Upgrade from Home Premium to Vista Business?

I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is not
directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...

I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a way
I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
"quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to have
to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now so I
don't have to worry about data.

I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
install?

Thanks,

-Frank

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is
>not directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>
> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a
> way I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
> Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to
> have to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now
> so I don't have to worry about data.
>
> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
> install?


I would much rather make fresh installations, to ensure that the machines
are as stable as possible. If they are all the same hardware, it should
take very little time to find all the required drivers.

ss.

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Frankster" <> wrote in message
> news: ...
>>I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is
>>not directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>>
>> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a
>> way I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
>> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium
>> to Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to
>> have to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now
>> so I don't have to worry about data.
>>
>> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
>> install?
>
>
> I would much rather make fresh installations, to ensure that the machines
> are as stable as possible. If they are all the same hardware, it should
> take very little time to find all the required drivers.
>
> ss.
>

Well, I would also like to preserve any vendor apps that are actually useful
(I delete all the "crapware" anyway). Apps such as DVD writing software,
movie playing software, etc. I know these can usually also be downloaded,
but...

-Frank

There is no upgrade path from home Premium to business. Why?
Home Premium has media center, Business does not. That is one example!

Wipe your hard drive, format, clean install.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Frankster" wrote:

> I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is not
> directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>
> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a way
> I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
> Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to have
> to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now so I
> don't have to worry about data.
>
> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
> install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Frank
>
>

In most cases, the original drivers are all on the recovery partition.
The version of Vista shouldn't matter for the drivers.
If you just format C and install Business, assuming D is the recovery
partition with all the OEM drivers, you should be able to install any
missing drivers after getting the OS booted.

--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!

Change Alpha to Numeric to reply

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is
> not directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>
> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a
> way I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
> Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to
> have to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now
> so I don't have to worry about data.
>
> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
> install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Frank

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is
>not directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>
> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain. Is there a
> way I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
> Vista Business? That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to
> have to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now
> so I don't have to worry about data.
>
> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
> install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Frank

Thanks to all who replied...

To sum it up, I decided to use one of my Vista Ultimate licenses to upgrade
this machine. I didn't really need or want Ultimate on this domain machine
but it was easy and fast. So I bit the bullet.

-Frank

why "upgrade " it? Business doesn't have stuff that home premium has. What
are you looking for?



"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
>I know that upgrading from Home Premium versions to Business versions is
>not directly supported (I don't think it is, anyway). But...
>
> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain.




Is there a way
> I can load Vista Business and apply my Business licenses to sort of
> "quasi-upgrade" my newly purchased machine which came with Home Premium to
> Vista Business?

You have 10 licenses so just load the business version on the machine with
home premium and use one of the licenses.


That is, other than a clean install (I'm trying not to have
> to track down all the drivers). There is no data on the machine now so I
> don't have to worry about data.
>
> I was thinking maybe a "repair" install or something? Or an "overwrite"
> install?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Frank

"Little Billy" <> wrote in message
news:_oWXj.1546$Uf1.688@trndny08...
>> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain.
>
> why "upgrade " it? Business doesn't have stuff that home premium has. What
> are you looking for?


Er, he wants to join a domain. I'd much rather choose the advanced
networking over Media Centre and Picture Gallery.

ss.

Synapse Syndrome wrote:
> "Little Billy" <> wrote in message
> news:_oWXj.1546$Uf1.688@trndny08...
>>> I have 10 licenses for Business and I wish to join a domain.
>> why "upgrade " it? Business doesn't have stuff that home premium has. What
>> are you looking for?
>
>
> Er, he wants to join a domain. I'd much rather choose the advanced
> networking over Media Centre and Picture Gallery.
>
> ss.
>
>

<G>