Cheapest Vista I could find is Home upgrade version. Upgrade, in the past, meant that you could still do a clean install and during the install process, your computer would simply ask for a CD of a previous Windows OS.

Vista Home? M$ tries to make it seem impossible to do a clean install. But, it is possible. Just Google "Vista" coupled with "clean install." Many relatively simple methods are described in great detail.

So, since you've already paid for other Windows OS's and that entitles you to an upgrade version of Vista. Since you'd really like to do a clean install of the least expensive version of M$ Vista OS, it can be done for about $90 using the upgrade version of Vista Home.

Why 'upgrade' to Window Vista??? The only thing I see of interest in Vista is a built-in system of backing up your files. I think I'll stick with XP and contribute the $90 to charity.

I also don't want to upgrade but it's forced upon us eventually as M$ discontinues support for a version. Once they stop issuing Service Packs for an operating system version, it's a time-consuming chore to update a new installation of that O.S.

I've held out with Windows 2000 as long as I can. Most new software and hardware just doesn't support it any more.

I've got to upgrade to something soon. It's a waste to upgrade to Windows XP because soon it will be in the "extended support" category and eventually phased out.

So, I thought others might be in my same situation. Just thought I'd let people know that there's no need to spend $200 for a Vista version if they thought they'd have to spend that just to get something that will allow clean-install instead of an upgrade.

If all they need is Vista basic, then they can do a clean install with Vista basic. Microsoft has tried to make it look as though it's impossible to do a clean install with any version except those priced around $200.

Eventually, we'll all have to upgrade the O.S. or live without security updates and live with ancient software.

Even basic stuff like anti-virus and anti-spy will be unsupported if we try to stick with the same Windows operating system forever. Eventually, our old Windows XP won't be supported by 3rd parties along with no support from M$ and that means no virus signature updates nor spyware signature updates.

Sooner or later ... you'll have to give up your XP.

I'm just preparing before the actual need arises and I'm helping others to do the same--at the lowest cost.