Richard,
You're comments and input are always appreciated.
My preference like yours is for a clean install.
Not every home user has the ability, desire, intent, or funds to pay someone to do work on an OEM unit with an existing qualifying o/s. Upgrades for many are the only route. Actual sales numbers of upgrades vs. full retail versions of Vista are unclear since official data is based on licenses instead of full vs upgrade. Even without that information one would be making a less than uneducated guess to suggest that full versions outrank upgrades(demographically or on a global scale) or that a clean install was the predominant route of all successful installations. Does a clean install have its advantages, certainly; is it the norm..I doubt it.
We can all hypothesize why Msft left the back door clean install approach for upgrade versions...though one would be hard pressed to convince any of us that a primary reason was for all Vista upgrade versions to follow that non-Msft-documented approach to effect a successful Vista installation.
...winston
:A fact.
:
: I have installed Vista on over 150 computers for different customers since
: November. They range from a new computer build to computers that are 4-5
: years old. Each install has been a clean install. I do not deal in upgrades.
: I have had exactly one (1) problem and that was due to a faulty hard drive.
: A new drive easily corrected the problem.
:
: Of course, I do evaluate the computer for competency and compatibility. I
: have denied more than a few people my services due to sub-standard
: equipment.
:
: --
:
:
: Regards,
:
: Richard Urban
: Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
: (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
:
:
:
: : "Convencing" you is not relevant.
: Informing others with correct information is.
: Upgrades rarely fail due to xp or Vista, but hardware, drivers, and
: software not being compatible with the intended new o/s which when present a
: clean install may offer no more and in many cases even less chance of
: success.
:
: Clean installs are the preference of many...though wiping a machine may not
: be practical and in everyone's best interest due to the unfortunate and
: predominant oem market that provides software without media for
: reinstallation.
:
: Its easy to spout about what one should do and question peoples lack of
: sense..just as understanding the bigger picture allows one to pull their
: head out a hole and provide better advice.
: ...winston
:
: ::
:: :: Many have successfully installed Vista as an upgrade(the way its designed
: to
:: be installed when an upgrade version is purchased).
::
:: -------
::
:: And there have many who have not successfully installed Vista as an
: upgrade.
::
:: To echo another thread "Why post incorrect, misleading answers to the
:: forum???
::
:: -----
::
:: The information is not incorrect, if you would pull your head out from
:: whatever holes you have it buried.
::
:: To echo my experience about my usage of an upgrade of a Windows O/S over
: an
:: existing one is nothing but pure trouble. And I have been working with
: the
:: MS O/S(s), since 1996, professionally. And if one has got any sense, he or
:: she should just wipe the machine out and lay down the O/S fresh.
::
:: The OP can do what he or she wants to do, but I have seen too many posts
:: about I have upgraded over the top of XP and I got troubles. You can't
:: convence me otherwise.
::
::
::
::
: