Full OS vs an Upgrade...

gregrocker said:

The Upgrade version is the same as the Full retail version. Only the keys are different.

You can even use the Upgrade version to do the cleanest possible install: boot from the DVD, select Custom install and use Advanced drive tools to format the drive.

The DVD scans the HD's and sees the prior qualifying Vista/XP/RC and allows the Upgrade Key.

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A question often asked, now finally answered in a way that lefts no more questions. I had repped you but it's telling I have to spread the rep first meaning I have not repped enough members since my last rep to you.

Posting this as a "replacement rep"!

Kari

grouchpunk08 said:

andythecurefan said:

i think the rights are the same, what he meant was the support you get from Microsoft is different if you buy the upgrade. i believe you get none.

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Oh ok, I guess that kinda makes a little bit of sense. Personally I wouldnt call them for support ever anyway. Id just come here for help

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Honestly? I would too. Members here are more knowledgeable than so-called "Tech Support" guys.

ZeshanA
Btw, 200 Posts
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My first and last experience with MS tech support was years ago on a brand new HP computer, which was also my first computer. Needless to say. I didn't know much more about it, other than how to use the keyboard. I called HP support first, with a relatively small, but annoying problem, and they referred me to MS.

I spent the entire day, from nearly dawn to dusk on the telephone with a single tech, which had me standing on my head checking inside the case, with a screwdriver in one hand and the phone in the other. At the end of the day. instead of the minor problem that I started with, the computer wasn't able to boot, it just kept running in a continous loop.

The tech informed me that it was closing time, and that someone would give me a call in a couple of weeks. I was furious, but if I had had to pay for their "support", I would have flew to Redmond looking for blood. Instead, I packed the computer back into the box and returned it to where I bought it. That was only the beginning of my cyber saga, because I went round and around for some time thereafter.

I have had a much better experience with MS tech support, in fact it was so good that I feel I need to stand up for them a lot.

Now this was for a retail copy of full XP Home so I can't vouch for more recently. But that one copy of XP got me a full education in clean reinstalls to overcome bloatware, debugging, optimization, virus hunting, etc. over about 5 years time.

Maybe it was because I demonstrated I was eager to learn and grateful (my Dad thinks so) but these guys would stay on the phone with me for 6-8 hours overnight walking me through all of the steps.

So pardon any fanboyishness toward MS tech support, but I got much more than the price of the product from them. May it be the same with you if you need to call.

I flat out hate tech support.

It is not because they are not nice, or that they may or may not solve a problem. It is more because it is a pain calling them up, describing the WEIRD problem you have and then trying to understand the Indian guy with a REALLY thick accent on the other end (no offense Dinesh, the Indian accent is cool, just impossible to understand over the phone), which is again not their fault. Then I have to sit there for 20 minutes while the guy tells me to try all the stuff I have already done, and all the stuff that I should try that I know will not have any effect.
Then, assuming I have not figured it out myself while they were droning on, we actually get to some new stuff to try. Again, it is difficult to understand, or the guy ends up not being able to help me.

I find it is better to ask here, or just browse the net. Sometimes I just do something and get it fixed. So nothing against the tech support guys, I just hate calling them.

~Lordbob