Vista OEM - will it install as an upgrade.

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kda

Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:

If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
Retail License (yes the expensive one)?

I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.

Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
is there a WMVP that would know?

Thanks.
 
Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a factual
answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type answers that
seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:

If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will I be
able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full Retail
License (yes the expensive one)?

I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I do
not really want to have to set everything up all over again.

Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or is there a
WMVP that would know?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


MOST windows products do install as an upgrade. You start your system, and
then insert the disc in your DVD drive, select Install or Upgrade and
follow the screens.

But, if the OEM is tied to a certain manufacturer, it may not install on
your system! I was working at one place and got a bunch of copies of WIN2K
for Dell systems. They were linked to install on a machine with a Dell
BIOS only. Make sure before you shell out $$$ that it will install on your
machine...
 
The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:

If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
Retail License (yes the expensive one)?

I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.

Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
is there a WMVP that would know?

Thanks.
 
Carey,

Totally and utterly incorrect. I have just done exactly this to a system I
recently built.

The full OEM disk can be used to upgrade an existing XP set up
 
You have a Vista generic OEM disk, Stu? I don't know of anyone that does as
it has not been released yet.

The current understanding of generic OEM full version disks is that they can
only be used for a clean install to a formatted disk. In the case of XP, one
could do a repair install to an existing system with an OEM disk, but not
use it to upgrade from Win2000, NT4, Win98, or WinME.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
OEM versions come in 1 version only, either X86 or x64, and are designed for
a clean install on a new computer. I would wait to see the results from
those purchasing it at retail stores in your country before committing to a
purchase.
 
Stu

So far, it has been possible to upgrade over the top of an OEM installation,
but never been possible to upgrade during an OEM installation.. it will be
interesting to see how right you are?
 
Also the OEM or System Builder versions are tied to a single system
installation (Single MOBO) just like the systems that you now buy from the
computer manufacturers so unless you are not planning to replace the MOBO at
any time in the futue they are certainly a good value.
I have only seen 32bit versions available so far at Newegg.com. Also I
suggest that you read the license restrictions which are at Newegg.com
before purchasing a system builder version.
 
Agreed, but add 'can' be a good value to a computer savvy person. With no
support from Microsoft, it may result in more lost time than the difference
in cost.
 
I bought oem ultimate version from newegg and upgraded my windowsxp without
any incident.
I did not feel like waiting a month for my free dellvista upgrade to arrive.
 
Were you able to upgade your XP installation with all files, settings etc
intact? Or did you just install the OEM version as a new installation which
I think is what is designed to do.
 
I upgraded my xp installataion. Only hitch was that my roxio media creator 9
expired for some reason. I had to uninstLL AND REINSTALL. No problems now at
all.
 
Carey Frisch said:
The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
Click to expand...

.... but PC Magazine writes:

"Microsoft Answers 'Vista OEM' Questions - 01.29.07 [...]
The OEM version of the Vista versions lacks a manual, but includes a "Quick
Start" installation guide, Brown said. The Vista OEM versions will allow a
user either to do a fresh installation, or to upgrade their previous Windows
XP installation, she said."

Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087792,00.asp

Now is that right?
 
Carey Frisch said:
The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
Click to expand...

... but PC Magazine writes:

"Microsoft Answers 'Vista OEM' Questions - 01.29.07 [...]
The OEM version of the Vista versions lacks a manual, but includes a "Quick
Start" installation guide, Brown said. The Vista OEM versions will allow a
user either to do a fresh installation, or to upgrade their previous Windows
XP installation, she said."

Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087792,00.asp

Now is that right?
Click to expand...

It sounds like a mistake; it does not make sense to upgrade a newly
built machine from XP. Anyone actually try it?

Al
 
Alfred Kaufmann said:
Carey Frisch said:
The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
Click to expand...

... but PC Magazine writes:
"Microsoft Answers 'Vista OEM' Questions - 01.29.07 [...]
The OEM version of the Vista versions lacks a manual, but includes a "Quick
Start" installation guide, Brown said. The Vista OEM versions will allow a
user either to do a fresh installation, or to upgrade their previous Windows
XP installation, she said."
Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087792,00.asp
Now is that right?
Click to expand...

It sounds like a mistake; it does not make sense to upgrade a newly
built machine from XP. Anyone actually try it?
Al
Click to expand...

Someone here tried it successfully (read the other threads). Reason: Often
it is not possible to do a "clean install", e.g. when there was important
software included when buying a computer, which can only be restored via
recovery discs together with the old operating system!
 
Rainer said:
Carey Frisch said:
The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
Click to expand...

... but PC Magazine writes:

"Microsoft Answers 'Vista OEM' Questions - 01.29.07 [...]
The OEM version of the Vista versions lacks a manual, but includes a
"Quick
Start" installation guide, Brown said. The Vista OEM versions will allow a
user either to do a fresh installation, or to upgrade their previous
Windows
XP installation, she said."

Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2087792,00.asp

Now is that right?
Click to expand...

I just installed Vista using a System Builder Kit I purchased from the local
computer shop. This is a "Full OEM", branded by Microsoft only. The option
to upgrade was grayed-out. Personally, I would rather do a "clean" install
anyway. The "clean install" went without a hitch, in less than 30 minutes,
including the time needed to format the HD (260Gig). Considering that EVERY
XP installation I ever performed took a MINIMUM of an hour (including
formatting the HD), a "clean" install of Vista is the BEST way to do it,
especially if one has limited time.
 
Hi Donald,

Which version of Vista did you install? Also who supports the OEM
versions of Vista, Microsoft? Does anyone know, if the OEM version of Vista
will be receiving the Hotfixes for Vista?
 
thecreator said:
Hi Donald,

Which version of Vista did you install? Also who supports the OEM
versions of Vista, Microsoft? Does anyone know, if the OEM version of
Vista will be receiving the Hotfixes for Vista?
Click to expand...
As with all previous OEM editions, Microsoft supplies no support for OEM
products, other than the initial installation, and "peer support" through
their newsgroups.

Microsoft says that OEM support is provided by the OEM, whomever that may
be. If THEY won't support it, you will have to provide the support
yourself, or pay Microsoft for it (at $35 per incident).

If you built your machine, YOU provide the support, since YOU are the OEM.

ALL valid installations of Vista will receive public hotfix support through
Windows Update. Specialized hotfixes will be provided by Microsoft on a
case-by-case basis.
 
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