doing clean install vista frm xp prosp2

hello first I had xp pro with sp2 running great. Got vita beta 2 finally in the mail so I figure I install it right away. I figure I put the dvd in then reboot and expecting to do a clean install. Forgive me for benig rusty but when clicking on clean install, shouldnt ask me to reformat first then install? it did not. I tried upgrading and ok. I tried after reinstalling xppro again to do a clean install and it installed but is it over the xp cause it created an OLD windows file. Am I running vista from a clean install or not?
Would someone please give me directions how to reinstall Vista from a clean install starting from How to reformat the HD with using XP pro then clean install vista.
OR doing a clean install VISTA no matter what putx XP in an OLD file and I being rusty at this am running VISTA from a clean install without knowing.
the only way i did my install after not sure of clean install is put in xpprosp2 from boot
click on to install windows and then it asks me to reformat and it did and thought I swap cd to vista dvd so it loads vista but it didnt. so reformatted again load xp all the way then install vista and OK
What are the steps to doing a clean install without overwritting or installing xp first
sorry if posting is long its hard to proof read onthe monitor
mike

Hello,
You were correctly doing a clean install.
Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case you have files you need from those folders.
You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any files from the old windows folders.
You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.
- JB

JB you mean all the time I was doing a clean install even it told me its putting my old stuff in windowsOLD? I finally figured out how to delete OLD and but still had the boot menu asking me which windows EARLIER or windows. That is why i am so confused on whether or not I did a clean install or just upgrade. This last time I install as stated earlier, I formatted the harddrive with xp and swap but it didnt see the dvd driver etc. I do now recall I saw that upgrade was greyed out so I must have done a clean install. Saving the old settings and such through me for a loop. Thats a new one me since I just reforatted the hd whats there to put in OLD
oh well thanks for all your help.
Now I wonder why the blazes is my hd going down 138gb now 125gb last time i looked and do all the maintenance as requested is vista that much a mem hog
"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

Hello,
You were correctly doing a clean install.
Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case you have files you need from those folders.
You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any files from the old windows folders.
You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.
- JB

will try and let vista setup do a format a partion just to learn a new thing or refresh this ailing head of mine. LOL Hope I dont have alhiemers LOL
you are a great helper mich
"Jimmy Brush" wrote:

Hello,
You were correctly doing a clean install.
Windows Vista will preserve the contents of your hard drive when doing a clean install, by moving old folders to Windows.old. This is just in case you have files you need from those folders.
You can safely delete Windows.old and get rid of it if you do not need any files from the old windows folders.
You can also format a partition from windows setup. You will need to click the "Advanced Options" button when it is asking you which partition to install to. It will then allow you to format a partition.
- JB

and but still had the boot menu asking me which windows EARLIER or windows. That is why i am so confused on whether or not I did a clean install or just upgrade.

I agree, the boot menu is confusing ... previous operating systems really shouldn't show up if you do a clean install over your old windows.

upgrade was greyed out so I must have done a clean install. Saving the old settings and such through me for a loop. Thats a new one me since I just reforatted the hd whats there to put in OLD

Yes, if it tells you it's putting stuff in windows.old, it is doing a clean install. Even if there are no old files. :)

oh well thanks for all your help.

You're welcome :)

Now I wonder why the blazes is my hd going down 138gb now 125gb last time i looked and do all the maintenance as requested is vista that much a mem hog

Vista likes the memory. lol
- JB