cannot upgrade xp to vista help please

[mrs_d]

my problem is i want to upgrade my xp pro to vista home prem but when i try to install i get a message saying

upgrade is diabled and i can do a clean install of vista but will lose all data.you can upgrade to vista buisness or ultimate.

i ran the advisor and it came up with my hp printer problem and my AVerDVD EZMaker WDM Audio Capture

ive included as much info as i could find below

does any one know why i cant upgrade?

i have 2 vista disc one is a oem disc the other is a dell reinstallion disc expess upgrade (i was assurred that i could still use this even though my pc is not dell)

ive tried both disc and they say the same thing during the installation.

if any one has any ideas i would be gratefull as the last thing i really want to do is a clean install and lose my data.

many thanks

 

 

OEGStone

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

3.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium D

16 kilobyte primary memory cache

2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Board: Intel Corporation D945GCZ AAC99368-501

1024 Megabytes Installed Memory

Hitachi HDP725032GLA380 [Hard drive] (320.07 GB)

SONY DVD-ROM DDU1615 [CD-ROM drive]

TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-S182D [CD-ROM driveRadeon X300/X550/X1050 Series [Display adapter]

Radeon X300/X550/X1050 Series Secondary [Display adapter]

MUK 1782 [Monitor] (17.1"vis, s/n 6BO133410243, August 2001)

AVerDVD EZMaker WDM Audio Capture

AVerDVD EZMaker WDM Crossbar

AVerDVD EZMaker WDM Video Capture

IDT High Definition Audio CODEC

 

 

HP Deskjet F2100 serieson USB002KODAK EasyShare printer dockon USB001Microsoft XPS Document Writeron XPSPort:Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driveron nul:

1394 Net AdapterIntel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection

VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

[Tootech]

First things first - there is no upgrade path from XP Pro to Vista Home Premium. XP Pro is a business O/S, Vista Home Premium is what it says - designed for home use.

 

A clean install is all you can do.

 

Forget the Dell Vista DVD - it is illegal to use it, and whoever advised you is wrong.

 

If the OEM DVD is accompanied with a COA (certificate of authenticity) you can use that if it has not been used on another PC. If it has been used it will not activate and would be a waste of time installing.

 

Bottom line I'm afraid is to back up your data to flash drive/DVD/CD or external hard drive and run a clean install.

[mrs_d]

hi thanks for that ive just found a new unused buisness upgrade on ebay. will this be ok so i dont have to reinstall everything

[Jelly Bean]

If you do a full install and DO NOT delete the partition and create a new one all your old files will still be there.

 

Once finished the install open C: drive and you will see listed windows.old this contains all your old files.