No More Clean-Installs for Vista Upgrades

Jimmy 2004 · Jan 29, 2007, 02:42 PM

When users were upgrading to Windows XP, the procedure was that users could simply insert their old Windows 98 or Windows 2000 CD at the appropriate time during a clean install without the need for the old OS to be installed at the time. However, Microsoft has decided to change this for Vista, and now requires a fully installed and activated version of your old OS already on the machine. This comes as an attempt to prevent illegal use of upgrade CDs, but could be inconvenient and time consuming when the time comes to reinstall. The new procedure for a reinstall is as follows:

Install your old copy of Windows XP
Activate it either online or over the phone
Install Vista

Source: DailyTech

tigger · Jan 29, 2007, 03:00 PM

they are trying like fook to stop the plethora of hooky os discs,but will it work?

my xp is fully activated so it dont affect me,or anyone who has legit windows.personally,i think it is worth buying the os,its less messing around than trying to get it free.

mikek75 · Jan 29, 2007, 03:09 PM

Dunno why you'd buy an upgrade disc when an OEM copy is £77 (Home Premium)in the UK. And from what I've read here, you can change any component (including mobo) in your rig as long as you re-activate within 3 days.

Personally, I've never felt the need to speak to Microsoft support. If you wait a couple of months the tech sites will be full of people with just as much knowledge of Vistas' foibles as MS tech monkeys. And if its anything like XP they'll give that knowledge for free....God bless 'em!

tigger · Jan 29, 2007, 03:16 PM

i'm not gonna buy an upgrade,i've got my eye on a vista home premium oem this week.

jocksteeluk · Jan 29, 2007, 03:19 PM

Granted vista is relatively cheap fromt he get go but i could see Microsoft moving onto micro transactions to download updates and patches t is pretty obvious it will be the next step.

WarEagleAU · Jan 29, 2007, 03:20 PM

Kind of pointless really. Everyone figures a way around these things, it just takes time and Im sure hackers have been working feverishly on this for awhile. On that note, Ill bide my time to get Vista, when I have to, not because I want to. XP is fine for me.

EastCoasthandle · Jan 29, 2007, 03:44 PM

Wait a minute, didn't they do that with Win95 and was broken?

Rodster · Jan 29, 2007, 03:48 PM

I'm a little confused here. I thought the Upgrade/Retail version allowed you to make unlimited hardware changes and Microsoft would reactivate your OS when there was a "Hash Mismatch" which triggers the re activation balloon.

Now we find out that the upgrade will work only if you have installed a copy of XP on your drive. Will the OEM version allow unlimited upgrades or will we have to buy the "Full Retail" version?

regan1985 · Jan 29, 2007, 03:50 PM

the thing is people who did used to use fake windows, will carry on doing so when a crack comes out, where as they might have gone for the new vista and paid but now they will think its going to cost loads for both xp and vista so why get the real thing!!!

im still not sure about vista, im going to wait a few months and there is always problems in the first year!

Jan 29, 2007, 03:50 PM

Wow MS really have gone right out of their way to piss everybody off this round. What's next, a tax for not using MS peripherals?

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodster

I'm a little confused here. I thought the Upgrade/Retail version allowed you to make unlimited hardware changes and Microsoft would reactivate your OS when there was a "Hash Mismatch" which triggers the re activation balloon.

Now we find out that the upgrade will work only if you have installed a copy of XP on your drive. Will the OEM version allow unlimited upgrades or will we have to buy the "Full Retail" version?

There is a reason the OEM version is magically $100 cheaper. Having all the hardware upgrade benefits of the RETAIL version for half the cost, is not it.

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v-zero

Wow MS really have gone right out of their way to piss everybody off this round. What's next, a tax for not using MS peripherals?

No, pirates and hackers have gone right out of their way to piss everybody off. MS didn't introduce windows with these anti-piracy features. They are protecting their products and interests, and have every right to do so.

I still don't understand all of the anti-ms , anti-activation, my rights are not being upheld baloney. The majority of you brought this upon yourselves, so deal with it. You don't have any rights, you are licensing the software to be used on your computer, you don't own it, you never will, get over it.

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regan1985

the thing is people who did used to use fake windows, will carry on doing so when a crack comes out, where as they might have gone for the new vista and paid but now they will think its going to cost loads for both xp and vista so why get the real thing!!!!

Huh? Who said you have to buy both? This for people with legitimate copies of XP , who wish to install the upgrade version of Vista. Boohoo, the pirates can't upgrade their copy of XP. They can still go out and buy the full version of Vista without any problems.

Frogger · Jan 29, 2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overcast

No, pirates and hackers have gone right out of their way to piss everybody off. MS didn't introduce windows with these anti-piracy features. They are protecting their products and interests, and have every right to do so.

I still don't understand all of the anti-ms , anti-activation, my rights are not being upheld baloney. The majority of you brought this upon yourselves, so deal with it. You don't have any rights, you are licensing the software to be used on your computer, you don't own it, you never will, get over it.

and that's putting it in the real

EviLZeD · Jan 29, 2007, 05:11 PM

wow that is one long procedure to do a format like that lol

newtekie1 · Jan 29, 2007, 06:17 PM

But what about the upgrade paths that require a clean install?!?!?!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

Jimmy 2004 · Jan 29, 2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtekie1

But what about the upgrade paths that require a clean install?!?!?!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

I expect that this would then require the software to be installed but it would format the drive once it's seen XP is installed and do a clean install, so you would probably still need to reinstall your old version of XP first.

newtekie1 · Jan 29, 2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy 2004

I expect that this would then require the software to be installed but it would format the drive once it's seen XP is installed and do a clean install, so you would probably still need to reinstall your old version of XP first.

Yeah, that could be the case. I'll probably never know since I buy full OEM copies anyway, but I would still like to know how this works for sure out of curiosity.

Judas · Jan 29, 2007, 09:49 PM

I heard that you need some sort of key to install the oem version,what ever that is?
Anyway s ill be going for the retail version (Home Premium)

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 09:52 PM

I need to dig up a cheap vendor of retail home premiums.

Jimmy 2004 · Jan 29, 2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overcast

I need to dig up a cheap vendor of retail home premiums.

Here in the UK home premium costs about three times as much as OEM. I'm not planning on getting three new PCs in the time Vista is around, so I think I will personally go for that when I upgrade. Can you change the hardware on a retail version as much as you want, or are you still limited?

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy 2004

Here in the UK home premium costs about three times as much as OEM. I'm not planning on getting three new PCs in the time Vista is around, so I think I will personally go for that when I upgrade. Can you change the hardware on a retail version as much as you want, or are you still limited?

Retail you can do whatever you want, OEM is locked down. I really don't feel like calling Microsoft everytime I change out a motherboard. Which is bound to happen a least a few times in the next 5 years.

Rodster · Jan 29, 2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overcast

Retail you can do whatever you want, OEM is locked down. I really don't feel like calling Microsoft everytime I change out a motherboard. Which is bound to happen a least a few times in the next 5 years.

Does that include the Upgrade version as well as the Full version?

overcast · Jan 29, 2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodster

Does that include the Upgrade version as well as the Full version?

OEM is OEM man, it's locked to the hardware it was installed on. That's why it's at least half the cost.

Rodster · Jan 29, 2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overcast

OEM is OEM man, it's locked to the hardware it was installed on. That's why it's at least half the cost.

I know man, MS has confused the hell out of me, LOL. Ok let me ask the question another way. Is the Upgrade and Full versions both considered retail versions?

Jan 29, 2007, 02:42 PM	#1
Jimmy 2004 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: England Posts: 5,047 (1.66/day) Thanks: 134 Thanked 276 Times in 185 Posts System Specs	No More Clean-Installs for Vista Upgrades When users were upgrading to Windows XP, the procedure was that users could simply insert their old Windows 98 or Windows 2000 CD at the appropriate time during a clean install without the need for the old OS to be installed at the time. However, Microsoft has decided to change this for Vista, and now requires a fully installed and activated version of your old OS already on the machine. This comes as an attempt to prevent illegal use of upgrade CDs, but could be inconvenient and time consuming when the time comes to reinstall. The new procedure for a reinstall is as follows: Install your old copy of Windows XP Activate it either online or over the phone Install Vista Source: DailyTech

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:00 PM	#2
tigger I'm the only one Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HU5 1LL Posts: 7,189 (2.75/day) Thanks: 469 Thanked 940 Times in 773 Posts System Specs	they are trying like fook to stop the plethora of hooky os discs,but will it work? my xp is fully activated so it dont affect me,or anyone who has legit windows.personally,i think it is worth buying the os,its less messing around than trying to get it free. __________________ http://img.techpowerup.org/110324/v6351cpuzvalj197.jpg ]Monster E6300 oc http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2163.html

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:09 PM	#3
mikek75 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chippenham, Wilts, United Kingdom Posts: 1,171 (0.48/day) Thanks: 81 Thanked 121 Times in 115 Posts System Specs	Dunno why you'd buy an upgrade disc when an OEM copy is £77 (Home Premium)in the UK. And from what I've read here, you can change any component (including mobo) in your rig as long as you re-activate within 3 days. Personally, I've never felt the need to speak to Microsoft support. If you wait a couple of months the tech sites will be full of people with just as much knowledge of Vistas' foibles as MS tech monkeys. And if its anything like XP they'll give that knowledge for free....God bless 'em!

Jan 29, 2007, 03:16 PM	#4
tigger I'm the only one Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HU5 1LL Posts: 7,189 (2.75/day) Thanks: 469 Thanked 940 Times in 773 Posts System Specs	i'm not gonna buy an upgrade,i've got my eye on a vista home premium oem this week. __________________ http://img.techpowerup.org/110324/v6351cpuzvalj197.jpg ]Monster E6300 oc http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2163.html

Jan 29, 2007, 03:19 PM	#5
jocksteeluk Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The 13th room on the 13th floor of the 13th building. Posts: 1,427 (0.53/day) Thanks: 22 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts System Specs	Granted vista is relatively cheap fromt he get go but i could see Microsoft moving onto micro transactions to download updates and patches t is pretty obvious it will be the next step. __________________ XXXI III MCMLXXXII

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:20 PM	#6
WarEagleAU Bird of Prey Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gurley, AL Posts: 9,994 (3.99/day) Thanks: 3,810 Thanked 557 Times in 521 Posts System Specs	Kind of pointless really. Everyone figures a way around these things, it just takes time and Im sure hackers have been working feverishly on this for awhile. On that note, Ill bide my time to get Vista, when I have to, not because I want to. XP is fine for me. __________________ =-TheEagle-= http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=62454 “You crazy? Surfing any website without an antivirus is like freaking with a dirty woman without protection” -OzzmanFloyd120 - Edited for content and clarity

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:44 PM	#7
EastCoasthandle Eligible for custom title Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6,244 (2.12/day) Thanks: 382 Thanked 1,526 Times in 865 Posts System Specs	Wait a minute, didn't they do that with Win95 and was broken?

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:48 PM	#8
Rodster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 155 (0.06/day) Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm a little confused here. I thought the Upgrade/Retail version allowed you to make unlimited hardware changes and Microsoft would reactivate your OS when there was a "Hash Mismatch" which triggers the re activation balloon. Now we find out that the upgrade will work only if you have installed a copy of XP on your drive. Will the OEM version allow unlimited upgrades or will we have to buy the "Full Retail" version?

Jan 29, 2007, 03:50 PM	#9
regan1985 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Coventry UNI England Posts: 1,416 (0.56/day) Thanks: 22 Thanked 23 Times in 23 Posts System Specs	the thing is people who did used to use fake windows, will carry on doing so when a crack comes out, where as they might have gone for the new vista and paid but now they will think its going to cost loads for both xp and vista so why get the real thing!!! im still not sure about vista, im going to wait a few months and there is always problems in the first year!

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Jan 29, 2007, 03:50 PM	#10
v-zero Guest Posts: n/a (0/day)	Wow MS really have gone right out of their way to piss everybody off this round. What's next, a tax for not using MS peripherals?

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Jan 29, 2007, 05:11 PM	#15
EviLZeD Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 649 (0.27/day) Thanks: 30 Thanked 48 Times in 44 Posts System Specs	wow that is one long procedure to do a format like that lol

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Jan 29, 2007, 06:17 PM	#16
newtekie1 Semi-Retired Folder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 17,737 (6.49/day) Thanks: 780 Thanked 5,111 Times in 3,703 Posts System Specs	But what about the upgrade paths that require a clean install?!?!?! http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

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Jan 29, 2007, 09:49 PM	#19
Judas Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nokialand Posts: 836 (0.29/day) Thanks: 71 Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts System Specs	I heard that you need some sort of key to install the oem version,what ever that is? Anyway s ill be going for the retail version (Home Premium)

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Jan 29, 2007, 09:52 PM	#20
overcast Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 707 (0.26/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts System Specs	I need to dig up a cheap vendor of retail home premiums.

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