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Vista Install Secret
destiny_star2006
Posts: 823 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Some of you may know this already but if you dont then this is very handy...and it works, i have done it 
. So why buy the full program when the update version works just fine!
Use Vista's 'upgrade' version to clean-install
The secret is that the setup program in Vista's upgrade version will accept an installed copy of XP, W2K, or an unactivated copy of Vista itself as evidence of a previous installation.
This enables you to "clean install" an upgrade version of Vista to any formatted or unformatted hard drive, which is usually the preferred method when installing any new operating system. You must, in essence, install Vista twice to take advantage of this trick. But Vista installs much faster than XP, so it's quicker than installing XP followed by Vista to get the upgrade price.
Before you install Vista on a machine that you don't know is 100% compatible, you should run Microsoft's free Upgrade Advisor..
Here's a simplified overview of the steps that are required to clean-install the upgrade version of Vista:
Step 1. Boot the PC from the Vista DVD.
Step 2. Select "Install Now," but do not enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Leave the input box blank. Also, turn off the option Automatically activate Windows when I'm online. In the next dialog box that appears, confirm that you really do want to install Vista without entering a Product Key.
Step 3. Correctly indicate the version of Vista that you're installing: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate.
Step 4. Select the "Custom (Advanced)" install, not the "Upgrade" install.
Step 5. Vista copies files at length and reboots itself one or more times. Wait for the install to complete. At this point, you might think that you could "activate" Vista, but you can't. That's because you haven't installed the Vista upgrade yet. To do that, run the DVD's setup.exe program again, but this time from the Vista desktop. The easiest way to start setup again is to eject and then reinsert the DVD.
Step 6. Click "Install Now." Select Do not get the latest updates for installation. (You can check for these updates later.)
Step 7. This time, do enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Once again, turn off the option Automatically activate Windows when I'm online.
Step 8. On this second install, make sure to select "Upgrade," not "Custom (Advanced)." You're not doing a clean install now, you're upgrading to Vista.
Step 9. Wait while Vista copies files and reboots itself. No user interaction is required. Do not boot from the DVD when asked if you'd like to do so. Instead, wait a few seconds and the setup process will continue on its way. Some DOS-like, character-mode menus will appear, but don't interact with them. After a few seconds, the correct choice will run for you automatically.
Step 10. After you click a button labeled Start in the Thank You dialog box, Vista's login screen will eventually appear. Enter the username and password that you selected during the first install. You're done upgrading to Vista.
. So why buy the full program when the update version works just fine!Use Vista's 'upgrade' version to clean-install
The secret is that the setup program in Vista's upgrade version will accept an installed copy of XP, W2K, or an unactivated copy of Vista itself as evidence of a previous installation.
This enables you to "clean install" an upgrade version of Vista to any formatted or unformatted hard drive, which is usually the preferred method when installing any new operating system. You must, in essence, install Vista twice to take advantage of this trick. But Vista installs much faster than XP, so it's quicker than installing XP followed by Vista to get the upgrade price.
Before you install Vista on a machine that you don't know is 100% compatible, you should run Microsoft's free Upgrade Advisor..
Here's a simplified overview of the steps that are required to clean-install the upgrade version of Vista:
Step 1. Boot the PC from the Vista DVD.
Step 2. Select "Install Now," but do not enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Leave the input box blank. Also, turn off the option Automatically activate Windows when I'm online. In the next dialog box that appears, confirm that you really do want to install Vista without entering a Product Key.
Step 3. Correctly indicate the version of Vista that you're installing: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate.
Step 4. Select the "Custom (Advanced)" install, not the "Upgrade" install.
Step 5. Vista copies files at length and reboots itself one or more times. Wait for the install to complete. At this point, you might think that you could "activate" Vista, but you can't. That's because you haven't installed the Vista upgrade yet. To do that, run the DVD's setup.exe program again, but this time from the Vista desktop. The easiest way to start setup again is to eject and then reinsert the DVD.
Step 6. Click "Install Now." Select Do not get the latest updates for installation. (You can check for these updates later.)
Step 7. This time, do enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Once again, turn off the option Automatically activate Windows when I'm online.
Step 8. On this second install, make sure to select "Upgrade," not "Custom (Advanced)." You're not doing a clean install now, you're upgrading to Vista.
Step 9. Wait while Vista copies files and reboots itself. No user interaction is required. Do not boot from the DVD when asked if you'd like to do so. Instead, wait a few seconds and the setup process will continue on its way. Some DOS-like, character-mode menus will appear, but don't interact with them. After a few seconds, the correct choice will run for you automatically.
Step 10. After you click a button labeled Start in the Thank You dialog box, Vista's login screen will eventually appear. Enter the username and password that you selected during the first install. You're done upgrading to Vista.
We Make A Living By What We Get. We Make A LIFE By What We GIVE:money:
show me a man with both feet on the ground and i'll show you a man who cant get his pants off.
show me a man with both feet on the ground and i'll show you a man who cant get his pants off.
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Comments
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I think that may well breach Microsoft's licence terms!0
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I think that may well breach Microsoft's licence terms!
I think you're right, when you buy and use an Upgrade edition you are agreeing to specific conditions in order to get it cheaper. Bypassing those most likely does break the terms. As such this is probably against forum rules as well."She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
ok if it is then remove it apologiesWe Make A Living By What We Get. We Make A LIFE By What We GIVE:money:
show me a man with both feet on the ground and i'll show you a man who cant get his pants off.0 -
Don't you still have to have a licence.
If so how is this breaking any rules, so long as you have a valid licence you are legal.
Or have I missed something?
You do know that every VISTA DVD has all the VISTA programs on it and the only difference is the licence key used on install.
All you buy is a licence, not any disk.So why buy the full program when the update version works just fine!0 -
Don't you still have to have a licence.
If so how is this breaking any rules, so long as you have a valid licence you are legal.
Or have I missed something?
You do know that every VISTA DVD has all the VISTA programs on it and the only difference is the licence key used on install.
All you buy is a licence, not any disk.
The upgrade licence is on condition that it is being installed on a machine with a previous eligible windows installation. The OP is a method of physically bypassing having to have a previous installation. I.e. the upgrade is the only copy of any windows for that machine. The OP is advocating buying the upgrade version without having anything to upgrade therefore in violation of the upgrade terms."She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
I see, and a upgrade price is lower than a full product.
I recently bought (well paid postage) for VISTA X86 and 64Bit update disks.
Thats why I was interested in this post.
But it's all overpriced anyway.0 -
I see, and a upgrade price is lower than a full product.
I recently bought (well paid postage) for VISTA X86 and 64Bit update disks.
Thats why I was interested in this post.
But it's all overpriced anyway.
Yes, it'd be a bit pointless getting the upgrade version if it's the same price, you may as well get the full retail version if that was the case. If you have a previous version of windows that you're genuinely upgrading then that's what the upgrade licence is for. There's nothing wrong in using the upgrade version for a clean install because in some cases it's necessary even according to MS but you still need a previous windows licence to legitimately use the upgrade licence.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradepaths.mspx"She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
oem is even cheaper and most places will sell you a copy if you buy a mouse and microsoft as agreed to that ,it used to be cpu,motherboard or hddthere or their,one day i might us the right one ,until then tuff0
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Just as a little pointer..
This is also a method that Microsoft could put an end to as VISTA sends the status of the install when activating (whether it was upgraded, clean install and from what OS it was upgraded from). They can tell if the upgrade was performed on a TRIAL version and therefore would not be elegible and they could shut it down and make you pay for another key....
Lets see how it copes with SP1 when its released as I believe this is also doing away with all the other hacks that people are using.
I could post links to articles that raise these concerns but as it is in effect Illegal i wont bother....0 -
so true scooter ,in a way i wish they would ,it greves me that poeple us illegal copys when i pay good money for all mine and then they complain about the OS not working right,more fools themthere or their,one day i might us the right one ,until then tuff0
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