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.

    Vista upgrade or Clean install?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by UCHacker11, Feb 15, 2007.

  1. UCHacker11

    UCHacker11 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have recently bought a Dell XPS M1210 and am receiving my free upgrade to Vista. However, I already have a Vista OS install disk. I was wondering should i install the update or do a complete new install of the entire OS?

    Also, what should i do to prepare my system for the new OS.
    I have the following specs:
    -Intel core 2 Duo T7200, (2.0 GHz) processor
    -2 Gb Memory
    -100 Gb HDD (don't know the speed)
    -Nvidia GeForce Go 7400

    Thanks in advance.
     
    UCHacker11, Feb 15, 2007
    #1
  2. gohanssjn

    gohanssjn Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    560
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The code you get will ONLY work for the upgrade version. There is a way to do a clean install with the upgrade disc, but I feel that we wont be able to discuss it here. Try google.

    IMHO, a clean install is the way to go.
     
    gohanssjn, Feb 15, 2007
    #2
  3. Payback

    Payback Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    13
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There are many discussions here on this forum and others as well as different websites and blogs. I think most people that are comfortable doing clean installs will always recommend that (including me) but the upgrade Vista you are getting is an upgrade. You don't have the option of booting off the disk and doing a clean install like you could with XP.

    Read this article for more details and a suggested work-around.
     
    Payback, Feb 15, 2007
    #3
  4. jpagel

    jpagel Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    20
    Messages:
    357
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I would have to agree that clean install is the way to go - Unless you dont want to backup data / have applications installed that you dont want to reinstall / transfer.
     
    jpagel, Feb 15, 2007
    #4
  5. loesjoel

    loesjoel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Um, we can talk about how to get a clean install from your upgrade disk here. What you do is boot from the CD. Then, WITHOUT entering a CD key, install the version of Vista you have purchased. This allows you to install a trial version of Vista. Then once that install is all finished, go ahead and upgrade from Windows.

    That way you get it done properly. A clean install is definitely better than just an upgrade.
     
    loesjoel, Feb 15, 2007
    #5