Upgrade from XP x64 to Vista 64

I have a 64bit XP OEM loaded on my machine. If I get an OEM version of Vista
ultimate 64bit can I do an upgrade? or is it going to tell me that I have to
do a full install?

Would I be better off getting the retail version? or is that going to make
no difference? I just don't want to go through the whole "re-install and the
programs" part.

Thanks

How to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista by using the upgrade version
of Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931226

Express Upgrade for Vidows Vista (from XP):
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windowsv...ssupgrade.mspx

How to prepare to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931225

Windows Vista: Upgrade advisor (downloadable from MS):

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...a&mg_id=20406b

"Chisss" <> wrote in message
news:06594069-3C90-4DF5-B507-...
>I have a 64bit XP OEM loaded on my machine. If I get an OEM version of
>Vista
> ultimate 64bit can I do an upgrade? or is it going to tell me that I have
> to
> do a full install?
>
> Would I be better off getting the retail version? or is that going to make
> no difference? I just don't want to go through the whole "re-install and
> the
> programs" part.
>
> Thanks
>

No, your OEM install is going to use a *.WIM 'image' of the starting
registry (and other files). It will not 'upgrade' your existing registry,
but rather 'overwrite' it.
If you would like to see how a WIM is used to 'extract' the files, this
shows the technique.

The update is not installed successfully, you receive a message, and the
computer restarts when you try to install an update in Windows Vista :
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358/en-us
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Mark L. Ferguson

..
"Chisss" <> wrote in message
news:06594069-3C90-4DF5-B507-...
>I have a 64bit XP OEM loaded on my machine. If I get an OEM version of
>Vista
> ultimate 64bit can I do an upgrade? or is it going to tell me that I have
> to
> do a full install?
>
> Would I be better off getting the retail version? or is that going to make
> no difference? I just don't want to go through the whole "re-install and
> the
> programs" part.
>
> Thanks
>

You will have to do a clean install. There is no upgrade path in the 64-bit
series.

"Chisss" <> wrote in message
news:06594069-3C90-4DF5-B507-...
>I have a 64bit XP OEM loaded on my machine. If I get an OEM version of
>Vista
> ultimate 64bit can I do an upgrade? or is it going to tell me that I have
> to
> do a full install?
>
> Would I be better off getting the retail version? or is that going to make
> no difference? I just don't want to go through the whole "re-install and
> the
> programs" part.
>
> Thanks
>