Vista - Question regarding installation

newbie question
I bought Ultimate w/SP-1 OEM 64 bit
I currently have Home Premium 64 bit.
Can I just install Ultimate on top of Home Premium---or should I uninstall it?
Any pointers appreciated
Ezeduzit
;o)
More----
If I uninstall Home ver during installation of Ultimate, why would I need to keep the recovery copy of Home ver on "D" that came with the computer? Shouldn't I get rid it and free up that partition for other use... then just make a complete computer recovery copy and store it on the USB external drive ? I like what I have read a litte about the Maxtor One Touch backup--- but have never used it. I presume it will do a complete computer back up ?

I think it sounds as though you have what was a "branded" system...and now you want to install your own 'full' version of Ultimate x64? If this is the case...yes,wipe all backups of the original (only if you have backed up any stuff you wish to keep),then do a clean install after formatting the HDD. Far less problems that way. As far as backup is concerned.. my favourite is Acronis but there is a free one called Macrium, Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download which is also very widely used by Techs. Don't do your backup until all updates for all programs have been done, use MS updates to do as much updating as it can,to avoid driver issues . Hope this has been of some help, mate

Thanks for the pointers---
Yes, a Branded sys.... "HP". No installation discs... just copy of Home Prem "dumped onto the hard drive" Today, looking back, I wish I would have assembled a computer myself.
And-- yes, I want to end up with a full, clean, ver of Ultimate 64.
I currently do have some added on software that will be easy to reinstall after I see that I have a good, clean Ultimate 64. Portions of office 2007, Norton 360, ver 3, ZTree win. I held off on installing any additional software till I figured out best way to end up with clean copy of Ultimate 64
I was hoping that I would not have to format the drive, that during Ultimate installation, it would get rid of Home Prem. No? Not so?
Ezeduzit ;o)

Sadly ..No. As far as I know there is no way to achieve what you want..To put a different OS on you have no choice other than to Format and clean Install. A royal pain in the butt,however the result is always worth it. You end up with a nice clean new system You also need to be sure to apply ALL MS updates as well as research the added software to ensure it actually is compatible with 64 bit.

Ok thanks----even though, I was hoping you would describe an easy way to do it and not have to format !! ;o)

kUDOS---thanks. I was not sure
Somehow, I messed up... stumbled around and----
Forgot how to add "rep" to U.... ?

Tasaholic
I have a spare, 500 gig WD Sata hard drive.
What I am thinking about doing is pull this hard drive, set it aside.
Install the WD, and load with the Ultimate when it arrives.
That way, if I mess up in any way, I can put this drive back in.
Whattaya think? ;o)

Sounds like a smart move..at least you will have a working HDD should things go wrong...which they shouldn't. Good luck my friend!

Thanks again. Appreciate the help. Unable to "click" in more reputation. I get a message: "You must spred some reputation around before you can give more to tazaholic" Nobody else jumped in to give me any pointers.. ;o(