I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP) Am
thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new hard drive.
Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive with no operating
system already on it, or would I have to install XP then upgrade. Thanks for
any info.
You can buy a full version of Vista, which can be installed on a new drive. A less expensive upgrade version can be used to upgrade an existing WinXP installation or it can be installed on a clean partition if you have proof that you own a WinXP license e.g. a WinXP installation CD.
I suggest that you install both so the you can dual boot and eventually use whichever one you prefer as your main OS.
DaddyJim wrote:
>
> I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP) Am
> thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new hard drive.
> Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive with no operating
> system already on it, or would I have to install XP then upgrade. Thanks for
> any info.
Thanks Mike. Will have to settle for the low end upgrade of vista if I buy.
Can't afford the high dollar unless price decreases quite a bit, which is
unlikely.
"DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46def066$0$32551$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Thanks Mike. Will have to settle for the low end upgrade of vista if I
> buy. Can't afford the high dollar unless price decreases quite a bit,
> which is unlikely.
>
If you're going to buy a new drive, why not try to find a Mom & Pop builder
in your area. I believe a hard drive qualifies for an OEM purchase which
will be even less than an upgrade. Of course you'll have to provide your own
tech support.
On Wed, 5 Sep 2007 17:09:49 -0400, "BkStCrawler"
<daerob@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>
>
>"DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:46def066$0$32551$4c368faf@roadrunner.com.. .
>> Thanks Mike. Will have to settle for the low end upgrade of vista if I
>> buy. Can't afford the high dollar unless price decreases quite a bit,
>> which is unlikely.
>>
>
>If you're going to buy a new drive, why not try to find a Mom & Pop builder
>in your area. I believe a hard drive qualifies for an OEM purchase which
>will be even less than an upgrade. Of course you'll have to provide your own
>tech support.
>
>David
The price of a HDD + OEM Vista through a mom-n-pop shop
might be higher than purchasing both through a larger online
'site like http://www.outpost.com or http://www.newegg.com
"DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46dec3fa$0$18927$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP) Am
> thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new hard
drive.
> Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive with no operating
> system already on it, or would I have to install XP then upgrade. Thanks
for
> any info.
>
>
I did a test install of Vista and fooled around with it for 3 months...then
deleted it.
I assure you , you do not want to waste your time.
If you have some very new, very high end hardware Vista might work for you
....but
it still needs at least 6 months to a year for the rest of the bugs to be
worked out...
for now, just stay with XP
"DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46dec3fa$0$18927$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP) Am
>thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new hard drive.
>Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive with no operating
>system already on it, or would I have to install XP then upgrade. Thanks
>for any info.
All 32 bit versions of Vista are contained within the Vista dvd.
What decides which version you are entitled yo use is the serial number that
you enter.
An upgrade instal can only be carried out from witin an existing qualifying
OS.
Fortunately Vista's upgrade version will accept an installed unactivated
copy of Vista itself as evidence of a previous installation.
More info here http://www.windowssecrets.com/comp/070201
DaddyJim wrote:
>
> I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP)
> Am thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new
> hard drive. Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive
> with no operating system already on it, or would I have to install
> XP then upgrade. Thanks for any info.
Before you get Vista, please be sure to read the following URLs for
reasons to do otherwise. You might also think about installing
Ubuntu. CDs are free. See ubuntu.com.
"DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46dec3fa$0$18927$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>I have 3 computers with hard drive going bad in one, (all are XP) Am
>thinking of buying win vista to play around with along with new hard drive.
>Question is, can vista be installed on new hard drive with no operating
>system already on it, or would I have to install XP then upgrade. Thanks
>for any info.
If you buy the Upgrade Vista DVD, you need to install from an activated
installation of XP. You can Google for the way to install the Upgrade
without first installing XP. It works but apparently MS are going to clock
installations made like this, according to some MVPs.
What hardware are you planning to install Vista on? Anything pretty old is
going to result in a disappointing experience.
"BkStCrawler" <daerob@bigfoot.com> wrote in
news:XdSdnSufncm3hkLbnZ2dnUVZ_u-unZ2d@comcast.com:
>
>
> "DaddyJim" <jj2145@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:46def066$0$32551$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Thanks Mike. Will have to settle for the low end upgrade of vista if
>> I buy. Can't afford the high dollar unless price decreases quite a
>> bit, which is unlikely.
>>
>
> If you're going to buy a new drive, why not try to find a Mom & Pop
> builder in your area. I believe a hard drive qualifies for an OEM
> purchase which will be even less than an upgrade. Of course you'll
> have to provide your own tech support.
>
> David
If you go with the OEM version it has a more restrictive EULA. Reading
EULA's is a real pain but be sure to read them before you buy Vista -
they are more restrictive than XP's were.
In brief, the OEM version is supposed to be tied to the hardware and must
be sold with the hardware. If a 'major component(s)' is/are changed,
you may not be able to reactivate Vista and you will at the very least
need to call to reactivate. Microsoft has not enforced this in the past
*BUT*......
Personally I would pay the extra $40-$50 bucks U.S. and get the upgrade
version but I can certainly understand why the OEM version would be just
fine for a lot of people.
I try to explain the different versions and EULA's here if you want to
waste an evening trying to decipher the legalese:
windows vista 
Linear Mode
