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General discussion

installing vista OEM over XP Media Center...

Jul 4, 2007 7:06AM PDT

easy or hard? what is involved?

Discussion is locked

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Easy...
Jul 4, 2007 8:12AM PDT

If you insert the Vista DVD, reboot your computer, and press any key to boot to the DVD when prompted (assuming your system BIOS are set such that the optical drive is the primary boot device) the installer will launch, guiding you through the surprisingly easy process of installing Vista. It is truly far more user friendly than the installation of Windows XP was.

Keep in mind, though, that the OEM copy requires a clean installation, so you will need to backup your personal files and prepare for a fresh start...you can't simply upgrade your current installation.

John

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John,i think i know what you mean by a fresh install...
Jul 4, 2007 9:27AM PDT

but if you could just clarify for me. does that mean that i need to remove XP? how is a clean install achieved? please forgive my naivete, but i want to make sure that i have it right.

just to make sure as well, the vista 32 bit dvd would not just be an upgrade version but a completely fresh one, correct?

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Correct on both counts...
Jul 4, 2007 1:24PM PDT

* When you go to install Vista you can opt to delete the partition containing XP, then create a new partition from the newly unallocated space. (Those are key terms used by the installer.) You can then choose to install Vista on that newly created partition. That will give you the clean install, but also erase all installed software and personal documents, which you'll have to restore from backup.

* Exactly: "the vista 32 bit dvd would not just be an upgrade version but a completely fresh one"

Good luck.
John

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(NT) thanks
Jul 4, 2007 9:02PM PDT