Which copy of Vista - Very confused.

[Vegeta]

Currently running XP but I want vista.

I don't have a clue what the differences are between them, but I want a copy of Vista.

1, I can install as many times as possible as I upgrade a lot.
2, Play DX10 games with.
3, Just general browsing and better performance.

Currently using XP, there is a upgrade version but I still don't really understand what it means - do I put my XP cd in when it asks then carry on installing Vista? And can I install this copy as much as possible i.e. for upgrades?

 

[Cob]

Home Premium upgrade will do the trick. You can install it as many times you you want as long as it's never on more than one machine at a time.

You have to start the upgrade from within an XP install with it. The old method of just inserting the older CD won't work any more (tho you can install it to a blank hard drive by installing it twice).

 

[Ace Modder]

the upgrade version requires you to install XP first, then install Vista.

If this doesn't sound good for you, get the Home Prem Retail Version.

 

[Cobertizo]

Regarding point 1...

What version of XP are you currently using? OEM or retail? If it's OEM, then you're best off going for a full retail version of Vista Home Premium. OEM licences aren't transferable onto another computer, and aren't valid when you upgrade your motherboard on the 'same' PC (unless it's a warranty replacement - but upgrades aren't that...). If you get an upgrade version, and then upgrade your motherboard, then you'll no longer have a qualifying licence from which to upgrade (as the OEM licence wouldn't have been valid any more), so your Vista upgrade won't be licensed any more. Which is a waste of your money, as far as I can see.

Assuming you're currently using an OEM licence, if you'll be upgrading your motherboard fairly frequently, and are interested in staying within your licence terms, then full retail is the way forward. When a new version of Windows comes out, if you've already got a retail copy then an upgrade version would work well, though.

You'll probably have no problem activating your upgrade copy even if you are upgrading from an OEM copy and have upgraded your motherboard, but technically you'll be unlicensed in that scenario. Different people seem to have different feelings on how much that matters to them.