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Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade?
Saturday, 03 February, 2007
I'll be standing in the queue at the Harvey Norman* store the night before they release Windows Vista.
I have my new PC ready to go when I get Vista home, but it's had XP Pro on it for a month or two. Am I right in assuming that I can buy the upgrade version of Vista and still do a clean install by showing that I have the XP CD?
Dorothy Dix, Blackstump, QLD
 (See update below) Yes, you can perform a clean install using a Vista upgrade CD. All you need is your old Windows XP CD (and, I believe, it doesn't matter whether that XP CD is a full version or an upgrade version).
Note, you can't upgrade to Vista from Windows 95, 98, Me or NT. If you're running any of those operating systems, you'll have to buy the full version of Vista (provided your hardware can handle it). Also, the version of XP you're running determines your upgrade options:
- If you're running XP Home, you can upgrade to Basic, Premium, Business or Ultimate.
- If you're running XP Pro, you can upgrade to Business or Ultimate.
- If you're running XP Media Center Edition, you can upgrade to Premium or Ultimate.
- If you're running XP Tablet PC Edition, you can upgrade to Business or Ultimate.
If you're running Windows 2000 or an x64 version of XP, you may purchase the Vista upgrade version, but you'll have to perform a clean install; you can't do an in-place upgrade from these operating systems.
Cheers
Rose Vines
Update:
The comments made by Rose above are based on incorrect information from Microsoft, and I've informed Rose about it to ensure that correct information goes into PC User magazine.
But the information being given out by Microsoft also isn't entirely correct. As a matter of fact you can use an Upgrade DVD to install Vista without even using an XP installation or installation CD. The process described by reader Frankie is a workable one. The technique was uncovered after insider information was leaked by Paul Thurrot of Windows Supersite, and a pictorial tutorial to using it has been posted at the DailyTech website.
It's arguably a legitimate technique for installing Windows Vista, because the capability of using the technique was left in the retail media by Microsoft. It is NOT, however, a legitimate means of obtaining a license to use the software, even though it leads to a fully functional installation of the software.
I'll describe how and why the technique works.
Every retail Vista Disk, irrespective of version, license type or installation type, has all the different Vista versions on it. They are encrypted. The version you've purchased a license for will be 'unlocked' and installed when you enter the key code because that code will fall within a specific allowable range.
But if you don't enter the key code, and simply continue using 'Next' instead, you get to a menu which allows you to install any flavour of vista, as a very time-limited trial. That's fair enough, as it's a good marketing ploy.
The install routine for Vista doesn't have a CD check at all. If you are installing an upgrade version there is only a check to see that an eligible product is installed on the PC. That's what lets this tricky technique work. The installation on the system doesn't have to even be activated. It simply needs to be there. The Vista install routine checks for an installation which can allow your version to be installed, and goes ahead if it finds one. There's capability included, of course, for you to use the Vista version you're installing as verification. If you need to do a 'refresh' install you don't want to be starting off with XP first, do you? If you're installing Vista Home Premium, and the install routine finds Vista Home Premium installed, it'll assume you're refreshing the installation. Same goes if you do a 'custom' clean install and your Vista variety is already on the drive. The install routine assumes that you're fixing up your own installation, of course, because that's a legitimate thing for people to do.
The upshot of all that is you do do some tricky tricks to make the Vista Upgrade disk verify itself! That's a boo-boo on the part of Microsoft, but as said it is NOT a legitimate way to get a cheap Vista license without having a qualifying product. It's a way which works but it's not a way which is legal
You can read more about Vista Upgrades and Upgrade disks in my Techwrighter article " Vista Upgrade Versions"
You'll find plenty more information about Vista here at HelpStation and in Rose's regular PC user columns, as well as some useful information at Rose's GeekGirls website.
Cheers
Terry O'Shanassy
Rose Vines and Terry O'Shanassy
 Reader solutions
RyanPosted: 11/03/2008 re: Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? To answer Phil, yes you get the error that the key can only be used for upgrades - the solution is to run vista setup again from the newly installed and unactivated version of vista you just installed - complete setup as normal and when you finish you can now use the key to activate it as technically you did just upgrade from vista - to vista... more info here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp
(Thanks Ryan. -PZ) JeffPosted: 23/02/2007 re: Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? Used both options.....Upgrade/Clean Install.
Kept getting a combination of 'Blue Screen of Death'/Compatiability 'issues' with XP's Hardware/Software.
'Down-time' (like Charlotte's)....17 +hours.
That's including......re-installing XP (clean Install).
Okay!
Most of us..do have a Creative sound-card(add-in one)...w/Gameport.
NOT SUPPORTED...by VISTA !!!!
Vista is USB-Orientated.
Got an old Printer you want to use, with Vista ?
Kiss it 'Good-bye', too.
VISTA does NOT SUPPORT these, either!
EVERYTHING has to be USB !
As for your Sound, Hmmmmmm..... try 'activating' the 'On-board' version on your MOTHER-board..(if your M/B has it ? )
You DO NOT have 'reload' MOST of the software...already on your computer, or if you are doing a CLEAN Install (yourself), VISTA already has a host of software 'include' within itself....if you have a 'conflict' issue with software, you will get an 'error window' warning you of this..."Please, fix me!" (my choice of words).
MAKE A LIST..of programs VISTA is having 'issues' with.......is a good chance it will continue to load..until, fully loaded...but, will give 'error windows', to replace/renew drivers/software...afterwards.
A lot of venders'(owners of the 'software' programs you are using) are not up to speed ......with the VISTA version of DRIVERS/PROGRAMS.
Like the 'freeebies' that are available...on the Internet.
You have to DELETE.. them....and try some thing else, in it's place.
Sounds very 'familiar', does not it ?!!!!!
Like it has been..with every other 'version' of Windows......DRIVERS/PROGRAMS...missing/not supported, by said Operating System.
Took 5 years, of 'careful planning', by Microsoft.....before VISTA's 'release'......wow !!!
5 years..of the usual 'stuff-up', Microsoft is known for.
I have used/installed all versions of Windows............bar Win 95/Win 98 (2nd Edition)/ME/all NT versions.......the same result (missing/not supported driver-software-hardware).
Just be careful...of how you install.....all programs (including the Operating System of your choice, since it is just another 'software' program you are trying to put into your computer)....read what you see, thoroughly, before committing yourself...to action.
Like using the VISTA Upgrade Adiser...to CHECK...1st....to see IF your computer is capable of running VISTA (whatever VERSION it comes up with...is the version 'suited' for your computer).
Terry O'ShanassyPosted: 08/02/2007 MAPS problems The comments made above relate to retail upgrade copies of Vista. I'm not sure if the disk contained withing the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription are identical to the ones included in the retail package. There's a good chance that they are identical. For most distributions of Vista the disk content is identical, the labels differ, and the key code indicates to the installer which installation to proceed with.
If this is the case for the Vista Business upgrade included in the MAPS pack then the trick above should work. Install Vista first as a 'Business Edition' trial installation, without entering the key code, and then install it again from within Vista Business this time entering the key code.
The potential problem I see with it, though, is that the only information from Microsoft I can find regarding the error code relates to the 'Anytime Upgrade' key. Perhaps the MAPS pack includes an Anytime Upgrade key, and this range of key codes works differently with the installer. I don't know, and I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable to unravel volume licensing issues such as this.
Should the trick described above not be successful in getting your copy of Vista installed I'd suggest you contact Microsoft, and do so rather heatedly! CharlottePosted: 06/02/2007 re: Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? I have had the SAME bitterly hard problem here. After receiving my much awaited MAPS kit, I have run into the the error code. The problem is now I have loaded EVERYTHING back onto my disk only to have to reformat it? Well, when trying to do the upgrade per the inprogram instrution, I received 5 BSOD's (Blue Screens of Death) more reboots... tsk tsk tsk...so I did a clean install what was I thinking?! (insert sarcastic remark here)...needless to say because of this desire to better my company and myself I have lost close to 16 hours of design/coding time plus more tomorrow gettign this worked out... It is nice to know I am NOT the only one..... John TesorieroPosted: 03/02/2007 re: Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? Looks like yet another good reason to switch to LINUX!
Cheers andrew peter collinsPosted: 03/02/2007 re: Updated: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? Hi Guys. I have yet to see Vista en masse say in a Dick Smith store because i can't really be bothered. I'm running XP Pro and rather than worrying about whether my pc can run it, i plan to own two pcs, one running XP Pro and one running Vista Ultimate. The one thing that sticks in my mind is that when i was in Dick Smith, there was a Microsoft rep in there that said there would be eight versions of Vista. I'm just gonna wait until all the hype goes south, get a good nights sleep and then have a good look. Cheers Andy. bryanPosted: 01/02/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? This sucks. I have WinXP Pro and bought Vista upgrade ... thinking that I could boot from the Vista DVD, format the HD, and do a fresh/clean install (assuming somewhere along the process the installer would ask me to stick in my XP Pro CD to verify I qualified for the upgrade). What ended up happening was the installer complained I could not do a fresh install using the key I had. Fine, I just skipped entering the key and was able to install Vista and get have it in the 30day trial mode. Now, when I try to activate it, I get: 0xc004f061 and the text "The Software Licensing Services determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading not for clean installations".
So it looks like I got to format my HD again, install Win XP, and then start the Vista install from WinXP. Why would Microsoft change this and not be clear about it!?!
FrankiePosted: 01/02/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? The process described is as follows:
■ Boot to the Windows Vista Upgrade disc and click "Install Now";
■ Do not enter your product key when prompted and then select which edition of Vista you have - this installs Windows Vista as a 30-day trial;
■ Once the installation is completed, restart the setup programme from within Windows Vista and enter your product key when prompted;
■ Choose either an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) install - the latter will complete another fresh install of Vista;
■ Once complete, you should be able to activate Vista as normal.
MikePosted: 31/01/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? I just received our MAPS copy today, I was very disapointed that it was an upgrade. I have new hardware that has been waiting for this for a couple of months. I had a Vista Ultimate RC1 on one partition and WINXP 64b on another. Neither will upgrade to Vista Business. craigjPosted: 31/01/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? acording to microsoft you can not reformat your hard drive and upgrade to vista you have to have xp installed and then install vista over the top of xp
craigj KevinPosted: 28/01/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? I too have the Action Pack and I've had the exact same experience as Phil. No prompting for an old XP CD at all.
What is my client to do when they are have a hardware failure on an upgraded XP to Vista machine? Do they have to install XP again in order to restore to Vista or buy a new license? That's going to be a hard sell. PhilPosted: 22/01/2007 re: Can I clean-install a Vista Upgrade? Are you sure about this? I've just received my MAPS (Microsoft Action Pack) copy of Vista Business Upgrade. When booting from the DVD the installer asks for the Serial Key which I entered. However the installer refuses to install as @This version must be launched from Windows" So I deleted the key and continued the install selecting BUSINESS as the install at the relevant screen. However now when I try to activate Vista i get the following error code: 0xc004f061 and the text "The Software Licensing Services determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading not for clean installations" WTF! Upgrades in the past have always allowed you to clean install as long as you had the original disks. So now it looks like I'll have to install a clean XP just to get this versions installed...
Anyone else had this yet?
Phil |