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Clean install or upgrade?
Just received my "Express" upgrade CD's. When I finally get around to it after checking my 3rd party software, is a clean install better or the upgrade?
In my experience with older OS's the clean install works best because it gets rid of all the digital dustbunnies. Reading the posts I see that a clean install is possible from the express upgrade disk. Does anyone have a step by step if this procedure to save others from the pain?
Another question... With a clean install from that disk, is it a vanilla copy of Vista the same as purchasing a retail copy or does this disk also install all the apps that came with the PC when it had XP Media Center on it?
Any info appreciated.
Thanks,
G
- Rebel9 When you do this clean install windows vista with upgrade [double upgrade] can you use the Dells upgrade assistant after the clean upgrade to upgrade the drivers? I ask this because the Dell's express upgrade advices first to use the upgrade assistant to start the upgrade procedure. However if one to follow Paul Thurrott's method during the formet stage of the hard-drive all will be erased? I hope you understand what I mean? Can you shed some light on it? Thanks Snow. Dimension 9200
Intel ViiV Core 2Duo E6400 Processor 2.13GHz 1066 MHz 2MB
Windows XP media Centre Edition 2005
Memory:2048 MB Dual DDR2 533 MHz [2x1024]
Dell Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse Dell Wireless Bluetooth
Video Card: 1GB nVidia GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual graphics card
Hard Drive: 640 GB Serial ATA RAID 0 Stripe [2x320GB 7200rpm drives with DataBurst cache]
16x DVD +/- RW
16x IDE DVD ROM GioAguilar
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Posted March 19th, 2007 17:00
I wll ALWAYS say CLEAN!!!!! It's better- Paul Thurrott's site is for installing XP, not Vista. Vista is an imaged based install and the upgrade must be installed from within Windows XP. Unless you are a computer expert, follow the directions Dell sent. There are complicated steps to take for a clean install. If you don't follow them, the upgrade will not work and you will be left without an operating system. Be sure to uninstall any software the advisor says will be a problem first.
- Mmmh.. I do believe Flamko is correct. I used Thurotts method and worked fine for me, but as I now think about it....I formatted and installed once and the second time I started the DVD from within Vista, but formatted again and reinstalled instead of an upgrade. So in effect I did what Flameko just said but did it twice.. lol..In anycase.. at no time did I use the WIN XP CD. So installed Vista on a clean disk and it instaled as if it was the full version.
- Read it again Mary. The procedure IS for installing VISTA and it is NOT complicated.Yes, an UPGRADE must be installed from within XP, but we're talking about a clean install.
- You dont need to follow those instructions!!!Im sorry but Im telling you exactly the way the Dell Upgrade disk is designed. You dont need to follow those directions for a clean install. The disk will clean install on any Dell machine with a formatted and partitioned harddrive.... Only one installation is required.
Message Edited by flamenko on 03-19-2007 02:36 PM
Message Edited by flamenko on 03-19-2007 02:37 PM - I will concede...yes the easiest way, and probably smartest way, is through the Upgrade Assistant.That website (PAUL T) describes how to do a clean install through installing on the upgrade, not validating then installing from within and validating.I am saying that, with Dell Upgrade Vista Disk you dont need to follow this.If you are a bit literate with PC's (and you only need to be a bit in this case), you can clean install through a simple format then installation. The hardest thing you need to figure out is how to get the machine to boot from disk (press F12 for one time boot). When the upgrade/clean install screen comes up, it will tell you that you can only do a clean install. Once done, validate.Quite frankly, the Dell Upgrade disk is a full version disk... Theres no need to be an expert.Just insert, boot from disk and follow along.Either way...good luck!!PS...Wait...Mary...just click on the link of which you wrote. His site is not an XP Site; its very clearly designed for Vista if you browse through.
Message Edited by flamenko on 03-19-2007 02:29 PM - I have installed using my upgrade disks....You dont need to double upgrade.As long as your disk has been partitioned/formatted, a clean install is automatic; it does not look for a previous version nor do you have a choice.I did this with mine. It states that a clean install is for 64mb installetion but the final result is a 32bit OS like you want.I upgraded my drives after the clean install by just going into the apps/drivers folders and installing each i needed.There is no need for a double install like once believed.
Rebel9
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Posted March 19th, 2007 17:00