Vista - "tricking" Vista ultimate upgrade to install on clean HDD?

Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
every time.

This is a good question. I look forward to the answer. I don't think you
will be able to. Hopefully, someone will chime in soon on this. I've
posted recently highlighting the problems with the Upgrade DVD path MSFT has
apparently chosen to take including Ed Bott and George Ou ZDNET blog
articles this morning on that subject.

The short version is that if you don't have a Vista full DVD, you won't be
able to access the most effective Vista repair modalities (see my other
threads) via the Upgrade DVD.

CH


"Ninjak on FW" <shawnn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1170099761.701327.47530@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
> clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
> possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
> perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
> my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
> every time.
>

The "trick" is to purchase a "Full License" version of Windows Vista.
Do you not understand the meaning of the word "upgrade"?
If you wish to use an upgrade version of Vista to completely
reinstall Vista, then you'll have to install and activate Windows XP and
then use the Windows Vista "upgrade" DVD to "upgrade" to Vista.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ninjak on FW" wrote:

Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
every time.

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> The "trick" is to purchase a "Full License" version of Windows Vista.
> Do you not understand the meaning of the word "upgrade"?
> If you wish to use an upgrade version of Vista to completely
> reinstall Vista, then you'll have to install and activate Windows XP
> and then use the Windows Vista "upgrade" DVD to "upgrade" to Vista.

Are you this rude to everyone or just people asking for help with what is a
recent change to the way Windows upgrades work?

Hello... do what I will do, WHEN I get vista... (NOT YET!!!!)

Install once then get an imaging software like acronis true image,

make an "image" of your installation, then boot with the acronis cd
and recover that installation instead of going through the install
process...

time needed? 10 mins.....




"Ninjak on FW" <shawnn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1170099761.701327.47530@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
> clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
> possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
> perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
> my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
> every time.
>

I understand the meaning of the word "upgrade" just fine. The issue is
that Microsoft changed their definition of the word - you COULD do a
clean install of Windows XP Upgrade. At a certain time in the install
process it would verify you purchased a previous version of Windows by
checking the CD. Vista apparently will not do this.

I guess the definition of "upgrade" changed between 2001 and now?


On Jan 29, 11:59 am, "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfri...@nospamgmail.com>
wrote:
> The "trick" is to purchase a "Full License" version of Windows Vista.
> Do you not understand the meaning of the word "upgrade"?
> If you wish to use an upgrade version of Vista to completely
> reinstall Vista, then you'll have to install and activate Windows XP and
> then use the Windows Vista "upgrade" DVD to "upgrade" to Vista.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "Ninjak on FW" wrote:Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
> clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
> possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
> perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
> my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
> every time.

"Robert Moir" <robspamtrap@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ec8DbI%23QHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>> The "trick" is to purchase a "Full License" version of Windows Vista.
>> Do you not understand the meaning of the word "upgrade"?
>> If you wish to use an upgrade version of Vista to completely
>> reinstall Vista, then you'll have to install and activate Windows XP
>> and then use the Windows Vista "upgrade" DVD to "upgrade" to Vista.
>
> Are you this rude to everyone or just people asking for help with what is a recent change to
> the way Windows upgrades work?

It seems to be a growing problem among MVPs.

I will also point out, that on several occasions, Carey Frisch
has posted the flat-out wrong information.

-Michael

you dont need silly imaging software. its builtin to vista. seems you should
know that being you tested it for so long.
karma karma karma... i bet youre ugly too






"jim" <1@1.1> wrote in message
news:OSO6HL%23QHHA.496@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hello... do what I will do, WHEN I get vista... (NOT YET!!!!)
>
> Install once then get an imaging software like acronis true image,
>
> make an "image" of your installation, then boot with the acronis cd
> and recover that installation instead of going through the install
> process...
>
> time needed? 10 mins.....
>
>
>
>
> "Ninjak on FW" <shawnn@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1170099761.701327.47530@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>> Like a billion other people, I own Windows XP but I'd like to do a
>> clean install of Vista Ultimate using only the upgrade version. Is it
>> possible to trick the installer into thinking you have XP installed,
>> perhaps by copying the entire XP disc to your hard drive? I reinstall
>> my OS frequently and it will suck if I have to install XP AND Vista
>> every time.
>>
>
>

"Troy McClure" <k@k.com> wrote in message
news:E6544621-B20C-40E5-8021-4EDBE0C76C84@microsoft.com...
> you dont need silly imaging software. its builtin to vista. seems you
> should know that being you tested it for so long.
> karma karma karma... i bet youre ugly too

Have you been following the thread?
This is about imaging XP, not Vista.

MICHAEL wrote:
> It seems to be a growing problem among MVPs.

Yeah, you'd have thought it would have got much better when I left, but
no... ;-)