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    Upgrade or clean install Vista?

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by dynot, May 17, 2007.

  1. dynot

    dynot Notebook Guru

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    OK, I've read a lot of posts here but can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for.

    Just received my Acer Vista PHE upgrade discs and want to know which is better...a clean install or upgrade as per their instructions?

    If a clean install is better how do I do this?

    tia...
     
    dynot, May 17, 2007
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  2. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    Clean install will be faster and more stable after. But it means you have to reinstall all the programs you currently have running.

    There are 2 ways to do a clean install.
    1. You format your C: drive. Before this you need to copy all your personal files to another hard drive, burn them on DVD or copy them on USB stick so they are safe.
    After that just install Vista and then copy the files back.

    2. You can leave C: alone and just tell Vista to over write the C:\windows folder that XP used. This again is a little less clean because there will be old files from old programs left over. But you dont need to back up your files (I recommend you do so anyway!) because the old user folder will not be deleted.

    I recommend you use way 1. in the long run it will save you time. Just make sure you found all the files you will need for your backup.
     
    wave, May 18, 2007
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  3. dynot

    dynot Notebook Guru

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    Thanks wave...

    But does the upgrade DVD that I have contain all the necessary files for a complete install?

    Also, what I'm afraid of is that I format the entire drive and then Vista won't install because it doesn't find XP on it.
     
    dynot, May 18, 2007
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  4. invasi0n

    invasi0n Notebook Enthusiast

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    When I bought my laptop few weeks ago, it came with Vista Premium pre-installed and with this DVD. Next day I did format C:, and re-installed Vista without problems. I don't know what to say but i think that's a normal Vista DVD. It is written on it "Upgrade" but as long as my C: has been formated there was no other point where to upgrade from. So to me that means the DVD can do a complete install, not only an upgrade.
     
    invasi0n, May 19, 2007
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  5. System64

    System64 Windows 7 x64

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    Clean install is always the best. well, as in it gives you the "fresh, new sparkly clean Windows"
     
    System64, May 20, 2007
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  6. dynot

    dynot Notebook Guru

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    OK...I'm convinced to do a clean install.

    Now an embarassing question because I'm quite knowledgeable with PC's and such. But I can't find a way to format the c: drive! The system won't allow me because its in use. Same thing when I boot in safe mode with the command prompt.

    Also, will formatting convert my 3 partitions to one?

    Thanks for any help...
     
    dynot, May 21, 2007
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  7. timstr

    timstr Newbie

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    Any luck yet, dynot?
     
    timstr, May 31, 2007
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  8. dynot

    dynot Notebook Guru

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    Yes...installed successfully!

    During the installation process you get the option to re-partition and format the entire disk, which is what I did. I followed the instructions about not entering the product key the first time you're asked. After the installation is completed, re-install and enter the product key to activate it.

    So far I haven't encountered any issue whatsoever.
     
    dynot, May 31, 2007
    #8