Small Question

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have already
read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if I
still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if there are
any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is capable
of running Windows Vista)

Thanks in advance!

A Windows Vista "upgrade" is not like any upgrade that has come before it.
Unlike other upgrades, the Vista upgrade saves programs and settings,
installs a new copy of Vista, then re-imports programs and settings back
into Vista when done. As a result the results can vary greatly depending on
how clean your base XP system was. If it has problems, spyware, adware,
etc. then it's possible to probable these problems could follow you.

Since you have three days to use Vista before it will activate, I personally
would try the upgrade to see if you can save programs and settings. If
after a day or so things are too unstable, then wipe and install clean.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"AJD23" <AJD23@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4CBF1BE5-01D8-45F3-8476-1F4169B8CB7E@microsoft.com...
> Hi everyone,
> I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have already
> read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
> I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if I
> still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if there
> are
> any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is
> capable
> of running Windows Vista)
>
> Thanks in advance!

"AJD23" <AJD23@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

> Hi everyone,
> I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have already
> read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
> I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if I
> still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if there
> are
> any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is
> capable
> of running Windows Vista)

Search through this newsgroup for posts about upgrading and installing .
It's all been discussed over and over.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

AJD23--

You will retain all your files in an upgrade scenario from a legacy OS to
Vista, but most people will tell you if you bought a full Vista DVD, you
have better odds for long term stability. There can always be problems you
don't know about from running the legacy OS for a while that would be passed
on in the upgrade.

How to Install Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884/

Good luck,

CH

"AJD23" <AJD23@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4CBF1BE5-01D8-45F3-8476-1F4169B8CB7E@microsoft.com...
> Hi everyone,
> I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have already
> read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
> I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if I
> still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if there
> are
> any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is
> capable
> of running Windows Vista)
>
> Thanks in advance!

I thought it was 30 days until you have to activate?
--
Ronald Sommer

"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
news:OE91uSlTHHA.1180@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
:A Windows Vista "upgrade" is not like any upgrade that has come before it.
: Unlike other upgrades, the Vista upgrade saves programs and settings,
: installs a new copy of Vista, then re-imports programs and settings back
: into Vista when done. As a result the results can vary greatly depending
on
: how clean your base XP system was. If it has problems, spyware, adware,
: etc. then it's possible to probable these problems could follow you.
:
: Since you have three days to use Vista before it will activate, I
personally
: would try the upgrade to see if you can save programs and settings. If
: after a day or so things are too unstable, then wipe and install clean.
:
: --
: Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
: * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
: * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
: * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
: * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
:
:
: "AJD23" <AJD23@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
: news:4CBF1BE5-01D8-45F3-8476-1F4169B8CB7E@microsoft.com...
: > Hi everyone,
: > I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have
already
: > read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
: > I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if I
: > still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if there
: > are
: > any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is
: > capable
: > of running Windows Vista)
: >
: > Thanks in advance!
:
:

Unless you do something draconian it will start trying to activate in three
days. You can uncheck the box to activate automatically (during setup this
is an option) but that won't stop Windows from reminding/trying to activate.
You do have three guaranteed days where nothing will happen no matter what
you do.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Ron Sommer" <rsommer@nospam.ktis.net> wrote in message
news:eh0nXWqTHHA.4028@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I thought it was 30 days until you have to activate?
> --
> Ronald Sommer
>
> "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
> news:OE91uSlTHHA.1180@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> :A Windows Vista "upgrade" is not like any upgrade that has come before
> it.
> : Unlike other upgrades, the Vista upgrade saves programs and settings,
> : installs a new copy of Vista, then re-imports programs and settings back
> : into Vista when done. As a result the results can vary greatly
> depending
> on
> : how clean your base XP system was. If it has problems, spyware, adware,
> : etc. then it's possible to probable these problems could follow you.
> :
> : Since you have three days to use Vista before it will activate, I
> personally
> : would try the upgrade to see if you can save programs and settings. If
> : after a day or so things are too unstable, then wipe and install clean.
> :
> : --
> : Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
> : * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> : * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> : * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
> : * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> :
> :
> : "AJD23" <AJD23@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> : news:4CBF1BE5-01D8-45F3-8476-1F4169B8CB7E@microsoft.com...
> : > Hi everyone,
> : > I'm new to the whole "upgrade / installation" of OS's, and I have
> already
> : > read the FAQ's, but I am still a little bit sketchy.
> : > I would just like to know if I should upgrade or do a full install, if
> I
> : > still want to keep all my files and programs (if possible) and if
> there
> : > are
> : > any advantages or disadvantages of doing either (Yes, my computer is
> : > capable
> : > of running Windows Vista)
> : >
> : > Thanks in advance!
> :
> :
>