YOU CAN DO A CLEAN INSTALL FROM AN UPGRADE VERSION

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrMikeH
  • Start date Start date
Can you upgrade from an upgrade of Windows XP? Maybe, but you would be forced
to install every version you upgraded from prior to the installation... Very
lengthy process.
 
I know you can't do a clean install from the DVD (can't boot from DVD), but
from what I have heard, and what seems to be indicated on the MS website
(method 1 in the KB article), is that you can start it from within an
existing valid XP installation and you will have the option of installing it
on another partition without wiping out your XP installation. Maybe we will
have to wait and see until someone tries it after the release date. Just
doesn't seem logical that they would force you to wipeout your XP
installation just to upgrade to Vista. It's never worked that way before.
That would be extremely greedy of them considering the $ they are charging
for the full versions. That would force many cautious users to buy full
licenses just to be safe or in most cases would cause them just to stay with
XP.
 
Yes.

You might have to use a Win98 cd or something to reinstall the XP, but as
long as a genuine copy of XP is installed and activated that is all you need
to install an upgrade edtion of Vista.
 
A link please? There was a reference to that on Get Ready some time ago,
but the upgrade matrix page has been heavily edited recently and there is no
longer any such reference. I wondered at the time why it said that and
thought then that it might be an error. It does not make sense for an
upgrade edition to allow anything other than an upgrade of the OS that
qualifies you for the upgrade edition purchase. Anything else would set up
an improperly licensed dual boot.
 
Michael, when MS talks about a clean install they do not mean an install preceded by a reformat. They use clean install but in Setup there is no option called "clean install." It is called "custom install." The only difference between a custom install and an upgrade install is whether or not your files, settings, and apps are retained or rolled into a windows.old folder. MS considers that a "clean" install.
Straight from the horse's mouth:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
 
All,

I just received my Action Pack update, which has an Upgrade version of Vista
Business. I'm trying to install it on my Vista ready notebook. And yes,
I've run into exactly what you're talking about here. I tried to boot off
the disc and install and I was told I couldn't since it's an upgrade disc.
So I booted into XP and am doing the upgrade that way. What I don't like
about what I see is I always like to do a fresh install, and I can't. Even
though I've selected to do a "Clean Install", I like to blow away the
partition and then do a clean install that way. Read: very clean install.
Also, my notebook came with the HD partitioned, which I don't like. I was
planning on deleting the partition and having 1 large drive. That doesn't
seem possible with the upgrade CD. The crazy thing is that at the bottom of
the screen, where it's asking where do I want to install Windows, it tells
me "to make changes to partitions, restart Windows from the installation
disc". But since it's an upgrade disc, that wouldn't do any good, right?

Andre
 
Upgrade disks, at least retail ones, are supposed to allow booting to
perform repair functions. You also may find that the Disk Management
program will allow you to delete the unwanted partition and expand your
Vista partition.
 
Did you select "Custom Installation"?
From there you can delete the partitions and install from there.
 
I did do a custom install, but there are no options to delete a partition.
I only get an option to select which partition I want to install Vista on.
I just restarted the install to see if I missed something and if there is an
option to delete a partition, I sure don't see it. I tried right-clicking
on the partition and nothing happens. Maybe I'm blind? The only option for
a partition it offers is this "To make changes to a partition, restart
Windows from the installation disc". Silly, since this is an upgrade disc
and restarting from the installation disc doesn't do any good...

Andre
 
Not if you start Setup from the desktop. The tools are under the Advanced
Options and the Advanced Options only appear when you boot with the dvd.
 
You are absolutely correct! Jupiter forgot that you started Setup from the
desktop. The tools he refers to are only available if you boot with the
dvd. That means that you cannot delete and create partitions or format them
from Setup if Setup is running from the legacy desktop. If you use an
upgrade edition of Vista x86 you will not be able to do any of these things.

The reason is not unique to Vista. You can never change the partitions or
fomat the system volume when the system you are upgrading is running. When
the system is running, the system volume is locked. Since you are talking
about an upgrade naturally the upgrade is going to be perfomed on the system
volume so there is no way to run Vista from the desktop of the system you
are about to upgrade and format its system drive.

It is a little different with the x64 upgrade editions.
 
You can go into the install disk, do a shift/F10 and at the command prompt
you can do some functions with diskpart.
Not sure what you gain in your situation.
 
You should at least be able to delete the partition you want to delete. Not
sure why you can't just as easily do this in Disk Management after the
install. Do diskpart /? from the command prompt to get your commands and
formats.
 
By "clean" install, I was referring to the ability to install to a different partition than your XP install. In other words, if you buy an upgrade version, can you install it to a pre-existing empty partition as long as you start the install from within an existing XP partition on the same machine?

Can anyone who has done an upgrade answer that?
 
Back
Top