expand...

What if you have to re-install? That's largely what this furor (OK "furor"
may be too strong a word) is about. The way it looks is that if you ever
have to re-install WinV, you'll need to install the qualifying version of
Windows, validate it, and then use the WinV upgrade disk on that. Not a very
pleasant prospect.
 
Then what happen in the case of a hard disk failure and you have to either
replace the hard drive or delete the partitions on the hard drive and
reformat the drive. You cannot install the original XP and activate it,
since it has been invalidated, which means that you no longer have a
qualifying OS to reinstall Vista.

I would not sacrifice a legitimate full copy of XP for a crippled version of
Vista and I think there are many people here who would agree with that.
 
Please, let's not start yet another thread on this until someone has
substantive info from MS to share.
 
Opinicus said:
What if you have to re-install? That's largely what this furor (OK "furor"
may be too strong a word) is about. The way it looks is that if you ever
have to re-install WinV, you'll need to install the qualifying version of
Windows, validate it, and then use the WinV upgrade disk on that. Not a very
pleasant prospect.
Click to expand...

Opinicus:

That is why I am suggesting a different way it could have been done, or
maybe even still could be done. Microsoft has a whole database of XP and
Vista activations that could be used to avoid having to make the
upgrader jump through hoops.

Maybe some people do not like activation, WGA, SPP and all that, but
these technologies could be used to facilitate the physical process of
upgrading and reinstalling. Why have both these technolgies and an
inconvenient process?

When we complained enough about the change in the full retail license,
it was changed back to the way it was with XP (unlimited transfers to
new machines after removing from the old machine).

David Wilkinson
 
William said:
Then what happen in the case of a hard disk failure and you have to
either replace the hard drive or delete the partitions on the hard drive
and reformat the drive. You cannot install the original XP and activate
it, since it has been invalidated, which means that you no longer have a
qualifying OS to reinstall Vista.

I would not sacrifice a legitimate full copy of XP for a crippled
version of Vista and I think there are many people here who would agree
with that.
Click to expand...

William:

Read my post. I am suggesting that tying the upgrade to activation
rather than installation REMOVES THE NECESSITY of having XP installed
previously. Both for original Vista installation and reinstallation.
Once the Vista product ID has been activated once, it can become like a
full version, because the upgrade qualification has been already
recorded in the MS database.

The present upgrade process (as much as we understand it) invalidates
the XP license also. This was always true for upgrades.

David Wilkinson
Visual C++ MVP
 
Colin said:
Please, let's not start yet another thread on this until someone has
substantive info from MS to share.
Click to expand...

Colin:

Then let's hear it. How difficult can this be? If we are not hearing it
because MS is realizing that the announced plan is unworkable, then why
not suggest alternatives?

Mine is a specific proposal for how it could be done differently.

Personally I do not care, because I would never purchase an upgrade
under anything resembling the proposed rules. Or perhaps ever.

David Wilkinson
Visual C++ MVP
 
I have emails out but keep in mind that they just came off of a long-weekend
in Redmond. I have already gotten a preliminary response from my MVP lead
this morning, as follows:

Hi Colin,

Sure, let me track down someone who would know more about this and I'll see
what I can find for you.

(signed)
 
Good luck. If the people who designed the setup have read comments on this
site, they're hiding.
 
They either haven't or are just getting back into harness after the long
weekend. Give them time to go get the coffee and start reading.
 
Back
Top