Thanks for the suggestions.

The thing is, I don't want it back the way it was. In every previous MS OS
you could upgrade with the previous version CD. I understand why they are
doing this and reguiring a validated version, but there needs to be another
way. Once you wipe out the "validated" install you can't "upgrade"

Well, I'm on my way to re-instrall XP Pro, validate and then reinstall Vista.



"Paul-B" wrote:
[color=blue]
> jhoelz wrote:
>[color=green]
> > I purchased Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade yesterday in loaded it
> > just fine on my machine that was running a validated version of XP
> > Pro using a clean install. Everything went fine as I poked and
> > tweaked with some of my other software installs. After loading all of
> > my stuff, even that I did not want just for testing purposes I
> > decided to do another clean install of the OS to wipe out any of the
> > junk I did not want.
> >
> > I installed the DVD, fired up the machine and booted from the DVD.
> > Went through the installation process, a clean install, entered the
> > key and formated my drive. THats all the farther you can go, I get
> > the "To use the product key you entered, start the installation on a
> > computer that is running a genuine version of Windows".
> >
> > So no I need to reinstall XP Pro, do the updates to get the WGA
> > installed and then re-install Vista.
> >
> > If this is right this is total garbage, everytime I want to do a
> > clean install I need to install the previous OS first? As someone who
> > works in the tech industry I iften need to install other 3rd party
> > software for testing and review. In the past when it bunged up my
> > machine I would just do a clean install, insert my previous verison
> > of windows and go on my way.[/color]
>
> And a gvery good reason why anyone using an upgrade should image his
> old partition first. A couple of clicks and 20 minutes or less later
> you'll have your old partition back exactly as it was.
>
> --
> Paul-B
>[/color]