doing a clean install of vista frm xp prosp2

hello
first I had xp pro with sp2 running great. Got vita beta 2 finally in the
mail so I figure I install it right away.
I figure I put the dvd in then reboot and expecting to do a clean install.
Forgive me for benig rusty but when clicking on clean install, shouldnt ask
me to reformat first then install? it did not. I tried upgrading and ok. I
tried after reinstalling xppro again to do a clean install and it installed
but is it over the xp cause it created an OLD windows file. Am I running
vista from a clean install or not?

Would someone please give me directions how to reinstall Vista from a clean
install starting from How to reformat the HD with using XP pro then clean
install vista.

OR doing a clean install VISTA no matter what putx XP in an OLD file and I
being rusty at this am running VISTA from a clean install without knowing.

the only way i did my install after not sure of clean install is put in
xpprosp2 from boot

click on to install windows and then it asks me to reformat and it did and
thought I swap cd to vista dvd so it loads vista but it didnt. so reformatted
again load xp all the way then install vista and OK

What are the steps to doing a clean install without overwritting or
installing xp first

sorry if posting is long its hard to proof read onthe monitor

mike

Hello,

You were correctly doing a clean install.

Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a
clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case
you have files you need from those folders.

You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any
files from the old windows folders.

You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click
the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to
install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.

- JB

JB
you mean all the time I was doing a clean install even it told me its
putting my old stuff in windowsOLD? I finally figured out how to delete OLD
and but still had the boot menu asking me which windows EARLIER or windows.
That is why i am so confused on whether or not I did a clean install or just
upgrade.
This last time I install as stated earlier, I formatted the harddrive with
xp and swap but it didnt see the dvd driver etc. I do now recall I saw that
upgrade was greyed out so I must have done a clean install. Saving the old
settings and such through me for a loop. Thats a new one me since I just
reforatted the hd whats there to put in OLD

oh well thanks for all your help.

Now I wonder why the blazes is my hd going down 138gb now 125gb last time i
looked and do all the maintenance as requested is vista that much a mem hog

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> You were correctly doing a clean install.
>
> Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a
> clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case
> you have files you need from those folders.
>
> You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any
> files from the old windows folders.
>
> You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click
> the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to
> install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.
>
> - JB
>

will try and let vista setup do a format a partion just to learn a new thing
or refresh this ailing head of mine. LOL Hope I dont have alhiemers LOL

you are a great helper
mich

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> You were correctly doing a clean install.
>
> Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a
> clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case
> you have files you need from those folders.
>
> You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any
> files from the old windows folders.
>
> You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click
> the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to
> install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.
>
> - JB
>

> and but still had the boot menu asking me which windows EARLIER or
> windows.
> That is why i am so confused on whether or not I did a clean install or
> just
> upgrade.

I agree, the boot menu is confusing ... previous operating systems really
shouldn't show up if you do a clean install over your old windows.

> upgrade was greyed out so I must have done a clean install. Saving the old
> settings and such through me for a loop. Thats a new one me since I just
> reforatted the hd whats there to put in OLD

Yes, if it tells you it's putting stuff in windows.old, it is doing a clean
install. Even if there are no old files.

> oh well thanks for all your help.

You're welcome

> Now I wonder why the blazes is my hd going down 138gb now 125gb last time
> i
> looked and do all the maintenance as requested is vista that much a mem
> hog

Vista likes the memory. lol

- JB