Well my Vista install over my original XP installation resulted in a
non-recoverable system crash. I ended up having to re-install XP, reinstall
SP1, then reinstall Vista on a reformatted disk. Found out later I could've
installed a trial Vista (vista without the CD Key) and loaded Vista from
within itself, but that's another story, it still means installing
opertating systems (or non-operating systems!) twice.

Regds
Dweebs

"Lang Murphy" <lang_murphy********.com> wrote in message
news:B8B1BFC1-5950-457C-BE43-6981DFC1A0C5@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Well... this may be where a lot of folks get thrown off the path.
>
> A Vista install run from within the existing OS is an "upgrade."
>
> A Vista install run from booting from the Vista DVD is a "clean install."
>
> Confusion results from the fact that -all- Vista installs are, compared to
> previous Win OS installs, "clean." Even when doing an "Upgrade," Vista, to
> put it in layman's terms, pushes your stuff off to the side, installs
> itself, then pulls back your stuff, meaning apps and docs and whatever.
>
> You don't have to reformat unless you want to. That would only be in a
> Vista "Clean" install in which you booted from the Vista DVD and WANT to
> reformat your drive for a "really clean" install. It's not hard, if that's
> your worry. Back up, back up, back up. Nuff said.
>
> My best advice to you is: due diligence means investigating all issues,
> e.g., hardware drivers for your legacy hw, PRIOR to upgrading to Vista. If
> one doesn't "do" due diligence prior to installing Vista, then one has no
> one else to blame when one's <insert HW device or SW app here> doesn't
> work in Vista. I'm running Vista on a "work" PC here. (Used to have it
> running on two boxes but had to free one up for other work chores). I like
> Vista. But I'm not installing it on either of my personal PC's just yet
> because they both require HW upgrades to do what I want them to do in
> Vista. (One needs a new video card to get Aero and one needs a new TV
> tuner card.) Point being, don't throw a hissy fit if you dive into Vista
> uninformed and it causes issues with your existing HW/SW.
>
> Lang
>
>
>
> "Rod" <Rod@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4B18F3B6-F3FE-4F4C-9328-AD1BD4E8101E@microsoft.com...[color=green]
>> tks Chris. Appreciate your answer. Still, as a new O/S that all I really
>> need
>> it for is Internet, MS Office and CD/DVD playing/burning, Vista Home
>> Premium
>> seems to be an ideal "downgrade' for me, but one I cant get!! I gotta go
>> the
>> Ultimate....
>>
>> Or maybe I am just reading things wrong.....IF I BUY the UPGRADE VISTA
>> HOME
>> PREMIUM I CAN, FROM within WINDOWS XP, run a CLEAN INSTALL - right? IF
>> so,
>> that seems OK...I just dont want to have to reformatt myself manually
>> from
>> DOS as a start....not that competent!!
>>
>> Rod
>>
>> "Chris" wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Rod wrote:
>>> > Ah, but now I read in March 2007 Australian PC USer Magazine that a
>>> > "Clean"
>>> > install is done from WITHIN the Windows XP Desktop, in an INSTALL
>>> > WINDOWS
>>> > SETUP OPTIONS box that includes Upgrade as an Option. So I dont
>>> > actually have
>>> > to reformat my HDD at the beginning (dos) and boot into the DVDrive.
>>> > It's
>>> > done from a setup window when I am already in Windows XP....???
>>> >
>>> > ..but it goes on to say "Note that if you're performing a true clean
>>> > install, having booted from the DVD, at this point you should click
>>> > the Drive
>>> > Options link and then click to Format..." IF YOU'RE PERFORMING A
>>> > TRUE
>>> > CLEAN INSTALL ????? You can fudge that????
>>> >
>>> > And what is Microsofts rationalle in having Media Player/DVD Burning
>>> > in
>>> > Vista Premium and NOT being able to get that as an upgrade from XP
>>> > Pro??
>>> >
>>> > Rgds n tks
>>> >
>>> > "Frankster" wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> You are 100 percent right on every count. You're gonna have to deal
>>> >> with it.
>>> >>
>>> >> -Frank
>>> >>
>>> >> "Rod" <Rod@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> >> news:B054F30A-A24C-46D7-8CB8-35E15CCC5EE7@microsoft.com...
>>> >>> I have a PC that I have had for several years. It runs a copy of XP
>>> >>> Pro SP2
>>> >>> and is "Vista" ready in terms of HDD, RAM, Processor and Graphics
>>> >>> card.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> I was ready to go out and get a copy of Home Premium Upgrade, as it
>>> >>> has
>>> >>> the
>>> >>> features I want, and just read I would have to do a clean install.
>>> >>> This
>>> >>> is
>>> >>> essentially a reformat of HDD and start from scratch, right? That's
>>> >>> wacky.
>>> >>> I
>>> >>> want to UPGRADE.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> I don't want the extra expense of getting Vista Ultimate as it has
>>> >>> bells
>>> >>> and
>>> >>> whistles I dont want, but that seems to be the only way I can
>>> >>> UPGRADE and
>>> >>> get
>>> >>> Media Player/DVD Burning functionality built-in....
>>> >>>
>>> >>> ...AM I reading this right? An UPGRADE from XP Pro to Vista Home
>>> >>> Premium
>>> >>> is
>>> >>> really a rebuid of my PC??????
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Rgds
>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>>
>>> Home Premium is a downgrade from XP Professional. You have to run setup
>>> from within XP, and you will have to do a clean install. Vista will
>>> create a Windows.old folder that will (probably) have all of your data
>>> files. But you still need to do a backup.
>>>[/color][/color]
>[/color]