Clean install of Vista using Upgrade version of Vista
 

As some will know, Microsoft changed Vista's installer so that you cannot perform a totally clean install of Vista if you have just the Upgrade version of Vista. You would need to install XP, then use the Vista upgrade media to install Vista.

This is a bit of an issue should you wish to rebuild a machine that is running vista and you only have the upgrade media as you'd need XP actually installed, rather than just pointing Vista at the XP media, which is how things used to work.

It appears there is actually a loophole which *will* allow you to perform a clean install of Vista using the upgrade media without having to install XP first. Full information here

This loophole may exist due to the following:

If you choose to purchase an upgrade version of Windows Vista to upgrade XP, you will no longer be able to use that version of XP. Either on another system, or as a dual-boot option. The key will be invalidated, preventing activation.

From Vista's EULA found here (PDF) :

13. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligiblefor the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.


The above could indicate that the XP key is invalidated upon upgrade, which does make a little sense as the EULA states you can't use the software you upgraded from, however, what happens if you need to rebuild the machine? Without the loophole you would need to install XP, and if the info above is to be believed, you'd not be able to activate your install of XP, and thus you'd not be able to use the Vista upgrade media as you would not have a previous install of XP. What I don't know is wether the Vista upgrade check requires that XP be installed and activated, or just installed, but I'd guess it's the former.
Having said this, there isn't, as yet, conclusive proof that your XP key is prevented from being activated after performing the vista upgrade. Give it a few days and I'm sure someone will give it a try to see what really happens.

Has anyone got Vista yet,what do you think,whats the benefits from XP.
I have a few pirate programs like Photoshop 5.5,will they run on Vista?

I have an upgrade version of Vista from the MS ActionPack. You can do a clean install. First run install without entering a product key - make sure you choose the correct Vista version. After installation is complete, then run the upgrade DVD again from inside your Vista os & this time entering the product key & choosing the clean install. After it's done, delete the windows.old directory & it's done. A clean fresh Vista install without any old os rubbish lying around.

If you look hard enough on t'internet you'll find a patch that will allow you to bypass the XP activation and also the windows Genuine advantage update too.

Thus you could just load XP run the patch then run the Vista upgrade.

Daz