Always pseudo upgrade (clean install on the same partition) this way you keep your data while having a fresh install of windows. Then once in the new OS, delete the old Windows directory and remove it from the boot.ini file. Then you could just delete the applications and reinstall them to work properly in the new OS unless they just work.

I do not do upgrade. I have HD partition and when I try new os I do clesn install. I still have xp and if I need it then I boot in xp, but most of the time I use Vista64. Some bugs still exists and need some drivers, but overall I love it 32bit Vista did not liked my laptop(pavilon dv9008nr) and go "blue screen" few times, but 64 works great.
Any one who it is doing upgrade beta os it is asking for disaster to happen.

Well we all knew they were going to announce it. they are probably going to spend the next week and a half fixing this one problem too, all 2000 windows programmers. Let's not forget the new media player that is also delayed that is in vista. their stock is up, earnings are through the roof, why not delay it forever? They could keep xp out for another decade and it wouldn't change their bottom line. Linux will never topple windows with oem's backing windows with an iron fist. the average joe doesn't really give a crap. so what can you do?

Now granted it is good they are taking their time to get it right. But the bad part is that other then the money being lost from potential upgraders and oem's wanting something to breath life into new computers, competition is not one of those reason to hurry. Microsoft has lost no market share, linux is not being sold on 1 out of every 10 thousand machines yet, mac's are still only selling in the single percentile so once again. Microsoft has nothing to worry about and that is the problem.

Linux will never topple Windows so long as they do not bundle DVD-ROM support with distros by default.

Its open-source, so you should be able to play DVD movies (retail ones, region 1) by default. The only one that I know of that can do this is Mandriva (mandrake) but you have to pay for it, the free one (ISO file) doesnt bundle DVD-ROM support. They claim its not licensed (even though Linux is open source and everything in it should follow that license model, thats the nature of Linux, otherwise what's the point?)

You only have 1 option other than Windows if you want to play DVD's and watch TV, and that's a Mac.

this makes no sense. they are doing everything but taking their time. they took out all these great features they promised, the went from beta2 to rc, only 2 rc's and then rtm.. this is going be bugware.. they should have spent atleast another 6 months on this

I am always amazed by the number of people that have to have a new OS the day it is released. Most IT people do not install a new OS from 12-18 mo.after release. The public in it's haste to have it will do the final beta testing for all of us, and to that end I thank them. I will be loading Vista on approximately May 2008.

The same reason people install anything: they find the features worth the price of testing.

I agree with you up until a point. Servers should stick with legacy, known working equipment and software with a service pack or two behind it...
Desktops it's safe to get cutting edge stuff.

For example, we use paint.net and 7-zip even though they obviously lack some key features, but they save our company a lot in license costs, and do the job better than most paid alternatives.

Most large IT shops have much more testing to do, but many small and mis-size companies (i.e. the majority,) have an easier time at testing. I already know that vista will work with 90% of our critical apps, and I bet 100% within 3 months of release.

What a load of crap. I work in IT, and like many others need to ensure Vista compatability with software in development, Getting RTM code on day 1 is very important for timescales.

I assume your definition of "IT people", are the numpties that work on the IT support desk and plan roll-outs...

And I too work in IT, and realise that rolling out an operating system without adequate testing is foolish. RTM will be on test boxes in IT departments around the world in a few weeks, but it won't make it on to desktops until IT staff are certain of compatibility and stability.

Those who rollout early are foolish and likely to pay for it. I too won't be installing it on my machine until everyone else irons out the bugs for me. Thanks Mark. :)

Getting Vista on day 1 is a thing. Installing on client computers another. From any Windows release (from version 3.0, 95, 98, 2000 and XP), the version that barely worked was the second or first service pack, as Microsoft want to call them lately.
3.0? No, 3.11 almost worked
95? Not until 95sr2 worked
98? Not until 98SE
Me? Well, no second release, never worked.
2000? Not until sp1 was stable
XP? Try to use it for 30secs without any service pack.
Vista, I hope it will be the required step to start looking for a serious company/community to build the next OS. Microsoft should die soon if they don't change their way to "innovation". Trolls can shoot me now, I already said it...

agreed. we will be installing it day 1 since the next build of software i work on planned to be vista compatible (for now at least). not on my PC obviously but we will have at least couple build machines.

infrasructure department sertainly not going to rush installing these for every receptionist but infrastructure alone is not IT.

"Microsoft had been successful in cutting the 1,400 known bugs in Vista RC2 by a third."

I'd be willing to wait another couple of months or more if they could get the number of bugs down significantly more.

I know it's a mega amount of code - but can you imagine another product released with this many known issues without the manufacturer sued into oblivion?

I bet most of them aren't worth the time to hiunt down. Little things that will affect *maybe* 1 out of 10000 users.

Of course, there's the million they missed, that aren't known...yet.

...but that's another article.

bah only way I'm installing vista is fresh. no upgrading from xp for me.

Exactly. Upgrading is a last resort only to be used in a situation where you absolutely cannot do a fresh install.

Very true. It is always a lot easier to install fresh than it is to upgrade. I can't think of any scenario when you really couldn't do an upgrade though. I am sure there are some but I can't think what they would be.

Who needs VISTA, anyway . . .

Tipsy boy, who needs a car? Try the stone age.

I think a better analogy would be who needs a 2006 Ford to replace their 2002 Ford. :P

Well, considering everyone has figured out how disarm the four year old car alarm, and have the car up on blocks in about 15 secs...

man, that was a stupid reply comment...

At least they found it this week instead of next week when its too late.

Who upgrades a Microsoft product anyways? Really? Haven't people learned that upgrading is just going to give you problems? Clean install is the way to go, especially with a Microsoft OS.

The average home user doesn't have the slightest clue how to cleanly install an OS, so an upgrade is the only option.

Obviously there is a direct need or Microsoft wouldn't build it into their OS's.

Since XP I've seen less issues with upgrading the OS. Just make sure your source OS is clean and mean.

"Who upgrades a Microsoft product anyways? Really? Haven't people learned that upgrading is just going to give you problems? Clean install is the way to go, especially with a Microsoft OS."
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Invariably I upgrade my MS operating system and (knock on wood) I've never, ever had a problem going back as far as upgrading from MS-DOS to Windows 3.0 or 3.1 to Windows for Workgroups and on up through 95, 98, Millenium and Windows XP. Sure, I've purchased new computers with the OEM software for Windows pre-installed at a later date. So, in answer to your question...I upgrade.

I've had success upgrading to XP, but I prefer clean installs. It gives me more peace of mind.

meh. no way do i put Vista on an XP machine. I change out PCs every 5 years, and that's coming up in 2007. perfect timing for a new box + OS.