OS Buying Questions (Thinking about Vista)

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ezefosure

New Member
I am thinking of buying Vista when it comes out. However, I have never bought an OS before. I have always just gotten them preinstalled in computer packages i bought or from "friends" who installed OS's for me.

However, since i have never before bought an OS before, and I see Vista going for about four hundred dollars (amazon) I kind of came up with some questions that I wanted to know.

1. What type of software comes bundles with the OS? Do you get a copy of MS office or anything else worthwhile?

2. Do you get the same software in the upgrade package that you do in the actual OS package?

3. What is the actual difference between the OS package and the upgrade package? One can install an os on a completely empty hardrive while the other needs a pre-existing version of wndows running?

4. I will be able to install the same copy of Vista on all the computers in my house without a problem? Will i be able to install it on my sister's computers that live out of state? etc.

5. How much worthwhile is it to get the actual OS over the upograde and vice versa?

Oh, and FYI, I'm thinking of getting Vista Ultimate since it basically has everything all the other versions have and then some. (But is this really needed?)
 
A few things about Vista already is that few even have the beta version running at this time. 1) For details on the different features and versions go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/default.mspx

2) The full install package usually includes some utilities as well some system tools while the more basic upgrade simply overwrites the current version of Windows.

3) While the upgrade disk like any previous version requires either a working version of Windows or maybe a set of startup floppies the full version will not only install but partition and format an empty drive.

4) It's possible while that is something that can not be advised here.

5) With a full package you can reinstall Windows at any time if the drive for some reason like a virus infection needs to be wiped clean. It the above mentioned installation and drive utilities included over the upgrade version with it's limitations.
 
1. none, unless stated
2.yes-between full and upgrade
3.upgrade you have to have windows already installed or a another windows cd, think with Vista it has to be 2000 or XP
4.NO
5. upgrade cheaper, read 3
 
PC eye said:
A few things about Vista already is that few even have the beta version running at this time. 1) For details on the different features and versions go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/default.mspx

2) The full install package usually includes some utilities as well some system tools while the more basic upgrade simply overwrites the current version of Windows.

3) While the upgrade disk like any previous version requires either a working version of Windows or maybe a set of startup floppies the full version will not only install but partition and format an empty drive.

4) It's possible while that is something that can not be advised here.

5) With a full package you can reinstall Windows at any time if the drive for some reason like a virus infection needs to be wiped clean. It the above mentioned installation and drive utilities included over the upgrade version with it's limitations.
Click to expand...

The upgrade is the same as the full, you just have to have a installed copy of windows or a windows cd. the upgrade has all the drive utilities that the full has!
 
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1)You dont get MS Office unless it claims you do,usually they sell it seperate.You may get random stuff like anti virus or nero..lol

2)The Full install is way better because you can full install from there instead of having to install XP,then Vista if you reformat,plus it has alot more features during the install that you may want

3)Pretty much upgrade means can only install from XP or 2k and full install is install on an empty drive

4)Though i believe its not allowed and its illegal and this site has rules against advising it,i'll tell you the truth and say yes you can.Again,not something we support.

5)Its kind of worth while because then you dont have to go through a 3 hour install of XP & Vista,instead you just do Vista.
 
You can use a upgrade on a blank drive too! you just have to have a previous version cd for verification, you dont have to install the previous version, it will ask for the previous version cd then you take it out
 
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StrangleHold said:
You can use a upgrade on a blank drive too! you just have to have a previous version cd for verification, you dont have to install the previous version, it will ask for the previous version cd then you take it out
Click to expand...

What if you have a previous version of an upgrade? Would you be able to use that cd as verification?

Also, the upgrade wouldn't be able to help you in partitioning?
 
Besides the upgrade or full install cd the one thing no one has mentioned is also the recovery disk. That will fully partition and format any drive where there is an OS or not on it already. The one thing that lacks over the full install version is the abililty seen on XP not known on Vista yet is to start the installer by booting from prepared floppy disks if no cd or dvd drive is installed. Those run about the same price generally as the upgrade while not dependent on a running OS already installed to the hard drive.
 
ezefosure said:
Also, the upgrade wouldn't be able to help you in partitioning?
Click to expand...


Boot to the CD-ROM drive, if your computer will boot to the CD-ROM drive (make it the first boot device and try). It will boot to Setup. If a previous version of Windows is not on the hard disk drive, it will ask you to insert a CD from qualifying version of Windows to verify before continuing the installation. I don’t know if your previous version of Windows will work. I have heard that Windows 95 cannot be upgraded to Windows XP; however, the qualifying products listed when I did it (several times) were:
"Please insert your Windows NT 3.51 Workstation, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium CD into your CD-ROM drive."
After verification, you can then delete, create, and format partitions
 
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