How To: Clean Install an Upgrade Edition of Vista

by **PRstud** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:57 pm

Windows failed to start. A recent Hardware or software change might be the cause, to fix the problem:
1. Insert your windows installation cd and restart.
2. choose your language settings.
3. click to repair your computer.
language is ok
click to repair is not there, leads me to complete new installation
same with number 1

by **JabbaPapa** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:38 pm

You may need to format your hard drive...

by **PRstud** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:58 pm

I had already done that. If I disconect HD 1, then Vista will play with no problem. Its just when I have both drives connected that I have the problem.

by **JabbaPapa** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:40 am

Oh, then you may have a boot files issue not actually connected with the above installation trick, and I would advise you to start a new thread about it -- something along the lines of "Help! My Vista doesn't boot properly..." and describe the symptoms in your header.

You will certainly receive more attention and better help for your problem if you proceed as suggested...

by **JabbaPapa** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:27 am

OK I can confirm from further testing that this clean installation method does NOT always work, and I would further suspect that this loophole will be completely closed when SP1 is released.

At first glance, it would appear that Vista RTM 64-bit Upgrade versions can be clean installed using this method, whilst 32-bit versions cannot.

However, you can still clean install Vista without the product key and then "upgrade" from within Vista using your upgrade product key, that is to say by reinstalling Vista from within Vista and selecting Upgrade (you must ensure that you have sufficient hard drive space to allow this).

So it's still worth attempting this method, and you will in any case end up with a pretty clean Windows setup with no windows.old folder to get rid of.

I will edit the text of the header some time later (no time to do so immediately) to reflect this change in our knowledge.

by **xxsonyboy4lfexx** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:03 am

So when you get an upgrade version it will be a full reformat and leave no other files behind?( When this procedure is done)

by **JabbaPapa** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:46 am

That is correct.

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How To: Clean Install an Upgrade Edition of Vista

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