Clean Install possible now with Vista Upgrade DVDs

his is one hell of a news for people, who have bought Vista upgrade DVD. All hope was lost few days back, but a workaround proposed by Paul Thurrott (via Microsoft internal documents) has confirmed it that its possible.

On Monday we reported that using Microsoft Vista upgrade DVD you won’t be able to do a clean install without going through some hassles.

Microsoft internal documentation reveals workaround for Vista Upgrade DVDs with no need for a previous version of Windows.With the new licensing policy for Vista by Microsoft users are required to install Vista Upgrade from within XP.If you install it via Xp then your XP license gets invalidated after that the actual Vista installation gets underway.

But this walk through will allow users to perform a ” clean install without any hassles” Just go through this simple steps and you will be able to perform a clean install without invalidating your previous license.

1. Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
2. When prompted to enter your product key, DO NOT enter it. Click “Next” and proceed with setup. This will install Windows Vista as a 30-day trial.
3. When prompted, select the edition of Vista which you have purchased and continue with setup.
4. Once setup has been completed and you have been brought to the desktop for the first time, run the install program from within Windows Vista.
5. This time, type in your product key when prompted.
6. When asked whether to perform an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) install, choose Custom (advanced) to perform a clean install of Vista. Yes, this means that you will have to install Vista for a second time.
7. Once setup has completed for the second time, you should be able to activate Windows Vista normally. You can also delete the Windows.old directory which contains information from the first Vista install.

Dono why Microsft have left this hole wide open on their Vista Upgrade DVD, looking at this joke from Microsoft! every retail upgrade DVD equals to a Full retail copy of Vista.

When you first encounter this prompt for your product key, just hit next and proceed with setup.

Choose which version of Windows you have purchased, check the box and click Next.

Once the first install of Vista is completed and you start the second install from within Vista, you’ll need to enter your product key.

Choose “Custom (advanced)” to perform a clean install.

Once the second install of Vista has been completed, you can activtate your installation through Microsoft

  Article source:http://www.thinktechno.com/2007/01/31/clean-install-possible-now-with-vista-upgrade-dvds/