It seems that there has been a loophole discovered which enables you to do a complete Clean Install using the Upgrade only DVD without even needing to have Windows XP on your machine...
Not that I condone such activities, since I guess it is against the License Agreement you agree to when installing Vista, but for the sake of education you may see below how it's done. The main thing is that Vista Update DVD in order to work with your product key has to detect a valid OS on your computer before the install. If you install Vista in 30 day trial mode as a clean install without providing the product key, and then run an update of this Trial version from the DVD - everything will seem legitimate. You'll have to install Vista twice, but that's about it.
Source: DailyTech.com
- Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
- 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.
- When prompted, select the edition of Vista which you have purchased and continue with setup.
- 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.
- This time, type in your product key when prompted.
- 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.
- 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.
If I were in your place I'd rather go with the OEM version instead, rather than risk breaking the License Agreement.
You can get a Full Vista Ultimate OEM DVD for $200 bucks, and pretty much have Vista for "cheap". There are some things to understand about OEM though, so here is couple of them, and more facts you can find at the source:
Source: ArsTechnica.com
- Microsoft licenses OEM software to "system builders," which the license defines as "an original equipment manufacturer, or an assembler, re-assembler, or installer of software on computer systems" (emphasis added). You can install software on computers, right?
- You do not get any phone support (vs. 90 days with Retail version).
- You do not get a pretty box.
- Once installed on your computer Vista is no longer transferable. It is tied to your motherboard unique ID, and that's it. You can only use it on the computer you install it on.
- You cannot return OEM product once opened.
- OEM versions are system specific, once you install 32-bit version, that's the only one you can use (and ViceVersa). If you later on get a 64bit CPU, bad luck - only 32bit Vista will be installable.
The choice is entirely yours in the end ... Good luck :)
