Vista Upgrade from Media Center????

1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the full
version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS to
OEMs.
2) Why doesn't the Vista Upgrade Advisor Tool not check the current OS for
upgrade vs clean install needs and add that to the to do list? It is
programming 101 for a software to check the previous version to verify needs
to upgrade. Anyone using this tool is being mis-lead by Microsoft into
believing they have a simple upgrade path.

I followed all of the Microsoft steps and am unable to perform an inplace
upgrade or even a clean install upgrade using the Microsoft Upgrade software
- I have to now return the software to Microsoft, wait for a refund to be
approved, then wait for Microsoft to send me a refund check. On top of that
I have to wait 30-90 days for my refund to arrive so that I can buy the full
version.

What a rip-off! I purchased this because it was heralded by Microsoft as
having better photo handling capabilities. I should send Microsoft a bill
for my time as a professional photographer that I wasted over the last two
days trying to perform an upgrade that Vista itself couldn't even tell me it
couldn't perform.

I have freeware better written than this.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com...ista.gen eral

"WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
> 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
> Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
> clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the
> full
> version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
> Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS
> to
> OEMs.

I had no install problem going from Media Center Edition to Vista Home
Premium. I did not do a clean install but an upgrade. There has always been
confusion about which version of Media Center Edition folks had on their
computer. "My Computer" would report 2002 but in reality it was 2005. There
is someplace to verify the version within Media Center Edition. I can no
longer look as I'm on Vista now.
Notice I used the words "going from" instead of upgrade because my computer
in general has been degraded. I have many apps and devices that are broken.
I'm waiting for solutions...

Dan,
Good luck. I was on the phone with Microsoft support for 6 hours tonite and
they still couldn't resolve rolling back my Vista install on another computer
to XP Pro. I plan on staying there until end of life for the product.
Bill

"DanR" wrote:

>
> "WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
> > 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
> > Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
> > clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the
> > full
> > version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
> > Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS
> > to
> > OEMs.
>
> I had no install problem going from Media Center Edition to Vista Home
> Premium. I did not do a clean install but an upgrade. There has always been
> confusion about which version of Media Center Edition folks had on their
> computer. "My Computer" would report 2002 but in reality it was 2005. There
> is someplace to verify the version within Media Center Edition. I can no
> longer look as I'm on Vista now.
> Notice I used the words "going from" instead of upgrade because my computer
> in general has been degraded. I have many apps and devices that are broken.
> I'm waiting for solutions...
>
>

I upgraded my Media Center laptop from XP to Home Premium with no problems.
What problem did you have?

--
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


"WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
> 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
> Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
> clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the
> full
> version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
> Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS
> to
> OEMs.
> 2) Why doesn't the Vista Upgrade Advisor Tool not check the current OS for
> upgrade vs clean install needs and add that to the to do list? It is
> programming 101 for a software to check the previous version to verify
> needs
> to upgrade. Anyone using this tool is being mis-lead by Microsoft into
> believing they have a simple upgrade path.
>
> I followed all of the Microsoft steps and am unable to perform an inplace
> upgrade or even a clean install upgrade using the Microsoft Upgrade
> software
> - I have to now return the software to Microsoft, wait for a refund to be
> approved, then wait for Microsoft to send me a refund check. On top of
> that
> I have to wait 30-90 days for my refund to arrive so that I can buy the
> full
> version.
>
> What a rip-off! I purchased this because it was heralded by Microsoft as
> having better photo handling capabilities. I should send Microsoft a bill
> for my time as a professional photographer that I wasted over the last two
> days trying to perform an upgrade that Vista itself couldn't even tell me
> it
> couldn't perform.
>
> I have freeware better written than this.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com...ista.gen eral

You are not well informed.
Why do you say Media Center XP can't be upgraded to Vista
Home Premium? I did it with no problems.

Also, any upgrade version of Vista can be used to do a clean install:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932

Gary VanderMolen


"WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
> 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
> Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
> clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the full
> version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
> Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS to
> OEMs.
> 2) Why doesn't the Vista Upgrade Advisor Tool not check the current OS for
> upgrade vs clean install needs and add that to the to do list? It is
> programming 101 for a software to check the previous version to verify needs
> to upgrade. Anyone using this tool is being mis-lead by Microsoft into
> believing they have a simple upgrade path.
>
> I followed all of the Microsoft steps and am unable to perform an inplace
> upgrade or even a clean install upgrade using the Microsoft Upgrade software
> - I have to now return the software to Microsoft, wait for a refund to be
> approved, then wait for Microsoft to send me a refund check. On top of that
> I have to wait 30-90 days for my refund to arrive so that I can buy the full
> version.
>
> What a rip-off! I purchased this because it was heralded by Microsoft as
> having better photo handling capabilities. I should send Microsoft a bill
> for my time as a professional photographer that I wasted over the last two
> days trying to perform an upgrade that Vista itself couldn't even tell me it
> couldn't perform.
>
> I have freeware better written than this.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com...ista.gen eral

i must admit

it wouldnt let me upgrade from Windows XP MCE to Vista HP

couldnt read the disk within MCE but it worked fine on Home Edition


"Gary VanderMolen" <Gary@nomail.invalid> wrote in message
news:OYRq6oJXHHA.4832@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> You are not well informed.
> Why do you say Media Center XP can't be upgraded to Vista
> Home Premium? I did it with no problems.
>
> Also, any upgrade version of Vista can be used to do a clean install:
> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
>
> Gary VanderMolen
>
>
> "WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
>> 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
>> Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
>> clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the
>> full
>> version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
>> Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS
>> to
>> OEMs.
>> 2) Why doesn't the Vista Upgrade Advisor Tool not check the current OS
>> for
>> upgrade vs clean install needs and add that to the to do list? It is
>> programming 101 for a software to check the previous version to verify
>> needs
>> to upgrade. Anyone using this tool is being mis-lead by Microsoft into
>> believing they have a simple upgrade path.
>>
>> I followed all of the Microsoft steps and am unable to perform an
>> inplace
>> upgrade or even a clean install upgrade using the Microsoft Upgrade
>> software
>> - I have to now return the software to Microsoft, wait for a refund to be
>> approved, then wait for Microsoft to send me a refund check. On top of
>> that
>> I have to wait 30-90 days for my refund to arrive so that I can buy the
>> full
>> version.
>>
>> What a rip-off! I purchased this because it was heralded by Microsoft as
>> having better photo handling capabilities. I should send Microsoft a
>> bill
>> for my time as a professional photographer that I wasted over the last
>> two
>> days trying to perform an upgrade that Vista itself couldn't even tell me
>> it
>> couldn't perform.
>>
>> I have freeware better written than this.
>>
>> ----------------
>> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
>> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the
>> "I
>> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
>> this
>> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and
>> then
>> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com...ista.gen eral
>

Same here Gary.. I had an HP Media Center m1270n (with XP
as the Previous Operating System) that I purchased from Circuit
City in 2005 (but it had Media Center 2002 as the install OEM).

I did the required Microsoft Updates over the last 2 years and it
got Upgraded off of Microsoft's Web-Site as MCE 2005.. I've
been patiently awaiting the release of Vista for a Loooonnnggg
Time though... :-) LOL.. Tooooo LONG.. :-)

Anyway, when Vista came out I immediately popped for the
Vista Ultimate Edition, and the installation went FLAWLESSLY
onto my previous MCE 2002/2005 edition.. No problems with
Vista at all.. I did have a SMALL problem with ONE CARE but
that was because I did NOT uninstall the previous edition of the
Defender that I had with MCE 2002/2005 but the One Care
Web-Site that I was directed to (by this Newsgroup) helped me
with getting this fixed in one (1) day..

I think Vista Ultimate is the BEST Operating System that
Microsoft has created to date (and I had them ALL), all the
way back to the TRS-80 (TRS-DOS versions) when I put
a TI99/A graphics chip in my Radio Shack Model 2 with
only 8K (then 16K) of memory (before Microsoft 3.1 even
came out)..

I do NOT know WHY some people are down on Vista.. I
personally think it is a GREAT Operating System..

Sincerely,
Ken


"Gary VanderMolen" <Gary@nomail.invalid> wrote in message
news:OYRq6oJXHHA.4832@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> You are not well informed.
> Why do you say Media Center XP can't be upgraded to Vista
> Home Premium? I did it with no problems.
>
> Also, any upgrade version of Vista can be used to do a clean install:
> http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
>
> Gary VanderMolen
>
>
> "WJH - St Louis" <WJH - St Louis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message news:0694B6FB-0FD4-4DCC-B903-146692BFA14A@microsoft.com...
>> 1) Why does the Microsoft web site say that I can upgrade to Vista Home
>> Premium from Media Center XP when in fact you can only do this through a
>> clean install. Also if you have Media Center 2002 you have to buy the
>> full
>> version, even if you bought a brand new pc in 2006 with it pre-installed.
>> Microsoft should not legally be allowed to sell older versions of the OS
>> to
>> OEMs.
>> 2) Why doesn't the Vista Upgrade Advisor Tool not check the current OS
>> for
>> upgrade vs clean install needs and add that to the to do list? It is
>> programming 101 for a software to check the previous version to verify
>> needs
>> to upgrade. Anyone using this tool is being mis-lead by Microsoft into
>> believing they have a simple upgrade path.
>>
>> I followed all of the Microsoft steps and am unable to perform an
>> inplace
>> upgrade or even a clean install upgrade using the Microsoft Upgrade
>> software
>> - I have to now return the software to Microsoft, wait for a refund to be
>> approved, then wait for Microsoft to send me a refund check. On top of
>> that
>> I have to wait 30-90 days for my refund to arrive so that I can buy the
>> full
>> version.
>>
>> What a rip-off! I purchased this because it was heralded by Microsoft as
>> having better photo handling capabilities. I should send Microsoft a
>> bill
>> for my time as a professional photographer that I wasted over the last
>> two
>> days trying to perform an upgrade that Vista itself couldn't even tell me
>> it
>> couldn't perform.
>>
>> I have freeware better written than this.

"Kenneth Cummings" <comic.castle@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:3C3790C0-AFCA-4B0D-9901-FD4AC30AFC75@microsoft.com...
> I do NOT know WHY some people are down on Vista.. I
> personally think it is a GREAT Operating System..
>
> Sincerely,
> Ken

There seems to be different issues with different folks. For some the OS
itself isn't working right or these people just can't get the hang of doing
things differently. In fact many things are done differently. MS renamed
"add or remove programs" in control panel to "programs and features". Not a
big deal but why?
Other folks like me find no problems with the OS at all but have devices and
programs that no longer work. In some cases I can pay a few hundred dollars
to upgrade this so called legacy software that I purchased 6 months ago.
With some of my devices I have to wait for drivers. And there is no
assurance that drivers will ever be available. So again a few hundred
dollars here a few hundred there.
At work we just received two new Dells with Vista and can not get them to
print to our network printer. It's a rented copier / printer that is locked
down so can't install Vista drivers directly on the printer. Need to have a
tech come out and do that. Maybe a hundred or so dollars there. So it can be
frustrating.