Workaround Discovered For "Clean Install" With Vista Upgrade DVDs

[Ankur Gupta]

Microsoft internal documentation reveals workaround for Vista Upgrade DVDs with no need for a previous version of Windows

DailyTech reported on Monday that Microsoft no longer performs disc checks during an operating system install. In the past, when performing a clean install, a user could boot from an install CD and insert a disc from a previous version of Windows for upgrade compliance.

However, per Microsoft's new licensing requirements for Vista, users are required to install a Windows Vista Upgrade from within Windows XP. When this occurs, the Windows XP license is forfeited and the Windows Vista installation process can take place.

DailyTech has confirmed a new workaround proposed by Paul Thurrott (via Microsoft internal documents).

This workaround allows users to perform a “clean install.” The process is a bit tedious, but is not hard at all to complete. Users have to perform these simple steps to perform a clean install of Vista without a previous version of Windows installed with an upgrade DVD:

1. Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
2. When prompted to enter your product key, DO NOT enter it. Click "Next" and proceed with setup. This will install Windows Vista as a 30-day trial.
3. When prompted, select the edition of Vista which you have purchased and continue with setup.
4. Once setup has been completed and you have been brought to the desktop for the first time, run the install program from within Windows Vista.
5. This time, type in your product key when prompted.
6. When asked whether to perform an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) install, choose Custom (advanced) to perform a clean install of Vista. Yes, this means that you will have to install Vista for a second time.
7. Once setup has completed for the second time, you should be able to activate Windows Vista normally. You can also delete the Windows.old directory which contains information from the first Vista install.

There's no telling why Microsoft left this loophole wide open with Windows Vista Upgrade DVDs, but this means that any retail upgrade DVD can be used as a fully functioning full retail copy of Vista.

Source (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932)

So that simply means windows vista gets cheaper ;)

[aryayush]

Whoa! Cool! :D

[plsoft]

Good news for people who weren't sure of buying the upgrade version. Now they don't have to buy the expensive full version.

[navjotjsingh]

Yeah...but if MS would consider as a loophole by the time these DVDs arrive in India...they may patch this issue! :D

[aryayush]

The DVDs are already in India. I am sure they have not been patched. :)

[thunderbird.117]

Even if they patch. They will another loophole :D.

[ketanbodas]

Is this fully legal ;-)

[aryayush]

I cannot see how this may be deemed illegal. You are not hacking or patching anything.

[Ankur Gupta]

Well its completely legal as the method has been mentioned in Microsoft's internal documents(as mentioned in the post)...dunno how they could make such a big mistake :D

[Vishal Gupta]

There is also a workaround floating around the net to convert your Home Basic Edition of Vista into Home Premium. :D

[navjotjsingh]

Wow...thats great. Can you PM me its info Vishal? :p

[Dink2cool]

but this doesnt make any sense ....if the problem had already been noticed by MS then why did it not rectify it before releasing it ?

[Ankur Gupta]

@vishal
will that method convert your home basic into a legal home premium or an illegal one?

[goobimama]

Hmm...maybe a reason for one to actually pay for Vista....

@Vis(hal gup)ta, is there any workaround (legal) to make Home basic into Ultimate?

[i_am_crack]

thanks a lot for the info

[Vishal Gupta]

The main feature which is not available in Home Basic is Aero theme. And by using that hack u can enable the Aero support in Home Basic and it'll become Home Premium. :D
U can get more info from "winmatrix" forum.

[gxsaurav]

@Vis(hal gup)ta, is there any workaround (legal) to make Home basic into Ultimate?

Nope, but u can enable Aero in Home basic using some resource hacking & registry hacking for sure.

[rakeshishere]

Nope, but u can enable Aero in Home basic using some resource hacking & registry hacking for sure.

Did u C winmatrix Forums...They were talkin the same stuff:D:rolleyes:

[anandk]

"Microsoft will not close a loophole that offers consumers a cheaper way to upgrade to Windows Vista.

The procedure is time consuming, but allows users to save about 35 per cent of the purchase price for the regular Windows Vista.

"People without a licensed copy of XP that use this workaround are violating the terms of use agreed to when they purchased the upgrade version of Windows Vista," a Microsoft spokesman told vnunet.com.

"As such, we believe only a very small percentage of people will take the time to implement this workaround, and we encourage all customers to follow our official guidelines for upgrading to Windows Vista."

Microsoft added that it does not have any plans to disable the workaround at this time."

[navjotjsingh]

This confirmation from Microsoft is a good relief for people to get original Vista at cheaper costs. Its better to spend time on this technique and save money rather than save time and spend money.