Like so many people here, I have had the problems with upgrading to Vista..
being unable to re activate the product. I have just spent the last 25
minuits on the phone to support and guess what... they can't help me, why?
Because I have done a clean install of windows Vista using a upgrade copy....
why did I do this? because Vista would not run when I upgraded, it was the
most unstable operating system I have ever owned, it crashed about every half
hour, did a clean install and it runs very well. But when I try to re
activate the key is already in use... I know.. because I'm using it doh! but
when I try to get help, I'm told to uninstall Vista, reinstall XP and then
reinstall Vista ?????????????????????? certainly, but then I will have the
same problems I had before... all I want is a new key to activate Vista...
microsoft refuse to give me one so I now have to BUY a new key..... best of
all I was told the ONLY person that could help me finnished at 6pm... this
was at 6:01pm and to phone back tomorrow ???? Saturday... they don't work
Saturday's... only Moday to Friday 8am till 6pm. Guess what hours I work
....... no not 8am till 6pm... I work 7am till 6pm and if I don't work I don't
get paid, so I have to have time off work to get a try to get a ket to
reactivate a product that I have paid for already.... OR BUY A NEW KEY. Can
anybody out there help a very p***ed of consumer?
--
Frustated

You have to reinstall your previous Windows
operating system, then upgrade to Windows Vista.
Otherwise, a "clean install" is going to require
a "full version" product key.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

"conrod" <rich@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:18F884F6-3D09-4F36-8932-9A1D741505F2@xxxxxx
Like so many people here, I have had the problems with upgrading to Vista..
being unable to re activate the product. I have just spent the last 25
minuits on the phone to support and guess what... they can't help me, why?
Because I have done a clean install of windows Vista using a upgrade copy....
why did I do this? because Vista would not run when I upgraded, it was the
most unstable operating system I have ever owned, it crashed about every half
hour, did a clean install and it runs very well. But when I try to re
activate the key is already in use... I know.. because I'm using it doh! but
when I try to get help, I'm told to uninstall Vista, reinstall XP and then
reinstall Vista ?????????????????????? certainly, but then I will have the
same problems I had before... all I want is a new key to activate Vista...
microsoft refuse to give me one so I now have to BUY a new key..... best of
all I was told the ONLY person that could help me finnished at 6pm... this
was at 6:01pm and to phone back tomorrow ???? Saturday... they don't work
Saturday's... only Moday to Friday 8am till 6pm. Guess what hours I work
....... no not 8am till 6pm... I work 7am till 6pm and if I don't work I don't
get paid, so I have to have time off work to get a try to get a ket to
reactivate a product that I have paid for already.... OR BUY A NEW KEY. Can
anybody out there help a very p***ed of consumer?
--
Frustated

My guess is you volunteered too much information.

Yes, it is already installed, on the same computer.

Call back and tell them you reinstalled Windows.
Do not elaborate on the specific method used since that can make it
sound like you are pirating.
There is no need to purchase anything.

There is no need to lie, but tell only as much as necessary.
You should be activated in about 10 minutes or less at no cost.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"conrod" <rich@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:18F884F6-3D09-4F36-8932-9A1D741505F2@xxxxxx

> Like so many people here, I have had the problems with upgrading to
> Vista..
> being unable to re activate the product. I have just spent the last
> 25
> minuits on the phone to support and guess what... they can't help
> me, why?
> Because I have done a clean install of windows Vista using a upgrade
> copy....
> why did I do this? because Vista would not run when I upgraded, it
> was the
> most unstable operating system I have ever owned, it crashed about
> every half
> hour, did a clean install and it runs very well. But when I try to
> re
> activate the key is already in use... I know.. because I'm using it
> doh! but
> when I try to get help, I'm told to uninstall Vista, reinstall XP
> and then
> reinstall Vista ?????????????????????? certainly, but then I will
> have the
> same problems I had before... all I want is a new key to activate
> Vista...
> microsoft refuse to give me one so I now have to BUY a new key.....
> best of
> all I was told the ONLY person that could help me finnished at
> 6pm... this
> was at 6:01pm and to phone back tomorrow ???? Saturday... they don't
> work
> Saturday's... only Moday to Friday 8am till 6pm. Guess what hours I
> work
> ...... no not 8am till 6pm... I work 7am till 6pm and if I don't
> work I don't
> get paid, so I have to have time off work to get a try to get a ket
> to
> reactivate a product that I have paid for already.... OR BUY A NEW
> KEY. Can
> anybody out there help a very p***ed of consumer?
> --
> Frustated

Great advice from Jupiter - activate by phone.


"conrod" <rich@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:18F884F6-3D09-4F36-8932-9A1D741505F2@xxxxxx

> Like so many people here, I have had the problems with upgrading to
> Vista..
> being unable to re activate the product. I have just spent the last 25
> minuits on the phone to support and guess what... they can't help me, why?
> Because I have done a clean install of windows Vista using a upgrade
> copy....
> why did I do this? because Vista would not run when I upgraded, it was the
> most unstable operating system I have ever owned, it crashed about every
> half
> hour, did a clean install and it runs very well. But when I try to re
> activate the key is already in use... I know.. because I'm using it doh!
> but
> when I try to get help, I'm told to uninstall Vista, reinstall XP and then
> reinstall Vista ?????????????????????? certainly, but then I will have the
> same problems I had before... all I want is a new key to activate Vista...
> microsoft refuse to give me one so I now have to BUY a new key..... best
> of
> all I was told the ONLY person that could help me finnished at 6pm... this
> was at 6:01pm and to phone back tomorrow ???? Saturday... they don't work
> Saturday's... only Moday to Friday 8am till 6pm. Guess what hours I work
> ...... no not 8am till 6pm... I work 7am till 6pm and if I don't work I
> don't
> get paid, so I have to have time off work to get a try to get a ket to
> reactivate a product that I have paid for already.... OR BUY A NEW KEY.
> Can
> anybody out there help a very p***ed of consumer?
> --
> Frustated

The other's advice is good. Reinstall XP, then do the upgrade. Choose the
option to do a custom install. That will lead to a way to do a clean
install, which basically remembers that you had XP when you started the
upgrade install (thus meeting the upgrade requirements), but does a plain
Vista install rather than trying to incorporate stuff from XP into the Vista
install.

When you do this, the online activation probably won't work, and the
automated phone activation probably won't work either, but if you stay on
the line, a real person will help you get activated with your current
product key.

-Paul Randall

"conrod" <rich@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:18F884F6-3D09-4F36-8932-9A1D741505F2@xxxxxx

> Like so many people here, I have had the problems with upgrading to
> Vista..
> being unable to re activate the product. I have just spent the last 25
> minuits on the phone to support and guess what... they can't help me, why?
> Because I have done a clean install of windows Vista using a upgrade
> copy....
> why did I do this? because Vista would not run when I upgraded, it was the
> most unstable operating system I have ever owned, it crashed about every
> half
> hour, did a clean install and it runs very well. But when I try to re
> activate the key is already in use... I know.. because I'm using it doh!
> but
> when I try to get help, I'm told to uninstall Vista, reinstall XP and then
> reinstall Vista ?????????????????????? certainly, but then I will have the
> same problems I had before... all I want is a new key to activate Vista...
> microsoft refuse to give me one so I now have to BUY a new key..... best
> of
> all I was told the ONLY person that could help me finnished at 6pm... this
> was at 6:01pm and to phone back tomorrow ???? Saturday... they don't work
> Saturday's... only Moday to Friday 8am till 6pm. Guess what hours I work
> ...... no not 8am till 6pm... I work 7am till 6pm and if I don't work I
> don't
> get paid, so I have to have time off work to get a try to get a ket to
> reactivate a product that I have paid for already.... OR BUY A NEW KEY.
> Can
> anybody out there help a very p***ed of consumer?
> --
> Frustated