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Vista upgrade version to require OS installed

Unlike previous versions of Windows upgrade versions, Vista will require an OS to already be installed on the hard drive.  You can pretty much kiss your clean install goodbye unless you spring for the full version.  I don’t know which angle they are going for, either anti-piracy or hoping more people will buy the full versions, but I’ll be buying the full versions like I have in the past.

What does all of this mean on a practical level? Users who purchase upgrade copies of the aforementioned versions of Vista will find that they can only upgrade PCs that already have Windows installed. KB930985 clearly states: “you cannot use an upgrade key to perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.” According to Microsoft, this happens because Windows Vista does not check for upgrade compliance. If you do not have a previous installation of Windows available, Microsoft recommends that you “purchase a license that lets you perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.”