From: mike 


So why is Microsoft making its Vista users jump through hoops when they
really do not have to?   Why state the need for an valid XP installation
as a prerequisite if it is not really needed?

Are the various Microsoft departments in competition with each other to see
who can piss off the users the most?

  /m




On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:43:10 -0500, "Rich Gauszka"
 wrote:

>looks like the loophole is to install Vista twice -
>
>http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
>
>Microsoft internal documentation reveals workaround for Vista Upgrade DVDs
>with no need for a previous version of Windows
>
>
>Just when everyone thought that all hope was lost when it comes to
>performing a clean install with a Windows Vista Upgrade DVD, a gleam of
>light can now be seen at the end of the tunnel. A new workaround proposed by
>Paul Thurrott (via Microsoft internal documents) has been confirmed to work
>by DailyTech.
>
>We reported on Monday that Microsoft doesn't perform disc checking anymore
>during an operating system install. In the past, when performing a clean
>install, a user could boot from an install CD and insert a disc from a
>previous version of Windows for upgrade compliance.
>
>Per Microsoft's new licensing requirements for Vista, users are required to
>install a Windows Vista Upgrade from within Windows XP. When this occurs,
>the Windows XP license is forfeited and the Windows Vista installation
>process can take place.
>
>Now, however, this workaround allows users to perform a "clean
install." The
>process is a bit tedious, but is not hard at all to complete. Users have to
>perform these simple steps to perform a clean install of Vista without a
>previous version of Windows installed with an upgrade DVD:
>
>  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.
>
>There's no telling why Microsoft left this loophole wide open with Windows
>Vista Upgrade DVDs, but this means that any retail upgrade DVD can be used
>as a fully functioning full retail copy of Vista.
>

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