Vista upgrade invalidates your XP key

Anusha

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Jun 13, 2006
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If you choose to purchase an upgrade version of Windows Vista to upgrade XP, you will no longer be able to use that version of XP. Either on another system, or as a dual-boot option. The key will be invalidated, preventing activation.

From Vista’s EULA found here (PDF) :

13. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligiblefor the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.

News source: TomCoyote.org
 

chaminga_d

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Oct 26, 2006
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When Windows Vista is released to consumers tomorrow, many users will be tempted to purchase an "upgrade" version of the operating system. The upgrade versions are 33-50% cheaper than the full retail ones, which might seem like a good deal. However, according to a knowledge base entry on Microsoft's website, users buying upgrade copies of the Home Basic and Home Premium editions of Vista won't be able to do a "clean" installation of the new operating system. Instead, the user will be required to have a previous version of Windows installed on his PC first. By contrast, upgrade versions of Windows XP simply required the user to verify that he owned a previous version of Windows by inserting the CD during the installation process. (Thanks to DailyTech for the tip.)