Knowledge Base

How to perform a custom installation of Windows Vista on a computer that is running Windows XP

Article ID: 931228

Article Last Modified on 6/11/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Ultimate

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to perform a custom installation of Windows Vista on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP.

MORE INFORMATION

To install Windows Vista on a Windows XP-based computer, we recommend that you perform an upgrade installation. We also recommend that you prepare the computer before you install Windows Vista. For more information about how to prepare for a Windows Vista installation, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

931227 How to prepare to install Windows Vista on a computer that is running Windows XP

To perform a custom installation of Windows Vista on a Windows XP-based computer, follow these steps.

Note During the installation process, you can click the left arrow in the upper-left corner of the Setup program window to go back to the earlier step. However, if the left arrow is disabled, you cannot go back to the earlier step. In this case, if you want to start the installation process from the beginning, click the X button in the upper-right corner of the of the Setup program window to cancel the installation.

Start the Windows XP-based computer, and then log on to the computer.
Insert the Windows Vista DVD into the DVD drive.
Wait for the Setup program to start automatically. When the Setup program starts, click Install now.

Note If the Setup program does not start automatically, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type Drive:\setup.exe, and then click OK.
  
  Note In this step, Drive is a placeholder for the drive letter of the computer's DVD drive.
2. Click Install now.
On the Get important updates for installation page, click Go online to get the latest updates for installation.

Note The computer must be connected to the Internet. If there is a problem with the Internet connection, you may receive an error message that resembles the following error message:

Cannot connect to the Internet.
To get updates, your computer must be connected to the Internet.
Do you want to try getting updates again or continue installing without updates?

If you receive this error message, verify that the computer is connected to the Internet, and then click Try again. Or, click Continue, and then click Do not get the latest updates for installation to continue the update process. However, if you do this, we recommend that you run Windows Update after you finish the update process.
On the Type your product key for activation page, type the product key, and then click Next.

Note You do not have to type the hyphen character (-) in the product key. Type only the alphanumeric characters.

If you click Next without typing the product key and then continue the installation process, the license may not be validated after the installation is complete. Make sure that you type the product key. If you purchased a packaged version of Windows Vista, the product key is written on the box inside the package.
On the Please read the license terms page, read the license terms, click to select the I accept the license terms check box, and then click Next.
On the Which type of installation do you want page, click Custom (advanced).
On the Where do you want to install Windows page, click the partition where Windows XP is installed, and then click Next.

Note When you click Next, you receive a message that states that files and folders in the current Windows installation will be copied to a folder that is named "Windows.old." Click OK to continue. You can still install Windows Vista even after you receive this message.

The following folders that are used in Windows XP are saved in the Windows.old folder:
- Windows
- "Documents and Settings"
- "Program Files"
These folders are not automatically migrated to Windows Vista. However, you can manually move files from the folders after the installation is complete.
If you cannot select the partition where Windows XP is installed, select another partition, and then click Next.

Note If you cannot click Next even though you selected another partition, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.
The Setup program automatically copies files from the Windows Vista DVD to the hard disk. During this process, the computer restarts several times to complete the Windows Vista installation.
After the Windows Vista installation is complete, you are prompted to set the following options:
- Country or region
- Time and currency format
- Keyboard layout
Click Next after you set each option.
Type a user name and a password, select a picture for the user account, and then click Next.

Note The picture that you select will be used on the logon screen and on the Start menu. You can change the picture later in Control Panel.

The password is optional. However, we recommend that you use a password to keep the computer secure.
Type a computer name, select a desktop background, and then click Next.

Note You can change the desktop background later in Control Panel.
On the Help protect Windows automatically page, click to select the Use recommended settings check box to increase computer safety and to make the computer easy to use.
On the Review your time and date settings page, select the time zone, set the date and time, and then click Next.
Set the location where you will use the computer. To do this, click one of the following options:
- Home
- Work
- Public location
If you want to use the computer in a variety of locations, click Public location.
On the Thank you page, click Start. Windows Vista automatically verifies the computer's performance. After the computer's performance is verified successfully, Windows Vista starts.
When the Windows Vista logon screen appears, remove the DVD from the DVD drive to finish the upgrade process.

To determine whether the version of Windows XP on the computer can be upgraded to Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradepaths.mspx

You can use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to help determine which edition of Windows Vista you can install. For more information about the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

931225 How to prepare to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista

931226 How to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista by using the upgrade version of Windows Vista

Keywords: kbsetup kbenv kbexpertisebeginner kbhowto KB931228

Microsoft KB Archive/931228

Contents

How to perform a custom installation of Windows Vista on a computer that is running Windows XP

INTRODUCTION

MORE INFORMATION

REFERENCES