Step By Step In-Place Upgrade from Windows XP to Vista (The short version)
Keeping it simple this time I repeated the same steps performed previous in my first in-place upgrade with only a few changes. 1) First disconnected the PC from the Internet. 2) Booted from the Vista DVD. 3) During the upgrade process, when the “Get important updates for installation” windows is displayed, selected the “Do not get the latest updates for installation” option and did not check the “I want to make Windows installation better” box. 4) On the “Type your product key for activation” screen, uncheck the box titled “Automatically activate Windows when I’m online”. Secret #1) No Vista product key code is required. I was listening to the 2nd game of the World Series when the Yanks hit a homer in the sixth and accidentally clicked on the ‘Next’ button before entering a product key when I turned away from the TV and back to the PC display to continue with the upgrade. 5) With no product key entered you will get the prompt asking “Do you want to enter your product key now?”, click the ‘No’ button. 6) You then may or may not be prompted to pick which version of Vista you purchased, if prompted select “Windows Vista Business”, place a checkmark in the “I have selected the edition of Windows I purchased box” and click the ‘Next’ button. This means you don’t need to worry if your Vista product code (key code) will be deactivated when you upgrade to Vista. You have at least 30 days to activate and in less than an hour you will be running Windows 7. So forget about locating your product key as long as you have your retail DVD media your good to go. Its anybodies guess as to how many XP users purchased Vista and after using it decided to go back to XP, leaving the Vista DVD collecting dust. Now you can put it to good use. 7) When you see the “Which type of installation do you want” window, choose the “Upgrade” option. 8) You may or may not see a “Compatibility Report” screen, since the whole purpose is to upgrade to Windows 7 just ignore the message and click ‘Next’. 9) Now the actual upgrade process starts. It will take time and several reboots before any action is required on your part. 10) You will be prompted with a “Help protect Windows automatically” option, choose the “Ask me later” option. Verify the Time zone, Date and time values and adjust if necessary, then click ‘Next’ and ‘Start’. 11) When you get to the point where it asks for your logon password, wait a few seconds until the hard drive activity stops, then log on. That’s it; you’re done with the XP to Vista In-place upgrade. Next stop Vista to Windows 7 In-Place upgrade.
At this point I made another Image Backup and you should do the same. I my case I also wanted to see if the Public Beta of N360 Version 4 bug I had previously encountered was caused by updating from XP to Vista or Vista to Windows 7. After the Image Backup completed I downloaded and installed the N360 Beta and installed any product updates that were available. Note: Before starting the actual upgrade to Windows 7 I turned off all the AV functions (toolbar settings/Quick Controls) so there was hopefully no chance of the AV software interfering with the Vista to Windows upgrade process. Do the same for whatever AV software you are using. This time I remained connected to the Internet for use during step #3.
In-Place Upgrade from Vista Business to Windows 7 professional ---->
