Microsoft releases Vista upgrade chart, reason surrenders

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Microsoft releases Vista upgrade chart, reason surrenders

by David Chartier Jul 31st 2006

Microsoft has unveiled a Vista upgrade matrix, detailing which present versions of Windows are eligible for upgrading to one of the four relevant versions of Vista (Starter and Enterprise are targeted for specific markets and therefore not included in this matrix). To make matters a bit complicated, however, some editions (such as XP Pro or Win2K) are only eligible to upgrade to a "corresponding or better" version of Vista, i.e. - Business or Ultimate. As icing on the cake, some ugprades will require a fresh wipe and install, while others can be upgraded 'in-place', retaining your applications and settings.

To be clear, however: all present versions of Windows listed in this chart are eligible to purchase upgrade editions of Windows Vista. Previous versions, such as Win98 and ME, will have to purchase a full edition of Vista.

Tags: 2000, 2K, basic, business, chart, home, matrix, media center, MediaCenter, microsoft, premium, pro, tablet pc, TabletPc, ultimate, upgrade, vista, XP

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John Bartkowicz said 1:20PM on 7-31-2006

I am not a mac advocate (My last mac was Performa) , but things such as the matrix above justify those new apple commercials with the two guys.

So you mean to tell me that when I get my Vista Upgrade CD, I will have to first re-install my current version of Windows, then the upgrade disc? I can't imagine this process being less than 90 minutes.

Just wait until they do this "clean install" requirement with whatever comes after Vista, except that time around we will have discovered Microsoft to have gave us Vista discs made to rot by the time that version comes out.

Joseph Cake said 2:13PM on 7-31-2006

No, Clean Install usually means you boot from the cd and install a fresh copy of the new operating system(I.E Vista) and it will prompt you to insert the previous version disc to prove in an upgrade version case, You shouldn't have to reinstall both the old version and the new 1

Tony F. said 4:15PM on 7-31-2006

I cant see this working out the way they invision it, going to be chaos. Gonna be so slow, i can allreddy see it

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