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 - Uninstalling Vista Ultimate Upgrade

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

Hope that answers your question

Originally Posted by Davejb

Originally Posted by sygnus21

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.

Hi,

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



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

Hope that helps

SIW2