Fusion...need to buy XP/Vista

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I'm going to be purchasing VMware Fusion in the next few days and was looking around for a cheap copy of XP or Vista. My wife is in grad school, so the first place I checked was her school's student discount software list. They list the following:

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional Upgrade (with SP2, 32 & 64 Editions)
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade 32 bit DVD Media

Am I correct in assuming that, these being "upgrade" versions, they would be useless to me? And if so, where can I get my hands on XP/Vista relatively cheaply? I don't really care which version because I'm only going to be using Windows to test websites with IE.

 

[Neil321]

I'm not too sure about the upgrades as I've always bought retail disks,but a cheap way to install windows on your Mac is to buy OEM ( Original Equipment Manufacture )disks

 

[MattOKC]

Yes, you would be correct. I have an upgrade XP disc, and found that it was useless because installation requires verification of my former platform by inserting the previous Windows CD. In my case, I had windows 98, which on a PC is a perfect platform to upgrade to XP. But the iMac doesn't have an "eject" button for CDs, so I had a screen demanding my Win98 disc, and a WinXP disc inside the iMac that wouldn't come out.

Of course, a workaround would be to install 98 first in Fusion, then go back and over-install XP using an upgrade CD. But I hated that. Finally, I just bought a winXP SP2 full install CD from eBay for about $80. Keep it simple.

 

[Wolfpup]

Not only would that be annoying, it's always a bad idea to install a new OS over the top of the old OS. Even more so moving from a non NT to an NT OS, I'd assume.

(Unless the XP installer allows you to format the drive AFTER seeing that you already have an OS installed.)

 

[jbg232]

Actually, there is one trick:

The vista upgrade cd does not actually do a background check, it just wants you to install it "from windows" so you can install vista and then when it asks you to authorize, don't do it. Then, run the vista install AGAIN (yes, 2 installs is a pain), and then authorize vista and delete the old files. You now have a full install of vista with the upgrade cd.