Install Vista from an upgrade version...

Found this info on a site and thought I'd pass it to you lot!

For example, when performing a clean install of Windows XP Professional using an upgrade CD, users would run through the normal setup routine until prompted to insert a previous version of Windows. A user could pop in a Windows 98 or Windows 2000 CD for upgrade compliance and then the setup routine would move along as usual.

Microsoft has cut out this process for Windows Vista and forces users who buy an upgrade CD to actually have a valid install of Windows XP Home or Professional on their machines before upgrading.

Click here to read the full article!

Yes - sorry - it does go to my site! (Plug plug!!)

[Nikesh]

In that case, I won't be buying the upgrade version.

Thanks for sharing.

[Chris W]

I see so they've designed an upgrade CD so that it can only be used to upgrade. Well done Microsoft. Surely the point of an upgrade is that you must have a previous version installed, so i'm not sure why this loophole existed before.

Anyhow, until i can afford an Intel Mac i won't be installing any windows systems anyway so doesn't concern me too much.

[TheBlueRaja]

The thing is, its essentially the same software that goes out on every DVD isnt it?

Its just the key that determines the type of OS installed / activated. IIRC a simple hack could change an XP Home CD to an XP Pro CD assuming you have the correct key.

So why not just ask for a valid XP key as well at the start of the "upgrade" if you boot from CD and dont try to install via the Windows Interface?

[punky]

So... Installing Vista from clean, instead of just popping a CD in and verifying in a couple of seconds that you have a legit previous version.... You now have to spend the best part of 30 mins+ to install an OS you don't want, just so you can spend another God-knows-how-long installing Vista?

What geniuses.

The best thing that comes to mind is to have an image of a minimal XP install that can be auto-extracted from a bootable CD, which can then be authenticated with the Win32.Windows.Geniune.Advantage.A virus, so you can actually install the OS you really want. It'll save time, but still be a massive pain in the bum. Of course, this needs to be updated after every major hardware upgrade, unless you want to waste ages going through the Add New Hardware wizard every time.

[DocDutch]

or just get yourself a proper Vista DVD.... but even then if you say change your hd you have to install again :S.... no easy way around it.

or what you could do...is have a 10gb hd spare where you dump xp on, install vista on a new partition and take out the XP...but then knowing Mickeysoft they want files from the xp as well...so no go again.

[punky]

But nasty though... We're talking about 50-100 quid.

[Russ]

So the installation will take an extra hour or less - am I the only one who fails to see what the fuss is about?

[punky]

Originally Posted by Russ B

So the installation will take an extra hour or less - am I the only one who fails to see what the fuss is about?

If you only install Vista once every 2 years, its nothing to make a fuss about. If you are a system builder who has to do it several times a day then it is something to make a fuss about.

At the end of the day its a big step backwards and not really (IMO) necessary. The system worked just as well before. You can run the WGA authentication direct from the installer so you can verify the original copy is legit. The cynic in me says they are doing it to force people to buy full licenses instead of upgrade ones... Unless they exempt any special licenses from it.

[Russ]

So for your average home-user, other than the inconvenience of wasting 30 minutes installing an initial OS, there's nothing really wrong with doing this, surely?

[punky]

Originally Posted by Russ B

So for your average home-user, other than the inconvenience of wasting 30 minutes installing an initial OS, there's nothing really wrong with doing this, surely?

Correct, except that its not just your average home-user that installs OSes, like the article said..

Also, there are other problems... Like what if you can't install XP for some error? You get Vista. You can't buy the upgrade version you are entitled to, you have to spend an extra 100 quid for the full version.

Microsoft offer no reason for this, so its quite probably about money. Digging around, it seems the Ultimate version is exempt, although its cheaper to buy a full home version and an upgrade Ultimate version.

[nicke261192]

there is a very simple solution. if you have the original xp disc or 2000 then reinstall that back on your pc so its a clean install then put windows over that

[quadplay]

Originally Posted by Gavin

If you only install Vista once every 2 years, its nothing to make a fuss about. If you are a system builder who has to do it several times a day then it is something to make a fuss about.

System builders shouldn't be using an upgrade CD though. Larger system builders will have a ghosted image that they just plonk on HDDs. Smaller system builders should get OEM copies of Vista (which are actually cheaper than the Upgrade versions anyway).

The OEM version doesn't require you to have Windows already installed, and if it find it will only install fresh (old version is moved to another location or HDD is reformatted).

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Chris W

Anyhow, until i can afford an Intel Mac i won't be installing any windows systems anyway so doesn't concern me too much.

And even then it won't concern you as you can't install an upgrade version of XP on the Intel Mac (yet). You need a proper disk.

Originally Posted by nicke261192

there is a very simple solution. if you have the original xp disc or 2000 then reinstall that back on your pc so its a clean install then put windows over that

Well - yes - but the fact remains that you still have to install a previous version in order to upgrade...