The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade and MBP

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by spartan611, Jun 15, 2007.

  1. spartan611

    spartan611 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Sorry about this guys but I am sure this question has been asked alot but I just want to clarify. Can I use bootcamp when I get my mbp and run the Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade version as opposed to the Full version? Thanks guys I really appreciate it.
     
    spartan611, Jun 15, 2007
    #1
  2. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    421
    Messages:
    3,770
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    106
    You'd need to install an OS to upgrade from first (i.e. XP).

    I believe there is a known "workaround" though, where you can install Vista from the upgrade disc but not activate it, and then once that is done, install it again, and it will use the existing unactivated Vista as the OS to "upgrade" from.
     
    zadillo, Jun 15, 2007
    #2
  3. KelchM

    KelchM Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    109
    Messages:
    360
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    yep. It works.
     
    KelchM, Jun 15, 2007
    #3
  4. ethanhunt123

    ethanhunt123 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    131
    Messages:
    531
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Won't be legal though.
     
    ethanhunt123, Jun 15, 2007
    #4
  5. spartan611

    spartan611 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    How come it wont be legal? I am using genuine software.
     
    spartan611, Jun 15, 2007
    #5
  6. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    421
    Messages:
    3,770
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Because legally, the upgrade version is supposed to be used only to upgrade a full copy of a previous version of Windows. Using the upgrade without it is a technical violation.

    So to be legal, you need to install XP or whatever and then the Vista Ultimate upgrade.

    Some people have argued though that since MS left this ability to "upgrade" using an unactivated copy of Vista as the previous OS, that it is OK. But this is iffy.
     
    zadillo, Jun 15, 2007
    #6
  7. spartan611

    spartan611 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So you are saying that if I have an XP Disc(I have a XP Home) I can install that first then put vista ultimate upgrade over it and then run Vista and OSX? Does that work? I just didnt want to go through the time but I dont mind doing it.
     
    spartan611, Jun 15, 2007
    #7
  8. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    421
    Messages:
    3,770
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    106
    That would be the officially recognized "proper" "legal" way to do it.

    If you have a valid XP license that isn't being used, I think you'd be in the spirit of the license though to just install vista and then install it again over the "unactivated" copy.

    I'm not sure how much time you'd save one way or the other though.
     
    zadillo, Jun 15, 2007
    #8
  9. infiniti007

    infiniti007 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    6
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    If you go the XP --> Vista route, I believe you'll need XP SP2 for Bootcamp.
     
    infiniti007, Jun 15, 2007
    #9