Buying Vista - OEM Version

[pandy92]

Im looking to buy Home Premium OEM this weekend. My current system is as follows

Pentium 4 with 3.2GHz processor
1GB of memory
Graphics card - Not very good ATi card.

The windows compatability program highlighted that my only issue with all my hardware would be the lack of a good graphics card so im upgrading to a ATi Sapphire X1950 Pro Ultimate 256MB and an extra 1GB of memory.

With regard to the OEM would it be better to format my existing copy of XP and then just boot from the OEM Vista disk or is simply upgrading Vista on top of XP an option?

Im not a complete noob when it comes to PC's but im no expert so any advice would be appreciated. Cheers

[nstokes]

i would say do a clean install of windows vista as upgarde is pants and and ruin the installation.

[Cable Monkey]

Hi,
I have a similar spec to your proposed build and it works very well. If you have an Intel chipset it should present no problems with Vista, the graphics card is excellent (mine is a 512MB version).

A clean install is always best. I actually took my old drive out and put a bigger one in and that helps because I always have the option to go back in the time it takes to swap 2 leads over and also because driver issues can be resolved if you can point Vista at an XP partition when looking for drivers.

[treacle]

Leave your XP on,

Vista will "clean install", also it will save your old programmes and files from your XP system to a folder called "Windows-old"

After you're up and running the saved filed can be moved around to where you want them,

It saved 4.7gb of old files on mine.


It will revert to Basic if your GPU isn't good enough, but it will run but without any frills..

[pandy92]

Hmm 2 conflicting opinions, one says do a fresh intall the other says upgrade.....decisions decisions!

Does the upgrade simply over write the xp version and leave remnants of the XP OS in the background?

Also how can doing an upgrade ruin the installation?

My data is already backed up in preperation on my external 400GB disk so doing a fresh install does not seem like an extra issue.

In terms of my graphics im now thinking of getting the ATi Sapphire X1950 Pro 512MB (apparantly scores 5.8 on Vistas performance index) instead its only £25 more and gives more punch for the pound.

[GarryF]

A clean install is the best way to go, I also usually use a new HD to install just incase I forget something and need to boot the old system up.

If you run the vista install it will ask you which disk you want it on. At this point you can delete your old xp partition then let the system create a new one.

[pandy92]

Thanks for all the advice i think im going to do a clean install.

With regard to the OEM is hardware upgrade post installation possible ie the mother board?

[treacle]

Originally Posted by pandy92

Hmm 2 conflicting opinions, one says do a fresh intall the other says upgrade.....decisions decisions!

I didn't make it clear don't get the UPGRADE DISK, get the full version, Retail or OEM.

Does the upgrade simply over write the xp version and leave remnants of the XP OS in the background?

No it will wipe XP

Also how can doing an upgrade ruin the installation?

There have been instalation problems with the UPGRADE disks

My data is already backed up in preperation on my external 400GB disk so doing a fresh install does not seem like an extra issue.

It wouldn't matter anyway, If you've left anything on it will still save it to Windows-old
By the way it doesn't save XP system files.

In terms of my graphics im now thinking of getting the ATi Sapphire X1950 Pro 512MB (apparantly scores 5.8 on Vistas performance index) instead its only £25 more and gives more punch for the pound.

I'm going to use Sapphire 1650 pro 512 ram, on my new build.

PS...Don't forget to check for updated drivers, the disk you receive with your GPU, MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE.

[GarryF]

When you install you can setup vista without a key for 30 days so DON'T enter the key during setup. Then after 30 days if your happy everything is working enter the key and activate, this gives you the option of moving the copy to another machine etc or trying another MB if you are having problems.

[pandy92]

Originally Posted by treacle

I'm going to use Sapphire 1650 pro 512 ram, on my new build.

PS...Don't forget to check for updated drivers, the disk you receive with your GPU, MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE.

I believe ATi are alot more on the ball with Vista as oppose to Nvidia who have been caught with their trousers down in terms of driver support.

[pandy92]

Originally Posted by GarryF

When you install you can setup vista without a key for 30 days so DON'T enter the key during setup. Then after 30 days if your happy everything is working enter the key and activate, this gives you the option of moving the copy to another machine etc or trying another MB if you are having problems.

I meant a hardware upgrade say in a years time, for instance a new mother board/gpu etc. Is this supported under this oem or not.

[GarryF]

Technically no, you can not upgrade the MB on oem vista. In practice lots of people report on here that after you have done the upgrade, MS will generally allow it to activate after you call them up and explain, no guarantees though.

[pablo99]

Originally Posted by GarryF

When you install you can setup vista without a key for 30 days so DON'T enter the key during setup. Then after 30 days if your happy everything is working enter the key and activate, this gives you the option of moving the copy to another machine etc or trying another MB if you are having problems.

Do enter the product key but uncheck the "Validate online" box.

Then if you need to reinstall you can (I did, to remove a dual-boot with XP setup).

I have a P4 3.5Ghz, 1GB Ram, ATI X1950Pro setup and it works sweetly.

You will have no problems if you use the advanced drive tools to format your drive before install. Like you say you have backed everything up to a USB drive. You have backed up everything have you?

Mail settings, mail, favorites, game saves???????????

Pablo

[pandy92]

Originally Posted by pablo99

Do enter the product key but uncheck the "Validate online" box.

Then if you need to reinstall you can (I did, to remove a dual-boot with XP setup).

I have a P4 3.5Ghz, 1GB Ram, ATI X1950Pro setup and it works sweetly.

You will have no problems if you use the advanced drive tools to format your drive before install. Like you say you have backed everything up to a USB drive. You have backed up everything have you?

Mail settings, mail, favorites, game saves???????????

Pablo

Er yes it is.

[Cable Monkey]

Originally Posted by pandy92

I meant a hardware upgrade say in a years time, for instance a new mother board/gpu etc. Is this supported under this oem or not.

It isn't supported. Strangely enough I have just re-activated XP on line despite the only common component being the original hard drive and memory. The processor was new but the same model as the old, the motherboard was an FB61, the old was an FB75 both out of P4 Shuttles there being very little difference between the Intel 875 and 865 chipsets. The only driver issue was the FB61's on board video and before formatting the drive and putting something else free and african sounding on the drive I hit the validate button and it worked. Result!

Don't expect the same on Vista though, it is more sophisticated in gathering system info.