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- Aug 12, 2004
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- 8,377
Not much in the way of info out there on this just yet but what I have have been able to determine so far is not good news. Apparently Vista Upgrade has a significant difference from the old XP Upgrade. With XP you could still do a clean install with an upgrade version by simply providing your disc from the original OS during the install. I will be able to confirm this once my January Action Pack update comes in since the version of Vista with the kit is a Business Edition Upgrade. It seems and I did read this on the MSDN newsgroup in a post from a MS staffer that to use a Vista Upgrade you MUST do so fro the OS to be upgraded. The thread there started because someone tried it by booting from the DVD and when he put in his product key it told him he has to do this by running the DVD from within the existing Windows installation and would not install with the Upgrade version product key. The MS staffer that replied in the thread confirmed and stated that yes - a truly clean install is not possible with an upgrade version key - the operating system to be upgraded MUST be installed AND activated first. I read this earlier and do not have a link on it but there was another thread about this over at Ars Sucks in some respects but I see why MS would want to do it this way - prevents someone from simply using a pirated XP disc to get Vista on the cheap. I also wonder if it does something along the lines of permanently de-activating your XP key that you upgraded from.
Also here is an interesting link for other Action Pack subscribers. MS is offering to let you upgrade your 10 Action Pack Vista Business Licenses to Vista Ultimate for $139.00....
http://www.windowsanytimeupgrade.com/maps
Also here is an interesting link for other Action Pack subscribers. MS is offering to let you upgrade your 10 Action Pack Vista Business Licenses to Vista Ultimate for $139.00....
http://www.windowsanytimeupgrade.com/maps