Differences between XP Upgrade to Vista and Vista

PermaChanged

PermaChanged

PermaChanged

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2006
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4,681
Hey guys,

Was just wondering if there is any real difference between an XP system upgraded to Vista using an upgrade disk and a clean install of Vista?

My sisters Acer laptop has come back from the shop after the HDD drive failed and it has been replaced. In the DVD drive when it came back was a Dell upgrade disk from XP to Vista HP, so I assume they first installed XP and upgraded, and because of this all the pre loaded Acer software and free Norton firewall aren't on it.

I have a genuine copy of Norton 360 which I can put onto the computer as well as a Genuine copy of Vista HP OEM and use the license key from this laptop. I can download all the Acer software from their website, so that isn't a big issue.

What would you recommend doing?

Thanks
Jonny
 
There is no difference. You don't have to physically install XP first, just enter its CD key during the Vista Upgrade installation. I'd have thought you wouldn't need most of the Acer stuff either, just things like drivers for the touchpad etc.

I must say though, DON'T install Norton. It is some of the worst software to have ever existed! Use Avast or AVG Free (both are free) for antivirus and Windows Firewall.
 
Bane said:
Can someone confirm if you can use Retail Vista upgrade with an OEM version of XP legally? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have used a retail upgrade with OEM XP and had no problems at all. In fact you don't even need to do an upgrade as if you boot from the CD and then just continue without entering the CD Key you can do a clean install and enter the Key later. If you enter the key during install though it will tell you that you need to install from within Windows.
 
So if I buy a copy of xp and a copy of vista upgrade retail. Then you can install vista without actually installing xp and no hassle of re-activating after hardware changes and it still works out a lot cheaper than vista retail.

Especially as they're must be 2nd hand xp retail on sale with people upgrading.

The upgrade can be had for £68.

how does 32bit and 64bit work on upgrade? Do you have to send of for a disk.
 
Last edited:
Anyone know if the upgrade has both 32 and 64bit editions or if you need to send of for a cd?

I assume the upgrade is the same as retail and you can upgrade your MB. In which case it seems a much better option than oem?
 
In a similar vein, can you use vista upgrade with Win 98 or XP Upgrade ? (the two versions of windows I own (dont know which is worse, owning 98 or getting it with a dell :o )
 
I bought the upgrade disc,
1) you have to send off for the 64 bit dsic. (cost about £7)
2)first time I did a clean install of vista it would not activate and acted as a trial version so i had to reformat and then install XP then install vista, because even when following guides which say its ok just install vista dont put XP in it will work anyway you just need to put the xp disc in at some point, (this doesnot work in the same way as the XP upgrade from winme did i.e put winme in at some point and gets checked etc.) so i had to install xp then vista.
This week i had to reinstall and all i had to do was install vista, no wanting the old discs or anything odd. but works

so all in all, no idea what it will want if i ever need to install again. but yes you do need to send off for the 64bit disc... so only a half usefull post

this is the upgrade version of vista upgrading from an upgrade version of Xp upgrading from an upgrade version of Winme.
 
Another question. Upgrade is definitly considered the same as retail for transfer to a different PC, and not like OEM and tied to one motherboard only?
 
I have the ultimate upgarde pack. it contains both the 32 and the 64 bit disks.

I have never been asked for the XP licence, or cd or anything, and I have installed it half a dozen times now since I bought it.

Its great in that way, however, it wont upgrade from XP ? - this is somethign I did fancy trying out, but it wont do it? - it always wants to do a fresh install and it will not upgrade XP at a?? - I have tried to upgrade both XP32 and XP64 but no!

Sweet, but also annoying too!

Ok, with the upgrade CD you get something thats a bonus.

Since it is the upgrade, in theory, you do need a current licence of XP ( or 2K apparently ) on the PC thats supposedly to be upgraded, but lets just say that I decided to not have Vista on the PC its on, and move it to another PC, I can do that. I can apparently do it any number of times too... Of course this is only if it is installed on one PC at any time of course.
 
FatRakoon said:
Its great in that way, however, it wont upgrade from XP ? - this is somethign I did fancy trying out, but it wont do it? - it always wants to do a fresh install and it will not upgrade XP at a?? - I have tried to upgrade both XP32 and XP64 but no!
Click to expand...

I imagine that the new SP1 slipstreamed media will only install as an upgrade. Be interesting to know if that's not the case.
 
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