I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am currently
running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I need to format
my hard drive, or does the installation process do this for you?

Hi,

With the full version you may upgrade the existing install or format and
install cleanly. You will not be forced to format, nor do you need to, that
is a matter of choice for you.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
[url]http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/[/url]
Windows help - [url]www.rickrogers.org[/url]

"Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=blue]
>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this for
>you?
>[/color]

DON'T perform an in-place upgrade of your existing XP installation.

DO perform a clean install of VISTA.

VISTA should detect whether the drive needs to be formatted and proceed
accordingly.

Choosing the advanced or custom installation option should give you control
over sizing the primary partition.

VISTA; the new and improved Pandora's Box! :-0


"Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:e8s25LOVHHA.1036@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Hi,
>
> With the full version you may upgrade the existing install or format and
> install cleanly. You will not be forced to format, nor do you need to,
> that is a matter of choice for you.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> [url]http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/[/url]
> Windows help - [url]www.rickrogers.org[/url]
>
> "Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=green]
>>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this for
>>you?
>>[/color]
>[/color]

There is no need to format the drive. However, as you have the full version
you have the option, as other have said, to upgrade or clean install. I
certainly wouldn't be looking at an upgrade. Do a clean install instead. If
you need any guidance with the installation process you can find an
illustrated guide to installing Vista on my website:

[url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_vista.htm[/url]

Alternatively you can also find an illustarted guide to upgrading too at:

[url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/upgrading_to_windows_vista.htm[/url]

upgrading does, however, take some hours. The last time i did it it took 4
hours plus.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: [url]http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org[/url]
Web: [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org[/url]

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=blue]
>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this for
>you?
>[/color]

> DON'T perform an in-place upgrade of your existing XP installation.

Why not? An upgrade isn't like it used to be with lots of files being
overwritten by newer versions. A Vista upgrade is more akin to a clean
install to a new folder and then having the old settings imported into it.

Frankly, I never had much problem with any upgrades, as I generally made
sure a) the system was clean of malware, b) was of sufficient specifications
to support the new OS, and c) had drivers available for the installed
hardware.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
[url]http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/[/url]
Windows help - [url]www.rickrogers.org[/url]

"Sly Dog" <Sly_Dog@GottaLoveThatBill.com> wrote in message
news:49mdnexWRokAQ0fYnZ2dnUVZ_g6dnZ2d@giganews.com...[color=blue]
>
> DO perform a clean install of VISTA.
>
> VISTA should detect whether the drive needs to be formatted and proceed
> accordingly.
>
> Choosing the advanced or custom installation option should give you
> control over sizing the primary partition.
>
> VISTA; the new and improved Pandora's Box! :-0
>
>
> "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:e8s25LOVHHA.1036@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>> Hi,
>>
>> With the full version you may upgrade the existing install or format and
>> install cleanly. You will not be forced to format, nor do you need to,
>> that is a matter of choice for you.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> [url]http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/[/url]
>> Windows help - [url]www.rickrogers.org[/url]
>>
>> "Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>> news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=darkred]
>>>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>>>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>>>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this
>>>for you?
>>>[/color]
>>[/color]
>[/color]

"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:ujGgYFQVHHA.868@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> There is no need to format the drive. However, as you have the full
> version you have the option, as other have said, to upgrade or clean
> install. I certainly wouldn't be looking at an upgrade. Do a clean install
> instead. If you need any guidance with the installation process you can
> find an illustrated guide to installing Vista on my website:
>
> [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_vista.htm[/url]
>
> Alternatively you can also find an illustarted guide to upgrading too at:
>
> [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/upgrading_to_windows_vista.htm[/url]
>
> upgrading does, however, take some hours. The last time i did it it took 4
> hours plus.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> Windows - Shell/User
>
> Web: [url]http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org[/url]
> Web: [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org[/url]
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
> for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out
> of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in
> this mail/post..
>
> "Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=green]
>>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this for
>>you?
>>[/color]
>[/color]

I have to agree with you about the upgrading time. It took over 3 hours for
me, to upgrade from XP Pro to Vista RC1. The clean installs only take about
45 minutes tops. Plus, I've always been of the mindset that if you were
building a new house, why would you use the old foundation where your house
used to be? You'd want to put a new one in, so you know it will hold up.
Same goes for migrating to another OS.


--
Patrick Dickey

Smile... Someone out there cares deeply for you...

I totally agree with you. Upgrading time takes forever when upgrading from
XP to Vista. It took me almost 5 hours on my laptop.

--

Have a nice day,

Jonathan Yaniv
Microsoft Windows LiveT Butterfly Expert

Visit the ButterflySays Blog at
[url]http://spaces.msn.com/ButterflySays/[/url]

"Patrick Dickey" <pd1ckey43@removethisspamfilter.msn.com> wrote in message
news:6EED5728-9DD3-41D7-A3CE-120DF5AFE5EE@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>
>
> "John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
> news:ujGgYFQVHHA.868@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>> There is no need to format the drive. However, as you have the full
>> version you have the option, as other have said, to upgrade or clean
>> install. I certainly wouldn't be looking at an upgrade. Do a clean
>> install instead. If you need any guidance with the installation process
>> you can find an illustrated guide to installing Vista on my website:
>>
>> [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_vista.htm[/url]
>>
>> Alternatively you can also find an illustarted guide to upgrading too at:
>>
>> [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org/upgrading_to_windows_vista.htm[/url]
>>
>> upgrading does, however, take some hours. The last time i did it it took
>> 4 hours plus.
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> Windows - Shell/User
>>
>> Web: [url]http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org[/url]
>> Web: [url]http://vistasupport.mvps.org[/url]
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>> for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out
>> of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in
>> this mail/post..
>>
>> "Trigger" <tdr_computers@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>> news:Pb2dnY9yO7oARkfYnZ2dnUVZ8saonZ2d@bt.com...[color=darkred]
>>>I am planning on purchasing a full version of Vista Ultimate. I am
>>>currently running XP Pro. My question is, before I install Vista will I
>>>need to format my hard drive, or does the installation process do this
>>>for you?
>>>[/color]
>>[/color]
>
> I have to agree with you about the upgrading time. It took over 3 hours
> for me, to upgrade from XP Pro to Vista RC1. The clean installs only take
> about 45 minutes tops. Plus, I've always been of the mindset that if you
> were building a new house, why would you use the old foundation where your
> house used to be? You'd want to put a new one in, so you know it will
> hold up. Same goes for migrating to another OS.
>
>
> --
> Patrick Dickey
>
> Smile... Someone out there cares deeply for you...[/color]