Upgrade vs. Full

[ksallen]

I tried to find the answer in a previous thread, but couldn't find it. I know this has been discussed before. I was wondering if you could help me out. I love the hardware end of things, but am less knowledgeable about operating systems and such.

What is the difference between a windows "upgrade" and the full versions? If I can format my hardrive, and install the operating system with an "upgrade" cd, which I have done too many times for me to tell, what am I missing from the full version? What does full version have that upgrade doesn't. If you know a thread where this has been discussed already, please let me know. Any insight into this would be great. Thanks.

Kyle

 

[FOBSIDE]

upgrade cds usually require for you to insert a previous cd version of windows for you to install. thats the only difference.

 

[Noriaki]

There is absolutely nothing missing from the Upgrade version that the Full version has.

If you want to do a clean install you can do so with an Upgrade version.
The only difference is that near the beginning of the install it will ask you to insert your old windows version CD. It will scan that CD for about 2 seconds to verify that it's a qualifying upgrade.
Then it will ask for the current windows version CD back.

Aside from this check there is absolutely no difference whatsoever between an upgrade and a full version.


For example, I have a Win2000 Pro Upgrade CD.
When I did a clean install there was a point near the beginning of Install where it asked for my previous windows version CD. So I popped in my Win98 CD (Win95, 98, NT3.x or NT4.x all would work in this case), it scanned my Win98CD for about 2-3 seconds, then setup continued.
When it was ready to copy files over it asked for my Win2000 CD back.

After the install is done no one could ever tell whether it was a full or upgrade CD that did the install. Unless they rooted through my closets and found my Win2k box with the "Upgrade" sticker on it.

 

[NetGuySC]

If you upgrade from a system with ME on it to XP...the ME system settings are all that are used...the rest of ME entirety is backed up if you chose to back it up.

 

[JohnnyPC]

Yep that's about all it does. Content wise there is no difference between the two...you still get the full version either way. It's just that all the settings and customizations you've done before the upgrade will be there in the fullest extent possible on the "upgraded" system. If you look at it technically you're really getting more on the upgrade version....your getting the qualification check included at no extra charge!