Upgrading to Vista Business requires ownership of one of the following operating systems:
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
• Windows XP Pro Blade PC Edition
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Windows NT Workstation 4.0
• Windows 98 (including 2nd Edition)
• IBM OS/2
• Apple Macintosh
That is, upgrading to Vista Business from XP Home Edition or Vista Home Editions is in breach of the EULA!
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VISTA CLEAN INSTALL WITH AN UPGRADE DVD
Unlike previous operating systems, a Vista Upgrade DVD will not accept a CD-ROM as proof of ownership, but will only install to a hard disk that already has the qualifying operating system installed.
However, the Upgrade DVD will also accept an unactivated copy of Vista itself as the qualifying product.
It is therefore possible to clean install an Upgrade version of Vista to any hard drive whether it has an operating system installed, or whether it is a new unused drive.
The procedure involves installing Vista twice.
During the first installation, the Product key, for activation, is not entered.
Immediately after Vista has installed, it is installed again, this time entering the Product Key
How to clean install Vista with an Upgrade Vista DVD
Configure your PC to boot from the DVD if it isn't already set up that way. You may need to enter the BIOS to configure the PC to boot from the DVD.
Set the boot order to
Floppy (if present)
CD/DVDROM
Hard Disk
SAVE and EXIT
Reboot your PC with the Vista DVD in the drive. When you see the "Press any key to boot from DVD..." prompt, do so.
Screen 1
Loading files might take some time.
Screen 2
The installation will load
Screen 3
Select language, time and keyboard
Click “Next”
Screen 4
Click “Install now”
Then wait
Screen 5
Do NOT enter the Product Key. Leave the box blank.
Turn off the option “Automatically activate Windows when I'm online”.
Confirm that you really do want to install Vista without entering a Product Key.
Click “Next”
Screen 6
Accept the Windows Licensing Agreement ( EULA).
Click “Next”
Screen 7
Select “Custom” and not “Upgrade”
Screen 8
Select hard disk and partition for Vista.
To change or adjust a partition click “Drive Options Advanced”.
Then delete or create a partition.
Format the partition
If you receive a warning that everything will be permanently deleted click "OK" to continue.
Select the required partition and click “Next” to begin installing Vista.
Screen 9
Files are copied to the PC.
Screen 10
Vista will restart for the first time.
Wait
Screen 11
More files are copied and features installed
Vista reboots again
Screen 12
Choose User Name and password
Click “Next”
Screen 13
Choose a computer name and desktop background
Click "Next"
Screen 14
Set up Automatic Updates
Click "Use Recommended settings" to continue
Screen 15
Set the time zone
Click “Next”
Screen 16
Choosing the location is important as it affects critical network settings and determines
if other PCs can discover your machine on a network.
Select the “Home” option if the PC is connected to your home network.
“Public Location” is a good choice for a laptop which will be used to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots.
The laptop will be locked down on the network and only standard Internet traffic will be allowed through.
If unsure which to choose, select “Public Location”
Vista will reboot again.
Screen 17
A “Thank you” from Vista
The interactive part of Setup is complete.
Click “Start” to continue
Screen 18
Vista checks the machine`s performance
Screens 19 to 24
Please wait while Vista continues to install. This will take a while, but no User input is required.
Screen 25
Log into Vista using the password you created earlier.
Click the arrow or press Enter to continue
Screen 26
Vista welcomes you.
Screen 27
Vista is preparing the desktop
Screen 28
The Vista desktop.
This has installed Vista as a 30-day trial.
Now, immediately install Vista again, this time from the desktop.
Simply eject the DVD, reinsert it and let setup run.
Repeat the above instructions with the following changes:-
Screen 4
Click "Install Now."
Select “Do not get the latest updates for installation”
Screen 5
Product Key
Enter the Product Key this time
Again, turn off the option “Automatically activate Windows when I'm online”.
Screen 7
On this second install, select "Upgrade”
This is not a clean install, but an upgrade to Vista.
Then proceed through the installation with no further changes to the instructions.
Be sure to enter the same Username and password that you chose during the first install
Vista must be activated within 30 days or it will lose functionality.
This can be done in 2 ways.
If you have not closed down the Welcome Center, click “Show more details” then click “Activate Windows now”
Otherwise click Start, Control Panel, System & Maintenance, System
The Windows.old directory which contains information from the first Vista install can be safely deleted.
If you have any problems or need help please post your questions in Windows Vista Support
