Vista - Can't Perform Windows Vista Repair-Upgrade Install Even Though MVPs Say Yes?!

Hello. I have a question that I have seen posted by Microsoft MVPs and computer experts on how to do a "Windows Vista Upgrade/Repair Install". One of many websites that states this can be done:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/repair_a_vista_installation_using_the_upgrade_option_of_the_vista_dvd.htm

Yes, read the first two paragraphs at the top. Yes, it is important to what I have to say. Let me add to John's statement that if you remove the SP1 add-on from the Windows Vista SP1 you already have on system (bringing it back to Windows Vista SP0 -- the original release of Windows Vista), and attempt to do a Windows Vista Upgrade/Repair Install with your original Windows Vista SP0 installation disc, the "Upgrade" option during the installation process is TOO grayed-out... ...and you CANNOT do a Windows Vista Upgrade/Repair Install EITHER!

So, how exactly do you do a "Windows Vista Upgrade/Repair Install"????? ...cannot seem to get the "Upgrade" option to be active in order to repair Windows Vista operating system?!?!? ...ANYWAY AROUND THIS??????????????? Please reply.

Thanks!

Hi MonteCarlo1987,

If you have a Full version of Vista then you may not be able to do a Repair (Upgrade) install. Some people have had problems with a Full retail version letting them be able to do a upgrade install, but a Upgrade version can though. Did you run the installation from within your current Vista and not from booting from the installation DVD?

Also see:
Repair Install For Vista

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hello. To comment on Brink's statement, this is how I understand it from other experts concerning full and upgrade and even OEM versions of Vista:

a full (retail) version - can both install clean and upgrade
an upgrade (retail) version - can only upgrade; however a user an do a clean install with that widely known trick to install first w/o the key as a clean install and them install again with the key as an upgrade
an OEM version - can only clean install; upgrade option is not possible

Note: Any retail version of Vista has the Windows Anytime Upgrade version (upgrade within Vista to a higher edition of Vista. Yes, Microsoft sells the Windows Anytime Upgrade versions from a lower edition of Vista to a higher edition of Vista... ...but it is dumb to purchase any one of these if you can get a deal on a "regular" retail versions that already has the Windows Anytime Upgrade built in. This way you can upgrade not only from within Vista, but from Windows XP SP2 (or higher) as well. Yes, the Windows Anytime Upgrades are cheaper based on "retail price" than the "regular" versions... (becuase Microsoft purposely made them more limited in the upgrading -- not from within XP) ...but like I said... ...you CAN get "deals" on the "regular" Vista versions out there that meet or are cheaper than the soley Windows Anytime Upgrade versions.

For your information, I have the upgrade version, therefore I should not have any problems according to John Barnett's article. Should not have any problems with the repair-upgrade with using any retail version of Vista.

The point is that the "upgrade" option should be available again (from within the Windows Vista environment) after I have used it according to John Barnet's article when I need to do a Windows Vista Repair-Upgrade Installation. So what gives???

Montecarlo1987,

Did you try using the steps in this tutorial? Steps 1, 4 & 5 are very important in it working correctly.

Repair Install For Vista