Why Does Everyone Know That a Clean Install of Windows is Good, Except Microsoft?
We take a short break from design blogging today to dive into some extreme geek blogging. Apparently you can buy a Windows Vista upgrade for your Windows XP, COOL! But in typical Microsoft manner they actually literally put the upgrade OVER your existing install, BOO!
If any of you have tinkered around with your OS, you would know how Windows suddenly behaves like a mutated beast under radiation when that happens, big, green, heavy, and moves damn slow. Somehow Microsoft’s customer service people don’t seem to talk to R&D, and we have this issue all over again.
Salvation is here though, the UNEASYsilence blog shows us how to install your Vista upgrade and remove your old Windows XP at the same time, legally of cause. Why would it not be as we all bought the original Windows XP in the first place?
Just follow these steps:
* Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
* When prompted to enter your product key, DO NOT enter it. Click “Next” and proceed with setup. This will install Windows Vista as a 30-day trial.
* When prompted, select the edition of Vista which you have purchased and continue with setup.
* Once setup has been completed and you have been brought to the desktop for the first time, run the install program from within Windows Vista.
* This time, type in your product key when prompted.
* When asked whether to perform an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) install, choose Custom (advanced) to perform a clean install of Vista. Yes, this means that you will have to install Vista for a second time.
Annoying that you have to install Vista twice, but it’s not fair that Microsoft restricts the ability to do a clean install.
I don’t mind if I can avoid taming the beast! But note there is some argument on whether you lose your Windows XP activation key as this is an upgrade purchase, so regardless I would wait for 6 months for Microsoft to iron out all the bugs that they usually forget to take out.
Design Translator
May 27, 2007 at 8:22 pmHeh-heh, same with me, I stayed with Windows 2000 for the longest time. I still love it, but its time to move on as I cant get any support on it anymore.
Rob O.
May 27, 2007 at 8:06 pmOddly enough, the corporate license version of Vista Business Edition Upgrade that we got at work isn’t a bootable disk. So, I’ve had no choice but to upgrade right atop of XP Pro on the test PCs I’ve built. (Unless there’s another trick I’m missing, that is.)
And I’ve gotta say, Vista is hardly a compelling upgrade for me. It’s all fluff and not much substance – perhaps why some of my Gen-X buds are so keen for it. Sure, the eye candy is nice, but the massive drain it places on system resources is unwarranted given that there’s so very little payoff.
No sir, gimme my XP Pro with IE7 and I’m a very happy camper!
Design Translator
February 2, 2007 at 5:44 amI think they are trying to clamp down from people buying a cheaper version of Vista. I think the full (ie non-upgrade) version allows you to do a clean install.
WOW, that means the program will be useless to me. Nice packaging though, about time the spend some money on packaging as Apple always had the “Gift Box” appeal.
csven
February 1, 2007 at 10:23 pmI’m surprised you can’t do a clean install. Didn’t previous upgrades have that option? I’ve done plenty of installs (both new and upgrade) but don’t recall specifics.
However, based on the reports I’m reading that Vista is putting the brakes on some CAD applications (iirc: 85% slowdown of Pro/E), I don’t intend to move to Vista for a while yet. Perhaps when I do, MS will have given people the option.