gHacks technology news » vista-hack http://www.ghacks.net A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:12:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Make Clean Installs with Vista Update DVDshttp://www.ghacks.net/2007/01/31/make-clean-installs-with-vista-update-dvds/ http://www.ghacks.net/2007/01/31/make-clean-installs-with-vista-update-dvds/#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2007 07:58:25 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/2007/01/31/make-clean-installs-with-vista-update-dvds/ For some time everyone thought that it was only possible to use a Vista update DVD from within Windows XP to update to the latest operating system. The Windows XP key would become invalid and the Vista installation could commence. DailyTech posted a workaround which makes it possible to install Windows Vista using a Vista update DVD without XP.

To summarize the procedure. You load the Vista DVD, choose not to enter a product key when it prompts for one and continue the installation by choosing the right Vista edition. This will install a 30 day trial version of Vista. Run the setup again, this time from the now fully working Vista.

Type in your product key and choose a custom (advanced) installation when asked. This simply means that Windows Vista will be installed again on your system, this time with the right product key. Delete the windows.old directory afterwards which contains the files from the first installation.

Is it a loophole ? Yes it is. Everyone can now use Vista Update DVDs to install Windows Vista without having the operating system at hand that has to be used to update.

]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2007/01/31/make-clean-installs-with-vista-update-dvds/feed/ 2