If "clean install" means to you a reformat before installing the OS, then
you cannot do that with an x86 upgrade edition. I believe that you can with
an x64 upgrade edition. Be aware that MS considers a custom install without
a reformat (and the old files rolled up into a windows.old folder before
installing the OS) a "clean install."
Vista is installed by different methods than XP and earlier Windows. It is
no longer necessary to format the drive in order to get a clean install of
the OS. Formatting is inherent in the image used to install the OS.
This is a departure and a much needed one. It simplifies the IT
department's deployment time, expense, and maintenance hugely.
"Test Man" <testman@test.org> wrote in message
news:utFlp7mPHHA.4372@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi again
> Was looking through Microsoft's Support webpage and came across this -
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930985/en-us - does this apply to the
> upgrade version? Cos this would be a big departure from before if you
> can't clean-install using an upgrade disc.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
> news:98BC7F31-104E-4C5D-A14A-8E469EABACB5@microsoft.com...
>> Yes, that is correct.
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "Test Man" wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, just been searching in this newsgroup and pretty much confirmed
>> your
>> post.
>>
>> So basically you can only upgrade in-place (as in from the desktop) of
>> Windows XP. You can clean-install with 2000 or XP already on the machine
>> with an upgrade disc. However, if it doesn't find an existing
>> installation
>> of Windows 2000 or XP (however you try and install it) it won't continue.
>>
>> Is that correct?
>>
>>
>
>