Don

Roger wrote:
> Ok, heres the story.
>
> I have a Dell XPS 700, it came preinstalled with XP Pro/Media Center Edition
> 2005. I also have previous versions of windows from other computers (xp home
> sp2 & xp Pro sp1)
>
> I wanted to try vista, so I backed up all my important files and upgraded my
> Machine using a friends Ultimate Edition Disk (OEM 32bit)
>
> I liked vista a lot, so as the time to activate approached I went out and
> purchased an upgrade version for £250 ( a large sum of money given you get it
> for almost 1/2 that if you pay in $... but anyhow...on with the story.
>
> I put the product key in and I get a message saying that the key only works
> if your upgrading...

You left out some details. What were you doing when you entered the
key? Were you really upgrading over your existing Vista? That is the
usual trick for installing with an upgrade key (well documented on the
internet, I'm told, but I can't cite references for you).

In any case, since you have a legal product key, you can do a telephone
activation. You may need to explain the situation to a real human, but
I've read that they are cooperative once they understand the problem.