HP Vista Upgrade Directions posted

I just noticed that HP just posted directions on updating to Vista. They want you to use a special utility to Flash the BIOS and then install Vista. The directions can be found here. The directions link to a file that isn't yet posted. It mentions that updated BIOS files will be included, but doesn't mention if drivers/updated Quickplay will be included or if you'll still be left waiting on HP on that end.

EDIT: Reading the directions more closely, it looks like the utility will remove your Quickplay and restore partitions entirely.

 

I guess I'm going to have to reinstall Vista and XP. This is kind of irritating. Was it just posted on HPs site today?

 

Yeah, it was just posted right before I posted. I plan to reinstall Vista, wiping out XP on my system, but reading their directions, I think I'll skip their utility. Not bad if you want to do an in-place upgrade, though.

The BIOS updates are being posted to their FTP site today, and the drivers are slowly being uploaded there also. It looks like they're waiting till everything's posted before putting them on the website, though.

 

So I did a restore back to XP so I can upgrade per HPs instructions (this took about three hours) and now the link on the site for the installer is down. Anyone have any idea what is going on?

 

I have not been able to find the HP Vista Upgrade Utility on HPs site. Does anyone have a copy they can upload somewhere? In think the filename is 34397.exe??? Thanks.

 

The upgrade utility hasn't been posted to HP's FTP servers yet. They're likely waiting till they actually have the drivers posted.

 

Thanks Jadedraverla

If I flash the updated bios and then install Vista, is that the same thing. Also, I have a new DV6000t I received mid-Jan 07 but it does not have Vista or the express upgrade (it was a replacement for an old dv4000 they could not repair) Do you think it has the new drivers on it somewhere and do I need to even run an upgrade utility before I install Vista?

 

Since you've got a clean system (no files/programs you've installed that need to be migrated) I wouldn't mess with the HP Utility anyway. I would just flash the BIOS and then install Vista. There's another thread on here where I've posted the drivers that are currently available. The upgrade utility that HP is posting seems to mainly be for migrating your data, not getting you the drivers you need, so its value is questionable. Only the systems shipping with Vista seem to have the necessary drivers in their SwSetup directory, so you'll need to get new drivers.

Hope that helps.

 

Yes it does help! I have got a clean system so I'll just flash and install tonight. Thanks again.

 

For HP Vista Upgrade Utility, try using Firefox to download it. I wasn't able to get it through IE7, but Firefox2.01 lets me download it just fine.

 

I tried just to be sure. The link on the page I linked to definitely doesn't work. The ftp site is ftp.hp.com not ftp.compaq.com and the sp34397.exe file doesn't yet exist on the hp ftp.

ThunderRiver -- did you use a different link that linked to a different file? If so, what is the file name?

 

OK...it's now 2/2 and they (HP) still haven't posted that utility yet!.I purchased Vista days ago and now after spending the time to prepare it for the upgrade (backups, cleanups/defrag) I read that the utility will redo the partitions basically starting me over...OK fine…whatever…I’ve now accepted that, but what I will not accept is the HOURS of time I’ve spent with their "Customer Service" (India/overseas...btw) and NO ONE understands what I am looking for!! They put me on hold saying "I will look that up for you", then after 5 minutes I have a different person and have to go over the entire issue all over again!! They each wanted to take me to the Kit area and I repeatedly explained that is NOT what I need since the laptop was purchased well before the Nov 15th but that I just need the UTILITY so I can update the BIOS and such and that THEIR link DOES NOT work. I have poked around their ftp sites (both hp and Compaq) and that sp34397.exe DOES NOT exist so where the HECK are we supposed to get it. I actually had one CS guy tell me that he sees it just fine!! And another CS person tell me over AND over that this is a Microsoft Issue and that I was to contact Microsoft!!!!! WHAT!!????

I wanted to "play" with my new Vista this weekend, what do you guys think my chances are? Does anyone have that utility? Can I give you a place to post it??? PLEASE???? If not which BIOS update # am I supposed to use? And, what about their warnings that if you don't use their non-existent utility it voids the warranty??? Lets just say years ago I had a BIOS flash go bad so I like to be safe…VERY safe when it comes to flashing my BIOS!

Oh btw using Firefox 2.01 didn't work.
Signed...Desperate in Oregon

 

I was in the same boat as you. I updated the bios and then upgraded into Vista last night with no issues at all without that utility. If you don't use the utility it will not affect your warranty. It just says they can make you run it if you have not done so yet when troubleshooting. I would go ahead and install Vista.

 

I wouldn't hold my breath of them posting it today. It's possible, but I would think they are waiting until they have the drivers posted -- otherwise they'll have people installing Vista and then complaining because all the drivers they need aren't downloaded by the HP Update Utility. Personally, if you know what you are doing and have backed up everything you need yourself, I wouldn't wait on the utility. I would just install the new BIOS (if it is listed for your system yet) and then upgrade to Vista. If the BIOS isn't listed yet, skip that part. It doesn't do anything absolutely necessary for Vista anyway, and you can install it later, once HP gets their act together.

 

NEWS UPDATE!!!

It is posted...finally!!! I have sp34397.exe all 33.4mb of it!!
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp34001-34500/sp34397.exe

Njoy!

 

anyone know how to do a fresh install of windows vista with the recovery cd's?

 

It's also here... ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34001-34500/sp34397.exe
I couldn't get to the ftp.compaq site

 

has anyone been able to go through the process using an upgrade version product key? I followed the instructions and came to a stop at the beginning of Vista installation as the installation still didn't let me go by using a upgrade version product key.

Anyone? Thank you very much. Upgrading to Vista has been a tough ride.

 

I have a similar question. The HP writeup says that it might re-partition and format the hard disk. If so, the a Vista upgrade installation disk will not detect a previous version on the hard disk, and we might end up having to hack our way to finish the install. Is the HP upgrade utility meant to be used with a full (not upgrade) retail version of Vista?

 

I saw this somewhere else, I think on this site. Here is the link to steps that allow an install to a clean HD from the Vista upgrade DVD.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp