can I install after an upgrade

I plan on upgrading my motherboard, CPU, and graphics card. Since I am
changing the mobo and cpu, i will have to reformat my hd. but my version of
vista is a Home Prem upgrade disc. When I installed it last time, I had a
copy of XP installed, so I could easily upgrade like that. But will I be
able to install this version of vista on my comp on an empty hard drive?

Hi Greg,

Technically no, you have to start the upgrade from within an existing
installation. However, there is a workaround. You boot with the DVD and
start the installer, and at the point where you insert the Product Key,
simply bypass it and then choose the appropriate version of Vista. Complete
setup, then login and reinsert your DVD, start setup again, this time
inserting the Product Key. Basically, you install twice.

--
Best of Luck,

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

"Greg" <Greg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FF415C46-94AB-4E68-8E07-771E2D36163D@microsoft.com...
>I plan on upgrading my motherboard, CPU, and graphics card. Since I am
> changing the mobo and cpu, i will have to reformat my hd. but my version
> of
> vista is a Home Prem upgrade disc. When I installed it last time, I had a
> copy of XP installed, so I could easily upgrade like that. But will I be
> able to install this version of vista on my comp on an empty hard drive?