Upgrade Question: Basic ---> Ultimate

blazinfury

New Member
I have a question. I just bought a computer with Vista Basic (32-bit) and I want to upgrade it to Ultimate (32-bit). If I buy a Vista Ultimate CD and install it, will it wipe my HD clean? Is there any way to avoid that?
 

My Computer

As long as you don't buy the OEM version your fine, the upgrade and full retail version will perform an upgrade, but the OEM will not.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Wolfdale E8400 3 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 x 2GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFGTech GTX260 OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 w/ Logitech 5.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    2 x Seagate 250GB SATA RAID 0 (OS), 1 x Seagate 500GB (storage), Kingwin SATA removeable rack (Seagate 400GB for Windows 7)
    PSU
    BFG Tech 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech trackball
    Internet Speed
    6Mbps
Err...whether you buy upgrade, OEM, or full version, Vista will wipe your hard drive in that you will have to reinstall all your programs and stuff.

Basically what will happen is that the old system will be backed up in a folder called "windows.old" as the new system is installed. Once the system is installed, you will have access to this folder so that you can copy, move, or delete files of your choosing. Once that's done, you can then delete this folder by going to "Disk Cleanup" and choosing "Remove previous windows" or something to that effect – I forget the correct name.

Warning - Once you delete the windows.old, there's no turning back, it's gone!!!

Why delete this folder? - it takes up the space - the same space that was used before your upgrade. i.e., if you system was 30gigs, that's what the windows.old folder will be - 30gigs

Why keep it? - see here - http://www.vistax64.com/general-dis...alling-vista-ultimate-upgrade.html#post930430

And as always, do a backup of your critical files and folder before doing an OS upgrade!!!

Hope that answers your question
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel D975XBX2
    Memory
    Corsair TWIN2X4096-PC8500 (2x2GHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4890 (1GHz)
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium - Fatality Pro Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    hp w2207h (22" widescreen)
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    One 750GB, 2x500GB Western Digital Caviar Black Hard Drives (32meg)
    PSU
    Antec Neo HE 550
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9500 AT
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    "High" Speed DSL? Is that like low speed FIOS?
    Other Info
    Q6600 B3 Revision OC to 3.0GHz
I plan to do this on my recently bought Dell pc and when I say recent, I mean I got it a wk ago. I would have bought ultimate from Dell but the issue was that, it would have cost me $150 more, whereas I can get the ultimate CD from my school for $15-16. A lot cheaper don't you think. Now the big concern that I have is, is doing the reinstall hard? I have a 500gb HD, so it shouldn't be that bad and I also have all of the drivers CDs from Dell. Do I need anything else? Will other Dell essentials be destroyed that were not on that drivers CD? This won't violate my warranty, right?
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Wolfdale E8400 3 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 x 2GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFGTech GTX260 OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 w/ Logitech 5.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    2 x Seagate 250GB SATA RAID 0 (OS), 1 x Seagate 500GB (storage), Kingwin SATA removeable rack (Seagate 400GB for Windows 7)
    PSU
    BFG Tech 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech trackball
    Internet Speed
    6Mbps
Is the described installation process different if the version that I purchase OEM. Do I first need to delete my OS and then install Vista Ultimate or do I install Ultimate and then delete my OS. Is there a special protocol for doing this?
 

My Computer

Is the described installation process different if the version that I purchase OEM. Do I first need to delete my OS and then install Vista Ultimate or do I install Ultimate and then delete my OS. Is there a special protocol for doing this?

As I said, OEM will not perform an upgrade, it is designed to be installed by a system builder on a new PC, if you have an existing installation on the drive you will format the drive before installing OEM Ultimate.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Wolfdale E8400 3 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 x 2GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFGTech GTX260 OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 w/ Logitech 5.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    2 x Seagate 250GB SATA RAID 0 (OS), 1 x Seagate 500GB (storage), Kingwin SATA removeable rack (Seagate 400GB for Windows 7)
    PSU
    BFG Tech 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech trackball
    Internet Speed
    6Mbps
Err...whether you buy upgrade, OEM, or full version, Vista will wipe your hard drive in that you will have to reinstall all your programs and stuff.

Don't know why you have that idea in your head but it's not correct.

Installing and reinstalling Windows - Windows Vista Help


"Important: Use the following procedure only when upgrading from a 32-bit version of Windows XP to a 32-bit version of Windows Vista."

Hmmm...had a question about this, but further research produced this table: Upgrade to another edition of Windows Vista - Windows Vista Help (click the link "What Installation choices are available to you")

In my experience, when I first attempted the "upgrade" from XP to Vista, I had to wipe my drive. During another upgrade from Vista Ultimate 32 to Vista Ultimate 64 I also had to wipe my drive.

I can understand why I had to wipe my drive when upgrading from Vista 32 to 64 as this isn't supported as seen here:

"Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows Vista."

In my case I went with my experience since I hadn't done another 32 -32 bit upgrade, thus I stand corrected.

Thanks. Rep+1

PS - The clean install procedure still stands - the windows.old folder creation.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel D975XBX2
    Memory
    Corsair TWIN2X4096-PC8500 (2x2GHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4890 (1GHz)
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium - Fatality Pro Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    hp w2207h (22" widescreen)
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    One 750GB, 2x500GB Western Digital Caviar Black Hard Drives (32meg)
    PSU
    Antec Neo HE 550
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9500 AT
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Revolution
    Internet Speed
    "High" Speed DSL? Is that like low speed FIOS?
    Other Info
    Q6600 B3 Revision OC to 3.0GHz
Hi,

This is a my System builder/ OEM install dvd - there is the Upgrade option.

A22009-01-21_194951.jpg

A recovery disc that comes with a preinstalled (also confusingly called oem ) version of Vista, will likely have limited options.

Hope that helps

SIW2
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Hi,

To perform an Upgrade installation , boot into your existing Windows Installation first and run the setup from there.

The idea is it will replace the operating system files, and keep your programs and settings intact.

To perform the upgrade you need to already have a qualifying version of Windows installed.

The second part of this tutorial explains it - you will only do STEP 2
for an upgrade install.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/68767-clean-install-upgrade-vista.html

Hope it helps

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Hi,

This is a my System builder/ OEM install dvd - there is the Upgrade option.

View attachment 9695

A recovery disc that comes with a preinstalled (also confusingly called oem ) version of Vista, will likely have limited options.

Hope that helps

SIW2

Curious, but who am I to argue, no other previous OEM version of Windows would perform an upgrade, doesn't make much sense when you consider the OEM licensing and restrictions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Wolfdale E8400 3 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P5E
    Memory
    4 x 2GB Corsair
    Graphics Card(s)
    BFGTech GTX260 OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 w/ Logitech 5.1 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    2 x Seagate 250GB SATA RAID 0 (OS), 1 x Seagate 500GB (storage), Kingwin SATA removeable rack (Seagate 400GB for Windows 7)
    PSU
    BFG Tech 550W
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech trackball
    Internet Speed
    6Mbps
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