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    Want to go to Vista Premium from XP Home.. help!

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Asmodan, Apr 24, 2008.

  1. Asmodan

    Asmodan Notebook Consultant

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    Biting the bullet here.

    I am so confused. I would love to do a clean-install. However can that only be done if I buy the retail version of Vista? What about the upgrade? I know the upgrade requires a pre-existing OS to exist.. or could I reformat and run the upgrade to install Premium?

    Or should I re-format, THEN upgrade to VIsta, then get the drivers/apps/etc for Vista? Please respond. I'm going to make a purchase (or not) today.

    Also should I pick up the 32 bit or 64 bit version
     
    Asmodan, Apr 24, 2008
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  2. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    if I remember right, you can upgrade from XP HOME to Home Premium, but not from XP Pro to Home Premium. MS probably did that to make more bucks.

    I would do a clean install anyway, much better than upgrading from an older OS(IMO).

    I would go w/ 64bit, which DOES require a clean install. Plus it recognizes and utilizes 4GB(and more) of mem if your laptop is upgradeable to it.


    EDIT-- check w/ Dell. They might make you a deal.
     
    nobscot6, Apr 24, 2008
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  3. Asmodan

    Asmodan Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah I have XP Home ;)
     
    Asmodan, Apr 24, 2008
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  4. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What sort of license are you planning on purchasing? If you go with the upgrade license(32 bit) then technically you cannot do clean install. There are ways around this but we wont go there.

    However, you can still do a rather clean install where you start off the process from within XP just like the regular upgrade process and then do an upgrade install where you essentially remove XP and store the files in a folder on your HDD which you can later access after you have installed Vista. This way you all your files will be saved(still better to have a backup just in case) and you can then easily cut and paste them where ever you want and delete the Old Windows folder form Vista and get that space back. However you will still need to reinstall all the software and device drivers fresh just like in a clean install. This is probably the best option if you want to go with the upgrade license route.

    See link for more info...
    http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=193
     
    miner, Apr 24, 2008
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  5. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    That's just for in-place upgrades.

    If you don't mind doing a clean install, you can upgrade from anything to anything. You can even use the upgrade disc to do it. You don't have to buy the full retail disc. You can use an upgrade disc and license to do a clean-install of Vista if you have any version of XP or Vista already installed.
     
    swarmer, Apr 24, 2008
    #5