Upgrading to Vista without a working copy of XP

My daughters computer software has screwed up and the rescue disc I made when
it was new does not work (some of the files fail to unpack) when I try to do
a complete reload of XP. So the computer does not have a working copy of
Windows on it although it is 'entitled' to one, has the official sticker with
serial no etc.

Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does that
need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
serial no if that is required.

Hi Tim,

In order to do an upgrade, you *must* start from within a working
installation of XP. There is no way around it as the old method of inserting
a qualifying media disk to show ownership of a previous version has been
removed, nor will setup detect the presence of a non-working existing
installation.

What you *can* do instead is a clean install of Vista without the product
key, then do a second in-place upgrade with the same disk and use the
product key at that point. Basically, you install twice. If you do not
format during the initial clean install, then all of her data will still be
there but she will have to set up a new user account and redo any
personalized settings.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Tim" <> wrote in message
news:F7FFB501-9597-4148-A70D-...
> My daughters computer software has screwed up and the rescue disc I made
> when
> it was new does not work (some of the files fail to unpack) when I try to
> do
> a complete reload of XP. So the computer does not have a working copy of
> Windows on it although it is 'entitled' to one, has the official sticker
> with
> serial no etc.
>
> Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does
> that
> need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
> serial no if that is required.

On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:02:00 -0700, Tim
<> wrote:

>Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does that
>need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
>serial no if that is required.

In addition to what Rich Rogers said, MAKE SURE that there are Vista
drivers for her machine before you undertake installing Vista.

Thanks Rick

All her files are already saved elsewhere as I half expected the restoration
to go wrong, so preserving them or the software that originally came with the
machine is not an issue.

I was told by a shop assistant (but who trusts them?) that the upgrade
version of Vista would not boot without a working copy of XP pre-existing on
the machine. Were you referring to using the upgrade version or the more
expensive full version of Vista?

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi Tim,
>
> In order to do an upgrade, you *must* start from within a working
> installation of XP. There is no way around it as the old method of inserting
> a qualifying media disk to show ownership of a previous version has been
> removed, nor will setup detect the presence of a non-working existing
> installation.
>
> What you *can* do instead is a clean install of Vista without the product
> key, then do a second in-place upgrade with the same disk and use the
> product key at that point. Basically, you install twice. If you do not
> format during the initial clean install, then all of her data will still be
> there but she will have to set up a new user account and redo any
> personalized settings.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "Tim" <> wrote in message
> news:F7FFB501-9597-4148-A70D-...
> > My daughters computer software has screwed up and the rescue disc I made
> > when
> > it was new does not work (some of the files fail to unpack) when I try to
> > do
> > a complete reload of XP. So the computer does not have a working copy of
> > Windows on it although it is 'entitled' to one, has the official sticker
> > with
> > serial no etc.
> >
> > Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does
> > that
> > need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
> > serial no if that is required.
>
>

Tim wrote:

> Thanks Rick
>
> All her files are already saved elsewhere as I half expected the
> restoration to go wrong, so preserving them or the software that
> originally came with the machine is not an issue.
>
> I was told by a shop assistant (but who trusts them?) that the upgrade
> version of Vista would not boot without a working copy of XP pre-existing
> on
> the machine. Were you referring to using the upgrade version or the more
> expensive full version of Vista?

All the versions are the same as far as the install DVD is concerned. The
one that gets installed depends on which Product Key you have. So Rick's
method works. It is well-documented and you can Google to see this.

Do not neglect what Nonny said: make sure you have drivers for all the
hardware, including any important peripherals such as an expensive printer.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - OEM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116485

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Tim" <> wrote in message news:F7FFB501-9597-4148-A70D-...
My daughters computer software has screwed up and the rescue disc I made when
it was new does not work (some of the files fail to unpack) when I try to do
a complete reload of XP. So the computer does not have a working copy of
Windows on it although it is 'entitled' to one, has the official sticker with
serial no etc.

Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does that
need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
serial no if that is required.

Tim wrote:
> My daughters computer software has screwed up and the rescue disc I made when
> it was new does not work (some of the files fail to unpack) when I try to do
> a complete reload of XP. So the computer does not have a working copy of
> Windows on it although it is 'entitled' to one, has the official sticker with
> serial no etc.
>
> Can I upgrade to Vista home premium using the upgrade version, or does that
> need a working copy of XP on the machine. I can obviously input the XP
> serial no if that is required.


Vista's Upgrade process been intentionally redesigned to upgrade over
only an installed, activated, and validated earlier OS; simply inserting
the older OS' CD during the upgrade no longer works. (The older OS'
Product Key has never been of any use, for this purpose.) Apparently
Microsoft felt too many people were - or potentially could be - using
"borrowed" CDs to fraudulently qualify for Upgrades to which they
weren't legitimately entitled.

However, there is one possible solution, if you don't need to recover
and data from the existing WinXP installation. Boot from the Vista
Upgrade CD, format the hard drive and perform a clean installation,
*without* entering the Product Key. Then, from within this
installation, upgrade (yes, reinstall) to Vista, this time entering the
Product Key. (This is an unsupported work-around, so I can't personally
speak as to its efficacy.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot