Why is a Vista Upgrade install a clean install???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leadfoot
  • Start date Start date
L

Leadfoot

I've seen some posts saying an upgrade install is actually a clean install.
That your disk is wiped clean and then vista rebuilds everything including
your 3rd party programs and this is just as good as installing Vista on a
clean formatted hard drive.

Can someone explain this to me and the rest of the skeptics why this is so?
Please be detailed and thorough in your response.
 
It is related to the WinImage file format from which the Vista image is
extracted and laid down on your hard drive. Your files, settings, and apps
are copied to another part of the hard drive first and then only the area
where Windows is to be installed is wiped. The new image is laid down,
Windows is installed, drivers are installed, and then the files, settings,
and apps are reinstalled from the temporary area. It is in this sense that
the installation of Vista is always a "clean" installation of VISTA
regardless of whether you choose an Upgrade or Custom installation. The old
system files are not used in any way.
 
Thanks for explanation Colin - helped me.

It is related to the WinImage file format from which the Vista image is
extracted and laid down on your hard drive. Your files, settings, and apps
are copied to another part of the hard drive first and then only the area
where Windows is to be installed is wiped. The new image is laid down,
Windows is installed, drivers are installed, and then the files, settings,
and apps are reinstalled from the temporary area. It is in this sense that
the installation of Vista is always a "clean" installation of VISTA
regardless of whether you choose an Upgrade or Custom installation. The old
system files are not used in any way.
 
Colin:

I must install Promise hard drive controller drivers before installing
Windows in order for the entire hard drive to be used. I doubt that an
upgrade install would retain these drivers. Do you know whether they are
retained or must I always have to perform a clean install?
 
I've seen some posts saying an upgrade install is actually a clean
install. That your disk is wiped clean and then vista rebuilds everything
including your 3rd party programs and this is just as good as installing
Vista on a clean formatted hard drive.

Can someone explain this to me and the rest of the skeptics why this is
so? Please be detailed and thorough in your response.
Click to expand...

In addition to what Colin said, this is not the same as doing a custom
(clean install), then installing the apps clean. The installation of Vista
is the same but the apps are not being installed from their original media
via their own installers in the upgrade install, so there can be differences
and some apps don't work properly after the upgrade. So far the success
seems pretty good for apps that otherwise will work in Vista, but some that
will work when installed from their original media don't work from an
upgrade.
 
PapaJack said:
Colin:

I must install Promise hard drive controller drivers before installing
Windows in order for the entire hard drive to be used. I doubt that an
upgrade install would retain these drivers. Do you know whether they are
retained or must I always have to perform a clean install?
Click to expand...

When I did my upgrade, the Silicon Image ATA controller driver I had
previously installed continued to work as before.
Hope this helps
 
Colin Barnhorst said:
It is related to the WinImage file format from which the Vista image is
extracted and laid down on your hard drive. Your files, settings, and
apps are copied to another part of the hard drive first and then only the
area where Windows is to be installed is wiped. The new image is laid
down, Windows is installed, drivers are installed, and then the files,
settings, and apps are reinstalled from the temporary area. It is in this
sense that the installation of Vista is always a "clean" installation of
VISTA regardless of whether you choose an Upgrade or Custom installation.
The old system files are not used in any way.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call this a clean install. A different, possibly better method
to do an upgrade install? Sure

Is there a risk that the installation process might make a mistake?
Definitely. Does this method cut down on those mistakes. Probably

Other wise how do you explain the post with the title

"RC1 Media Center - Unable to Burn DVDs"

Posted 9/29/2006 12:17 at this newsgroup

I can probably find dozens more just like it in just this newsgroup alone if
I really wanted to look

If I was MS I'd give up on calling this a "clean install"
 
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