Vista OEM - will it install as an upgrade.

Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:

If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
Retail License (yes the expensive one)?

I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.

Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
is there a WMVP that would know?

Thanks.

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:49:10 +0000, kda wrote:

> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a factual
> answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type answers that
> seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>
> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will I be
> able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full Retail
> License (yes the expensive one)?
>
> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I do
> not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>
> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or is there a
> WMVP that would know?
>
> Thanks.


MOST windows products do install as an upgrade. You start your system, and
then insert the disc in your DVD drive, select Install or Upgrade and
follow the screens.

But, if the OEM is tied to a certain manufacturer, it may not install on
your system! I was working at one place and got a bunch of copies of WIN2K
for Dell systems. They were linked to install on a machine with a Dell
BIOS only. Make sure before you shell out $$$ that it will install on your
machine...

The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

"kda" wrote:

Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:

If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
Retail License (yes the expensive one)?

I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.

Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
is there a WMVP that would know?

Thanks.

Carey,

Totally and utterly incorrect. I have just done exactly this to a system I
recently built.

The full OEM disk can be used to upgrade an existing XP set up

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

> The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
> perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
> be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
> Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
>
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "kda" wrote:
>
> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>
> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>
> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>
> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
> is there a WMVP that would know?
>
> Thanks.

You have a Vista generic OEM disk, Stu? I don't know of anyone that does as
it has not been released yet.

The current understanding of generic OEM full version disks is that they can
only be used for a clean install to a formatted disk. In the case of XP, one
could do a repair install to an existing system with an OEM disk, but not
use it to upgrade from Win2000, NT4, Win98, or WinME.

--
Best of Luck,

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

"Stu" <> wrote in message
news:E2A5FC8D-2DBF-48AA-B63E-...
> Carey,
>
> Totally and utterly incorrect. I have just done exactly this to a system I
> recently built.
>
> The full OEM disk can be used to upgrade an existing XP set up
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
>> perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
>> be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
>> Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "kda" wrote:
>>
>> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
>> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
>> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>>
>> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
>> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
>> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>>
>> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
>> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>>
>> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
>> is there a WMVP that would know?
>>
>> Thanks.

OEM versions come in 1 version only, either X86 or x64, and are designed for
a clean install on a new computer. I would wait to see the results from
those purchasing it at retail stores in your country before committing to a
purchase.


"kda" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>
> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>
> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>
> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
> is there a WMVP that would know?
>
> Thanks.

Stu

So far, it has been possible to upgrade over the top of an OEM installation,
but never been possible to upgrade during an OEM installation.. it will be
interesting to see how right you are?


"Stu" <> wrote in message
news:E2A5FC8D-2DBF-48AA-B63E-...
> Carey,
>
> Totally and utterly incorrect. I have just done exactly this to a system I
> recently built.
>
> The full OEM disk can be used to upgrade an existing XP set up
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> The answer is no. An OEM version of Windows Vista cannot
>> perform an upgrade over Windows XP. OEM versions must
>> be installed on a reformatted drive, known as a "clean install".
>> Only "Retail Versions" of Vista can perform an upgrade.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "kda" wrote:
>>
>> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
>> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
>> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>>
>> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
>> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
>> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>>
>> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
>> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>>
>> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
>> is there a WMVP that would know?
>>
>> Thanks.

Also the OEM or System Builder versions are tied to a single system
installation (Single MOBO) just like the systems that you now buy from the
computer manufacturers so unless you are not planning to replace the MOBO at
any time in the futue they are certainly a good value.
I have only seen 32bit versions available so far at Newegg.com. Also I
suggest that you read the license restrictions which are at Newegg.com
before purchasing a system builder version.
"John Barnes" <> wrote in message
news:...
> OEM versions come in 1 version only, either X86 or x64, and are designed
> for a clean install on a new computer. I would wait to see the results
> from those purchasing it at retail stores in your country before
> committing to a purchase.
>
>
> "kda" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
>> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
>> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>>
>> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
>> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
>> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>>
>> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
>> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>>
>> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
>> is there a WMVP that would know?
>>
>> Thanks.
>

Agreed, but add 'can' be a good value to a computer savvy person. With no
support from Microsoft, it may result in more lost time than the difference
in cost.

"JW" <> wrote in message
news:%23$...
> Also the OEM or System Builder versions are tied to a single system
> installation (Single MOBO) just like the systems that you now buy from the
> computer manufacturers so unless you are not planning to replace the MOBO
> at any time in the futue they are certainly a good value.
> I have only seen 32bit versions available so far at Newegg.com. Also I
> suggest that you read the license restrictions which are at Newegg.com
> before purchasing a system builder version.
> "John Barnes" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> OEM versions come in 1 version only, either X86 or x64, and are designed
>> for a clean install on a new computer. I would wait to see the results
>> from those purchasing it at retail stores in your country before
>> committing to a purchase.
>>
>>
>> "kda" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
>>> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
>>> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>>>
>>> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
>>> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
>>> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>>>
>>> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
>>> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
>>> is there a WMVP that would know?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>
>

NCIX.com has some good pricing on Vista.
http://www.ncix.com/
I don't know if they ship to the US.


"JW" <> wrote in message
news:%23$...
> Also the OEM or System Builder versions are tied to a single system
> installation (Single MOBO) just like the systems that you now buy from the
> computer manufacturers so unless you are not planning to replace the MOBO
> at any time in the futue they are certainly a good value.
> I have only seen 32bit versions available so far at Newegg.com. Also I
> suggest that you read the license restrictions which are at Newegg.com
> before purchasing a system builder version.
> "John Barnes" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> OEM versions come in 1 version only, either X86 or x64, and are designed
>> for a clean install on a new computer. I would wait to see the results
>> from those purchasing it at retail stores in your country before
>> committing to a purchase.
>>
>>
>> "kda" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Please, I'm not trying to be a smart ass but I am looking for a
>>> factual answer, if possible, and not speculation or "I think" type
>>> answers that seem to plague this board. THE QUESTION IS:
>>>
>>> If I buy Vista Ultimate OEM from a company like NewEgg for $199, will
>>> I be able to install it as an UPGRADE over my existing WinXP Pro Full
>>> Retail License (yes the expensive one)?
>>>
>>> I am looking to install as an upgrade (not full install) if I can as I
>>> do not really want to have to set everything up all over again.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know "FOR A FACT", i.e., personal experience or
>>> is there a WMVP that would know?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>
>