WinXP Pro SP2 + Vista Express Upgrade

[pc_guy]

I've been looking at this

I can get WinXP OEM for $177 - and as I understand it, a free upgrade to Vista Business edition + shipping.

Should I go ahead and take the offer, the Business edition sold separately will be $250 for the upgrade alone. I'm also afraid that MS will change something about retailers being able to sell much cheaper Vista OEM editions.

Go or No go?

[jph1589]

I've always wondered about upgrade versions. My understanding is that the Vista Upgrade will look for an existing Windows XP install on your machine before it lets you install.

So let's say 2 years from now you upgrade your hardware/replace your hard drive. Will you have to install XP on it before you can instll the Vista upgrade? That could get cumbersome if you upgrade a lot? Also, the possibility exists that a motherboard say 3 years from now might not support XP? Then how would you install the Vista upgrade?

Maybe someone knows how to sort this out.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by jph1589

So let's say 2 years from now you upgrade your hardware/replace your hard drive. Will you have to install XP on it before you can instll the Vista upgrade? That could get cumbersome if you upgrade a lot?

I agree. You can do something similar to that already by upgrading a base Windows 98 operating system with a Windows XP OS upgrade for less than a hundred bucks.

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by jph1589

I've always wondered about upgrade versions. My understanding is that the Vista Upgrade will look for an existing Windows XP install on your machine before it lets you install.

So let's say 2 years from now you upgrade your hardware/replace your hard drive. Will you have to install XP on it before you can instll the Vista upgrade?

The way it has worked with past versions (and I assume this will be the same with Vista) is that the upgrade disc is actually a full version, but it will ask you to insert your original OS CD into the optical before installing. For example, if you purchased WinXP Upgrade and wished to perform a clean install, you would need to verify your eligibility by temporarily inserting a copy of a previous OS that qualifies (Win98SE, for example). It doesn't install the older OS, it just verifies that you have it.

[Capper]

One4 is exactly correct....you won't have to install WinXP on the drive, but during the installation of the new OS, you'll be asked to insert the WinXP disk so it can verify you are eligible to install the new version

[jph1589]

Thank you both. That was never really clear to me.

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Yeah, I saw that the other day. It would be quite smart to order a version of XP MCE to get Vista Ultimate for free, considering you save a boatload.

[pc_guy]

I believe you only would get Vista Home Premium if you ordered XP MCE.

I checked this and most of the manufacturers are going like this:

XP Media Center Edition 2005 => Vista Home Premium
Windows Tablet Edition => Vista Business Edition
XP Professional Edition => Vista Business Edition

If I order the "Full Version OEM" Win XP, shouldn't I be getting the full version OEM Vista as the upgrade?

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

Originally Posted by pc_guy

I believe you only would get Vista Home Premium if you ordered XP MCE.

I checked this and most of the manufacturers are going like this:

XP Media Center Edition 2005 => Vista Home Premium
Windows Tablet Edition => Vista Business Edition
XP Professional Edition => Vista Business Edition

If I order the "Full Version OEM" Win XP, shouldn't I be getting the full version OEM Vista as the upgrade?

Yeah you're right. My bad!

Anyways, I believe they will just send you an upgrade that is capable of a clean install.