Clean install using the upgrade disk?

Question

As I have not gotten my Vista upgrade disks yet, I want to know if anyone has tried doing a clean install using the upgrade disk. I know it should be possible. Has anyone tried an did it work or not. Lastly are there are tips or tricks to do a clean install.

MrSparks82 · Answer

I can't say that I've tried this because I haven't got my discs yet! However when (should that be if?) they ever arrive I will be doing exactly this. Seen this reported on a few other websites so guessing it should work: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

Monguse · Answer

Thanks for the link, very interesting way to install it. Now as long as M/S leaves things are they are. Although it is real that m/s/ removed the ability to do a clean install from an upgrade disk.

foxyreign · Answer

Express upgrade DVDs cannot perform clean installation. If you tried to boot from it, it will still ask you for the Windows XP CD.   Recommended: Start from XP, use the Dell Upgrade Advisor then express upgrade using the DVD.   Thanks!

Snakehn · Answer

I just did a clean install, everything worked fine ;)

rampage412 · Answer

Seekerbeta wrote: try running the upgrade in trial mode, then upgrade again. meaning your upgrading to vista, from vista Mr Sparks has a good article on that!!

tommyo1954 · Answer

' Express upgrade DVDs cannot perform clean installation. If you tried to boot from it, it will still ask you for the Windows XP CD. '     That is incorrect, foxy.  You just haven't read about it yet.....    I'm not going to put a link here with the (very, very easy) instructions just in case it might be against forum policy... But it can be done easily; it's no big secret.

Seekerbeta · Answer

try running the upgrade in trial mode, then upgrade again. meaning your upgrading to vista, from vista

rampage412 · Answer

foxyreign wrote:

Express upgrade DVDs cannot perform clean installation.

If you tried to boot from it, it will still ask you for the Windows XP CD.

Recommended:

Start from XP, use the Dell Upgrade Advisor then express upgrade using the DVD.

Thanks!

See Snakehn post!!!!

Message Edited by rampage412 on 03-01-2007 01:01 PM

donaldlee2007 · Answer

Here is a MUCH simpler way of  using our Dell Express Upgrade disks to install Vista 'clean'   1) Do NOT use the Dell Upgrade advisor BEFORE beginning your installation.  It will ONLY perform an 'inplace' upgrade of XP or 2k.  Instead, use the Microsoft Vista Upgrade (download from Microsoft) advisor to find out any needed information about incompatibities, then uninstall any software or drivers Vista has a problem with.  This may entail using a wired keyboard and mouse, or a wireless USB mouse/keyboard (but NOT Bluetooth). 2) Place the Vista installation disk in the DVD drive while in Windows XP. 3) Choose  to do a 'CUSTOM' installation (yes, its available). 4) Enter your CD key once the installer starts. 5) Do all necessary partitioning and formatting  I advise anyone doing this to NOT put Vista on any other  disk/partition than 'Disk0, Partition1'. 6) Point the Vista Installer to the partition you plan on installing Vista. 7) Finish your installation 8) Open the Dell Upgrade Advisor disk, and install the needed drivers.   Your're done.   Donald McDaniel

Sparky1964 · Answer

Received my disks today and performed a flawless, clean install in order to dual boot. Vista is working fine. Installed several programs and drivers: AVG antivirus, Perfectdisk 8, Vista updates, Firefox 2, Audigy 2 driver (sound working fine), updated BIOS twice, Intel chipset driver, Java, etc. Performed both types of defrag (Boot and normal). Music and email are working fine. I'm really enjoying Vista right now and will try installing a few games later once I do a little investigating. Plan to install FirstDefense from Raxco, it's been a life saver in Win XP. I have to admit this forum almost made me change my mind about installing Vista, but I'm really glad I did it. Thanks Dell and MS.

XPS 410
Intel Core 2 Duo (E6400)
2 GB 667Mhz Ram
250 GB SATA 2 HD
Nvidia 7900GS (256MB)
19" Ultrasharp Flat
Audigy 2

JeffH5 · Answer

One word of caution, I tried the clean install of Vista Business 32- bit just to my C: drive only to find out after it loaded it went ahead and formatted all my partitions to NTFS. Wiped out everything. there where no prompts or anything that stated what it was going to do.

tikiman429 · Answer

What method did you use to perform your clean install?

Monguse · Answer

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it when I reinstall Vista. As I am still recovering from a broken leg, it makes it a bit hard to get all my disks, etc... that I need to reinstall all my programs.

Sparky1964 · Answer

1)  While in XP Pro I installed the BIOS update using Dell's preinstallation disk.  Computer then rebooted back to XP Pro.      2)  At this point I logged off and opened my DVD drive inserting Dell's Vista installation disk.    3) Then proceeded to turn off computer.  Started computer back up and booted off Dell's Vista installation disk.    4)  I proceed to the point where it gave me a choice of partitions to install Vista since I had already partitioned the drive several months ago using Acronis Disk Director.    5)  After that I simply allowed Vista to do it's thing while my computer was connected to a (powered on) linksys router so Vista could download updates via internet.  During the install process it downloaded Nvidia 7900 GS driver and Intel storage driver.    6)  After the completed install, I downloaded Audigy 2 driver and another BIOS update on Dell's website.    7)  Just used UltimateDefrag 1.44 (slight trick needed here) to defrag and place high performance files in the most optimum position.  Hope this helps.    :smileyhappy:

tikiman429 · Answer

Thanks. The biggest think I am worried about is all the music (close to 13 GB) that I have on my computer. Will this disappear when I perform a clean install. Also, what does partitioning the hard-drive mean, and entail? Thanks for the help.

Windows General

Clean install using the upgrade disk?

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