Upgrade Matrix for Windows Vista Revealed

But what about WinME?!

Published on July 31, 2006 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

One of the questions many are asking themselves regarding the upcoming release of Windows Vista early next year is how will they actually install it? Is it an upgrade? A clean install? Does it require the sacrifice of a dozen chickens and a pint of bats blood? Well, today Ars Technica is reporting on the official upgrade matrix, a chart from Microsoft released that details what you need to do to get from your current version of Windows to any of the Vista editions.

The matrix covers Windows versions from Win2k and up. Sorry WinME/9x users, no upgrade for you. You'll be required to purchase a full copy and do a clean install.

Comments

MarkSnyder61

on Jul 31, 2006

Well for the average "Joe" it will be confusing but being familiar with Windows versions and the nice upgrade matrix makes it easier for us "Not so average Joe" to decide what path to take. I am looking forward to the upgrade made for Media Center and will definately go that route for my livingroom but Home Premium for my office PC.

Tarkus

on Jul 31, 2006

People should do a clean install anyway, regardless of what the matrix says.

Fourth Letter

on Jul 31, 2006

I agree upgrades are never totally stable a nicer back up tool to copy all your details,email and settings from XP would be alot nicer

Bushman

on Jul 31, 2006

Leave it to Microsoft to confuse everybody

slagny

on Jul 31, 2006

I agree with Tarkus, clean install. But as you read it anyone who paid more for XP Pro now has to fork it over again for the Basic & Premium versions of Vista. Thnaks again Microsoft

longoff

on Aug 01, 2006

I currently run XPHome. So my choice is Vista Basic (the same as XPHome) or make an improvement to Home Premium - Business and Ultimate having already been discounted along with Starter and Enterprise. I really fail to see how the author of the article can state "If you're confused, you probably won't be the only one. The plethora of versions and upgrade options may help Microsoft earn higher profits through finely-grained product segmentation, but they may cause some serious head-scratching for their customers" because whatever system you run now there is only two or three Vista alternatives. I think Microsoft should be applauded for producing more different versions of Vista than they did of XP. XP is used in a much wider environment than Microsoft could have expected, and multiple versions of Vista is a natural progression. How many different versions of the same motor car are produced by manufacturers? do we see the same kind of negative comments? Everywhere I surf people are knocking Microsoft, but I thank them for my XP and look forward to upgrading to one of my two choices of Vista - no confusion and no plethora of verions.

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