Upgrading to Vista? Dont delete XP!

So if u plan on buying Windows Vista Upgrade Package
you wont be able to install Vista if you boot from CD.
That means you have to install XP first then run the Vista Upgrade CD

That is the catch!
Microsoft is really ripping us off.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/930985/en-us (now working)

So what about the good old disk demand trick?

It used to be that using an upgrade version of Windows on
a blank HDD would bring up a screen requiring you to stick
in media from any previous valid full version of Windows.
You simply stick in that CD (or floppy of Windows 3.1 or MS-DOS
it's been around that long), and you were set you get a full clean install.
Did they remove that feature as well?
Well it appears they have...

So now does that mean i could install a pirated Win XP and
then buy a Vista upgrade key and it wouldnt run a Windows Genuine Software validation.
Cause if that is the case, then I would call it a bargain.
Instead of buying ultimate for $499, I can buy it for $249

The only downside would be if i wanted to reformat my HDD
i will always have to firstly install xp before upgrading to vista.

in that case i would just burn(backup) an image of a fresh clean WinXP installation
using one of those imaging softwares (norton ghost )and keep for faster installations next time.
makes it a two way step to getting to clean vista installation

does anyone know how long it takes to reinstall xp from a backup image like norton ghost. so that i wouldnt have to spend two hours installing xp from the the original cd.

is all that trouble really worth $250 dollars less

 

Vista Ultimate OEM is $199 at Newegg. Why mess with the limitations & headaches of using an upgrade disc that's MORE expensive?

 

i have heard about this Vista OEMS.
so really whats the catch?
is it limited support from microsoft?
does that mean absolutely no windows update!
how do they differ from the full versions?

 

An OEM license is non transferrable which means it is permentantly attached to the machine its installed on

 

There is a work around if you dont want to install the upgrade over Windows XP...
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932

 

True, however in this article Microsoft states "Windows Vista is more intelligent and a bit more lenient than Windows XP around hardware tolerance." Yes, significant changes may require reactivation, but not a repurchase.

My XP Pro OEM license has seen three different motherboards, two processors, three different harddrives and is currently residing in a VM on my Vista laptop, all without invalidating the WGA license. I believe "a bit more lenient" OEM Vista will satisfy my DIY needs.

 

but isnt that the same thing with a full version.

how does microsoft detect if i transfer to new hardware.
even if i am busted by microsoft wouldnt it be the same for reinnstalling the full version on a new hardware too

 

The short answer: sort-of.

The full version explicitly provides for transferring the copy of Vista from one device (MS speak for a computer) to another device, provided the installation is removed from the old device. The OEM license is tied to a single device.

The long answer.

The OEM license is intended for system builders (think Dell, HP and your local computer shop). As such, it is the intention that the installation will remain on that device, with few changes. The typical owner/user of a Dell/HP/local store computer doesn't make many changes to original configuration. Maybe some more RAM or an additional harddrive at a later time. When the owner/user is ready to "upgrade" they often purchase a new machine.

The gray area comes in the DIY crowd. We are often our own system builders, providing our own support. We may do many upgrades (video card, processors, motherboards) over the life of a typical OS installation. Strictly speaking, MS considers each new configuration a new device. However, very recently they have relaxed this a bit to mirror the behavior of the XP license. So you may change your hardware several times and not have to re-activate your software. A big enough change might force a re-activation. If there are at least some common components, re-activation shouldn't be a problem. Too many differences may require a new license. But as I noted above, I haven't had any significant problems ... yet.

This would be the Windows Genuine Advantage program. Your Vista installation is first activated (a numeric representation of your computer is sent to MS) then a WGA check is performed (running your license key against a MS database for compliancy/other installations/etc). The WGA check is what catches multiple/pirated installs. The activation provides MS with a unique fingerprint of your system which is later used by the WGA check to see if hardware compliancy is being maintained.

 

Thanx.
I just finished reading this article http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html
Very useful too