Upgrade edition VS Full edition

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bobby
  • Start date Start date
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Bobby

I just wonder if the upgrade edition DVD and full edition DVD are identical.
That is, only the product-key tells the difference.
Right after enter a product-key, if it is a upgrade key, then setup will
proceed only if an activated XP is found.

Or both disc are different, upgrade edition just not bootable ???
 
it should be bootable and during a fresh install it will ask you for your
windows xp install disc to verify that you do own windows xp. then it will
go back to installing vista.

-jeff
 
Jeff said:
it should be bootable and during a fresh install it will ask you for
your windows xp install disc to verify that you do own windows xp.
then it will go back to installing vista.
Click to expand...


All indications so far suggest that the DVD will be bootable, but the
ONLY way to install with an upgrade disc is if you run it from an
installed and activated Windows OS on your computer. The old method of
using a CD to verify media will not be an option.

You can still do something similar to a clean install of Vista, but
the old copy of Windows and all folders and files will be left on the
drive in a new folder called "Windows.old", which can be safely
deleted once you copy over any files you want to keep.
 
I take it this means that if I am running nothing but a Vista RC 1
installation presently that it will not be possible to install the release
version from an upgrade DVD without first reinstalling and activating XP?
 
The Upgrade Edition is bootable, but you cannot install Windows with a UE
product key. When you enter it you will be instructed to reboot into your
legacy OS and run Setup from there. Vista UEs do not request shiny media.
Either your running OS qualifies you or you must use a full edition to
install.
 
so i can still use Upgrade edition DVD to install Vista on a blank hard disk
if I choose not to enter a Product-code, and just want to test the Vista for
30 days, right?
 
Correct. It is the product key that turns the dvd into an Upgrade Edition.
However, don't try it with a volume license dvd. Darrell Gorter (MSFT) told
us a couple of weeks ago that those dvd's are not bootable. He didn't say
why.
 
Hmm, so if you buy a vista upgrade and install it over the top of XP you are
ok? then if your HDD craps out and is replaced, you will need to install XP
and then Vista?
 
Hmm, so if you buy a vista upgrade and install it over the top of XP you
are ok? then if your HDD craps out and is replaced, you will need to
install XP and then Vista?
Click to expand...

Yes, the upgrade has to be run from within an XP installation so XP would
need to be reinstalled first. Better yet is to use a drive imaging program
to keep a current image of the drive stored on a usb external drive.
Currently Acronis True Image v. 10 works fine with Vista.
 
Can you upgrade to Vista from a working OEM XP system?
Yes. Most XP systems are OEM since 95% of XP is sold preinstalled by
OEM's.
Click to expand...

Oh? I understood that if you have OEM XP on your system, you have to buy the
full (non-upgrade) version of Vista, and that the upgrade version of Vista
will only install on a non-OEM copy of XP.

My recently-purchased Dell system came with OEM XP pre-installed and a
Dell-badged re-installation CD. I also own an upgrade copy of XP, which I
installed on an old machine that previously had ME on it (that machine now
has Linux on it). I was thinking that I had to wipe my Dell clean, then
install my upgrade XP (showing it my ME CD in the process, since I was using
an upgrade XP) and then install upgrade Vista on top of that. But if I
understand you correctly, I don't have to - I can just put upgrade Vista on
top of the OEM XP!?

PS: are the permutations of what you can and can't do regarding
OEM/upgrade/full versions of XP/Vista explained in a MS KB somewhere?
 
Who told you that? Any Windows can be upgraded with an upgrade edition.
That has always been true.

You cannot use legacy shiny media when upgrading to Vista. That has
changed. You must run the Upgrade Edition setup.exe from the desktop of the
legacy system. This is a change from earlier versions of Windows upgrade
editions.

You start the computer and when the desktop has loaded you insert the dvd
and select Install from the splash screen. Vista Upgrade Edition product
keys do not support installing by booting with the dvd. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=928432&SD=tech

Right now the best source of Vista info is the Windows Vista Product Guide.
See:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...bf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en
 
Who told you that? Any Windows can be upgraded with an upgrade
edition. That has always been true.
Click to expand...

Nobody told me! I just assumed (my ignorance) that OEM versions were very
restrictive and not upgradable - i.e. only full versions of newer OSs could
be installed on them.
You cannot use legacy shiny media when upgrading to Vista. That has
changed. You must run the Upgrade Edition setup.exe from the desktop
of the legacy system. This is a change from earlier versions of
Windows upgrade editions.
Click to expand...

But will this still install a *clean* OS on a formatted HD? I want to be
able to start from scratch and re-install all my apps.
You start the computer and when the desktop has loaded you insert the
dvd and select Install from the splash screen. Vista Upgrade Edition
product keys do not support installing by booting with the dvd. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=928432&SD=tech
Click to expand...

Thanks - I've just looked at this KB and have posted a query on it in the
thread above, where xfile first highlighted it. This KB says that "the
upgrade option is unavailable" - fine, but which option(s) *is/are*
available?
Right now the best source of Vista info is the Windows Vista Product
Guide. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...bf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en
Click to expand...

Many thanks - I shall look at this at my leisure.
 
Understandable. The restrictions on OEM copies is what you can do WITH
them, not what you can do TO them.

You cannot transfer an OEM license to another computer.

You can upgrade an OEM copy of Windows to any version of Windows that
supports the upgrade.

To "wipe the hard drive" you would need to install to a different partition
or drive which you had already prepared. Windows does not let you format
the partition from which Windows is currently running. Since you have to
start the upgrade from the legacy system desktop I don't see how you could
also wipe the currently active partition.

When the upgrade option is not available you must use the custom option.
There is no "clean" install option. Whether or not you can wipe the target
drive depends on whether the Advanced Options are available during the
gathering information portion of Setup.

So far, I have not had access to an upgrade edition product key to verify
when the Advanced Options can be used. I did not see them when I started
Setup from my desktop using a full edition, but perhaps another of the
regulars has and can correct me. Format is an option under the Advanced
Options.
 
Thanks Colin. From reading the many posts on this NG this evening, I think
that I shall end up getting the full version so that I can boot from it and
install it clean, with Advanced Options / Format.
 
Colin;

If a person and would like to get the upgrade or full version of Vista
and has a Gateway or Dell computer, would you recommend that they obtain
obtain their copy of Vista from the computer manufacturer?
 
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