Vista downloads not eligible for DVD media

With Windows Vista Microsoft introduced a new way of obtaining its operating system by offering the option to download it. That’s all well and good but what you don’t get is the full version, all you get is the upgrade version which must be run within XP. As any good techie will tell you it is always best to perform a clean install of any operating system regardless of how well the manufacturer claims the upgrade will go.

Lance Ulanoff of PC Magazine has a story he calls the “Vista Download Disaster.” A colleague of his decided to test the Vista download option on a laptop for himself. What he got was far less than perfect, actually it was the complete opposite of perfect.

After downloading Vista the upgrade installer took about an hour. Note that on any half decent system performing a clean install takes about 25 to 40 minutes, less time than an upgrade and with that being the case you are only in for troubles after the upgrade is finished.

The system booted, Aero Glass looked beautiful and most importantly, all his files and system settings were intact, this seems to be important for a majority of professionals. I always perform a clean install, I can always reset my settings and all my files are transferred to another hard drive or DVD before an OS install.

For now things looked good, but after Vista downloaded and installed the latest updates after which the laptop rebooted and the problems began. The laptop came back with a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), the standard death knell of any Windows installation. Vista asked him to insert a repair DVD. Those who choose to download Vista are not eligible to get a Vista DVD and a call to Microsoft support did not help and eventually the tech said “Can you borrow the DVD from a friend?”

So maybe Microsoft would be willing to give him a Vista DVD, no, they weren’t. The partner he downloaded Vista from didn’t give him a DVD either. Eventually the poor man ended up buying ANOTHER copy of Vista, this time the full version retail package and performing a clean install.

One paragraph from the article says it all “Microsoft has made a number of small missteps here, but the biggie is that it won’t send out a Windows DVD to download customers. If the only way to “repair” Vista is to use that DVD, Microsoft must send them one. To say no is inexcusable.”

Here’s my advice, don’t risk the download and don’t risk the upgrade version either. The only real “upgrade” path to Vista is to buy the full version of Vista Home Premium or better and perform a clean install. It’s the only one guaranteed to work. Don’t become Mr. Ulanoff’s colleague.

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