Users won't be able to use an upgrade key to do a clean Windows Vista installation

Jan 29, 2007 15:13 GMT  ·  By

Via the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee program, the Redmond juggernaut wanted to breathe live into the holidays PC sales. The initiative has ended up costing Microsoft some $1.6 billion, in the quarter ended December 31. For a $1.6 deferral, Microsoft will allow PC buyers that have acquired a system preloaded with Windows XP to make the jump to Vista.

However, users in this situation will be unable to do a clean install of Windows Vista. This was not the case with Windows XP. Users were able in the past to do a clean install of XP even with an upgrade XP CD. During the XP installation, users simply had to put in the media containing the previous version of the operating system they had acquired.

This process has changed in Windows Vista. In fact, via an update Vista disc users will now be able to install Vista on top of Windows XP. In order for users to upgrade to Windows Vista, their system must be preinstalled with a valid copy of Windows XP.

The Vista upgrade process is a result of the changes Microsoft has introduced to the installation and validation mechanisms. Microsoft has even published a Knowledge Base article detailing the fact that an upgrade key cannot be used in order to perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.

The Redmond Company presents the two alternatives that users have at their disposal. The first is to install Windows Vista on a genuine, activated and validated earlier copy of Windows or buy a full license to the operating system.