Windows Vista Forums

Basic Upgrade Question

  1. #1


    JJ Guest

    Basic Upgrade Question

    If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep my XP
    Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the same PC?

    i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do wish to
    keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with Vista, and
    switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .

    I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and overwrite
    the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP install disk
    during install?



    If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.


    Thanks in advance,

    JJ



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Bob J Guest

    RE: Basic Upgrade Question

    Vista Upgrade is as stated - it is used to upgrade an existing OS.
    To have a dual boot OS you will require a full install version of Vista
    --
    Regards
    Bob J


    "JJ" wrote:

    > If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep my XP
    > Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the same PC?
    >
    > i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do wish to
    > keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with Vista, and
    > switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .
    >
    > I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and overwrite
    > the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP install disk
    > during install?
    >
    > If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    > Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.
    >
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    >
    > JJ
    >
    >
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Rick Rogers Guest

    Re: Basic Upgrade Question

    Hi JJ,

    You should purchase a full version to create a dual boot to keep in
    accordance with the license agreement. An upgrade license subsumes the
    existing one for XP to create the Vista license, meaning you can use only
    Vista once the upgrade is complete. The upgrade is cheaper because its use
    is validated by the inclusion of your existing XP license. To use both in a
    dual boot would require a full license for each, though in a technical sense
    there are workarounds.

    The upgrade disk differs from previous Windows upgrades in that it must be
    started within the existing, running XP or 2000 install in order to enter
    the Product Key and proceed. You cannot simply boot from it and "show" it an
    XP disk as a qualifier for upgrade.

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
    http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
    Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
    My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

    "JJ" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
    news:uU6toGLtHHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep my
    > XP Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the same
    > PC?
    >
    > i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do wish
    > to keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with Vista,
    > and switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .
    >
    > I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and
    > overwrite the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP
    > install disk during install?
    >
    > If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    > Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.
    >
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    >
    > JJ
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    JJ Guest

    Re: Basic Upgrade Question

    My XP pro is OEM. If I find that I don't like Vista, am I able to reinstall
    my XP Pro - i.e will it still be activated (or will I be able to activate it
    if necessary), or does the upgrade path render my XP Pro permanently
    useless?

    Thanks,
    JJ




    "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
    news:%23fNIIpLtHHA.4888@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > Hi JJ,
    >
    > You should purchase a full version to create a dual boot to keep in
    > accordance with the license agreement. An upgrade license subsumes the
    > existing one for XP to create the Vista license, meaning you can use only
    > Vista once the upgrade is complete. The upgrade is cheaper because its use
    > is validated by the inclusion of your existing XP license. To use both in
    > a dual boot would require a full license for each, though in a technical
    > sense there are workarounds.
    >
    > The upgrade disk differs from previous Windows upgrades in that it must be
    > started within the existing, running XP or 2000 install in order to enter
    > the Product Key and proceed. You cannot simply boot from it and "show" it
    > an XP disk as a qualifier for upgrade.
    >
    > --
    > Best of Luck,
    >
    > Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
    > http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
    > Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
    > My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
    >
    > "JJ" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
    > news:uU6toGLtHHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >> If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep my
    >> XP Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the same
    >> PC?
    >>
    >> i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do wish
    >> to keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with
    >> Vista, and switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .
    >>
    >> I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and
    >> overwrite the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP
    >> install disk during install?
    >>
    >> If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    >> Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.
    >>
    >>
    >> Thanks in advance,
    >>
    >> JJ
    >>

    >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Rick Rogers Guest

    Re: Basic Upgrade Question

    Hi,

    No JJ, it's not permanently deactivated. You can indeed reinstall XP Pro and
    reactivate it if you don't like what Vista does for your system. I suggest
    that you consider using an imaging program like Acronis or Image for Windows
    to save your existing installation "as is" so that you can simply go back to
    where you started if it doesn't work out.

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
    http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
    Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
    My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

    "JJ" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
    news:e88pyJOtHHA.912@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
    > My XP pro is OEM. If I find that I don't like Vista, am I able to
    > reinstall my XP Pro - i.e will it still be activated (or will I be able to
    > activate it if necessary), or does the upgrade path render my XP Pro
    > permanently useless?
    >
    > Thanks,
    > JJ
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
    > news:%23fNIIpLtHHA.4888@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >> Hi JJ,
    >>
    >> You should purchase a full version to create a dual boot to keep in
    >> accordance with the license agreement. An upgrade license subsumes the
    >> existing one for XP to create the Vista license, meaning you can use only
    >> Vista once the upgrade is complete. The upgrade is cheaper because its
    >> use is validated by the inclusion of your existing XP license. To use
    >> both in a dual boot would require a full license for each, though in a
    >> technical sense there are workarounds.
    >>
    >> The upgrade disk differs from previous Windows upgrades in that it must
    >> be started within the existing, running XP or 2000 install in order to
    >> enter the Product Key and proceed. You cannot simply boot from it and
    >> "show" it an XP disk as a qualifier for upgrade.
    >>
    >> --
    >> Best of Luck,
    >>
    >> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
    >> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
    >> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
    >> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
    >>
    >> "JJ" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
    >> news:uU6toGLtHHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >>> If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep
    >>> my XP Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the
    >>> same PC?
    >>>
    >>> i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do
    >>> wish to keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with
    >>> Vista, and switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .
    >>>
    >>> I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and
    >>> overwrite the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP
    >>> install disk during install?
    >>>
    >>> If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    >>> Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> Thanks in advance,
    >>>
    >>> JJ
    >>>

    >>

    >
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    James Matthews Guest

    Re: Basic Upgrade Question

    Yes but it will break all your shortcuts!

    --

    http://www.goldwatches.com/watches.asp?Brand=39
    "JJ" <abc@xyz.com> wrote in message
    news:uU6toGLtHHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > If I buy Vista (Business) 'updgrade' (I have XP Pro) am I able to keep my
    > XP Pro on my pc and install the upgrade on another hard disk on the same
    > PC?
    >
    > i.e. I don't wish to run the XP and Vista at the same time, but I do wish
    > to keep my XP on the machine in case of compatibility problems with Vista,
    > and switch between the two when I need to (dual boot) .
    >
    > I wasn't sure if the 'upgrade' software is required to detect and
    > overwrite the XP install, or if it just requires that you supply an XP
    > install disk during install?
    >
    > If the former (or if installing the upgrade somehow 'deactivates' the XP
    > Pro) then I'll have to pay more for the 'full' version.
    >
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    >
    > JJ
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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