"upgrade" re-install with Vista OEM DVD?

I want to re-install Vista Business/SP1on my laptop from its
Dell OEM installation DVD, and I'm trying to avoid having
to re-install all the drivers and apps. I've read in various
forums (fora?) that I should do an "upgrade" installation with
the DVD. But when I start the DVD from the running OS
(which I've read is the way to do it), the option to upgrade
is grayed out and a statement reads:

"Upgrade has been disabled. The upgrade cannot be
started. To upgrade, cancel the installation and then
choose to upgrade to a version of Windows that is
more recent than the version you are currently running."

1) Is this because the DVD is OEM and not retail?

2) Is there a way to force the OEM DVD to upgrade the
running Vista to the same version?

3) Is the requirement to upgrade to a later *version*, or
to a higher level, e.g. Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate?

*TimDaniels*

You can't run an install upgrade from an installation DVD to the OS you are
running from itself. You must boot it from the Installation disk.

"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:uju3Tok8JHA.1340@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> I want to re-install Vista Business/SP1on my laptop from its
> Dell OEM installation DVD, and I'm trying to avoid having
> to re-install all the drivers and apps. I've read in various
> forums (fora?) that I should do an "upgrade" installation with
> the DVD. But when I start the DVD from the running OS
> (which I've read is the way to do it), the option to upgrade
> is grayed out and a statement reads:
>
> "Upgrade has been disabled. The upgrade cannot be
> started. To upgrade, cancel the installation and then
> choose to upgrade to a version of Windows that is
> more recent than the version you are currently running."
>
> 1) Is this because the DVD is OEM and not retail?
>
> 2) Is there a way to force the OEM DVD to upgrade the
> running Vista to the same version?
>
> 3) Is the requirement to upgrade to a later *version*, or
> to a higher level, e.g. Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate?
>
> *TimDaniels*
>

Hi,

Upgrade would be disabled if:

a) You are booting the disk and attempting to upgrade from there with an
upgrade key.

b) You are trying to "upgrade" an existing installation that has a service
pack installed that is a higher level than the disk (you would need to first
uninstall the service pack).

c) You are trying to "upgrade" to a lower version (eg: going from Ultimate
to Home Premium).

I suspect you might be running in the problem described under (b)?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeKnot.biz> wrote in message
news:uju3Tok8JHA.1340@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I want to re-install Vista Business/SP1on my laptop from its
> Dell OEM installation DVD, and I'm trying to avoid having
> to re-install all the drivers and apps. I've read in various
> forums (fora?) that I should do an "upgrade" installation with
> the DVD. But when I start the DVD from the running OS
> (which I've read is the way to do it), the option to upgrade
> is grayed out and a statement reads:
>
> "Upgrade has been disabled. The upgrade cannot be
> started. To upgrade, cancel the installation and then
> choose to upgrade to a version of Windows that is
> more recent than the version you are currently running."
>
> 1) Is this because the DVD is OEM and not retail?
>
> 2) Is there a way to force the OEM DVD to upgrade the
> running Vista to the same version?
>
> 3) Is the requirement to upgrade to a later *version*, or
> to a higher level, e.g. Vista Enterprise or Vista Ultimate?
>
> *TimDaniels*
>