I was recently contacted by one of my former students asking me about reinstating a Windows Vista upgrade which he was having problems with. To help others I have posted his question and my answer in this post

“Hi, my name is Dave Goodwin, I have been using Windows Vista for some time after upgrading my computer from Windows XP. I have just purchased a new Hard Drive after the one I was using failed, I need to reinstall Windows Vista, however it is an upgrade version and it will not let me install from DVD without an existing operating system – can you help?”

Hi Dave. Yes unlike previous operating systems, such as Windows XP, Windows Vista will scan the Hard Drive to find any existing operating system and in this case being a new drive no operating system exists.

You have two main options available to you:

Option 1

If you have a copy of the original Windows XP CD you can install this on the new Hard Drive then on completion boot from the Windows Vista DVD and enter the Product ID when prompted, which should install without a problem as an existing operating system will be detected

Option 2

If you purchased the computer new, it is possible that you were never provided with a copy of the original Windows XP CD. As an alternative you can install your copy of Windows Vista from the DVD as a “Trail Version” to do this boot from the DVD but DO NOT enter a product licence key when prompted. (leave this option blank) the operating system will then function as a 30 day trial copy.

Once installed, boot again from the Windows Vista DVD and install Windows Vista as an upgrade version providing the product ID when prompted

There is a third option available and that is to reinstall a drive image from third party software if you created one previously, but I have assumed this is not available

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