Vista - Version upgrade possible?

When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked "Business"
version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to upgrade
the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get a
key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems to
baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't activate!

I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
know if you would have that option in Vista or not.


Tripp Lewis wrote:
> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked "Business"
> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to upgrade
> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get a
> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems to
> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't activate!

I could not find any Repair Install option, only Safe Mode, etc.

"Theo" wrote:

> I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
> Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
> the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
> point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
> know if you would have that option in Vista or not.
>
>
> Tripp Lewis wrote:
> > When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked "Business"
> > version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
> > that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to upgrade
> > the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get a
> > key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems to
> > baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
> > RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't activate!
>

How about if you boot from the Vista DVD? In Win XP you
only get the Repair Install option if you have booted from
the CD.


Tripp Lewis wrote:
> I could not find any Repair Install option, only Safe Mode, etc.
>
> "Theo" wrote:
>
>> I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
>> Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
>> the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
>> point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
>> know if you would have that option in Vista or not.
>>
>>
>> Tripp Lewis wrote:
>>> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked "Business"
>>> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
>>> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to upgrade
>>> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get a
>>> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems to
>>> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
>>> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't activate!

Yes, I found that, but there was not a way to "upgrade" to Ultimate from
there. Now the install has expired, and I am almost having to re-format and
install XP again.

"Theo" wrote:

> How about if you boot from the Vista DVD? In Win XP you
> only get the Repair Install option if you have booted from
> the CD.
>
>
> Tripp Lewis wrote:
> > I could not find any Repair Install option, only Safe Mode, etc.
> >
> > "Theo" wrote:
> >
> >> I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
> >> Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
> >> the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
> >> point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
> >> know if you would have that option in Vista or not.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tripp Lewis wrote:
> >>> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked "Business"
> >>> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
> >>> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to upgrade
> >>> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get a
> >>> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems to
> >>> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
> >>> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't activate!
>

"Tripp Lewis" <TrippLewis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news90554EC-3DE8-4D38-B27D-445C1BB94069@microsoft.com...
> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked
> "Business"
> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a key, but
> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to
> upgrade
> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to get
> a
> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just seems
> to
> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new installation of
> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't
> activate!

When Vista becomes a retail product, you are supposed to be able to upgrade
one version to another using the DVD and a new Product Key that you may
purchase from a retail partner. I have never tried this and it may not be
working in any of the pre-release versions. Has anyone tried this or does
anyone know the procedure or even if this is possible with a pre-release
build?

I know you probably don't want to do this, but I think you'll have to boot
from the Vista CD and enter the key and re-install Ultimate.

"Tripp Lewis" <TrippLewis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6E755003-0E80-4B53-9C35-0D23CCC92CEE@microsoft.com...
> Yes, I found that, but there was not a way to "upgrade" to Ultimate from
> there. Now the install has expired, and I am almost having to re-format
> and
> install XP again.
>
> "Theo" wrote:
>
>> How about if you boot from the Vista DVD? In Win XP you
>> only get the Repair Install option if you have booted from
>> the CD.
>>
>>
>> Tripp Lewis wrote:
>> > I could not find any Repair Install option, only Safe Mode, etc.
>> >
>> > "Theo" wrote:
>> >
>> >> I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
>> >> Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
>> >> the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
>> >> point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
>> >> know if you would have that option in Vista or not.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Tripp Lewis wrote:
>> >>> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked
>> >>> "Business"
>> >>> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a
>> >>> key, but
>> >>> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to
>> >>> upgrade
>> >>> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to
>> >>> get a
>> >>> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just
>> >>> seems to
>> >>> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new
>> >>> installation of
>> >>> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't
>> >>> activate!
>>

I didn't want to have to re-format, I am trying now to re-install. If I don't
put the key in at first, I get more options and it shows me disk space needed
as 9 GB rather that the 17 GB I couldn't provide.

Maybe it will work....

"Jim" wrote:

> I know you probably don't want to do this, but I think you'll have to boot
> from the Vista CD and enter the key and re-install Ultimate.
>
> "Tripp Lewis" <TrippLewis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6E755003-0E80-4B53-9C35-0D23CCC92CEE@microsoft.com...
> > Yes, I found that, but there was not a way to "upgrade" to Ultimate from
> > there. Now the install has expired, and I am almost having to re-format
> > and
> > install XP again.
> >
> > "Theo" wrote:
> >
> >> How about if you boot from the Vista DVD? In Win XP you
> >> only get the Repair Install option if you have booted from
> >> the CD.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tripp Lewis wrote:
> >> > I could not find any Repair Install option, only Safe Mode, etc.
> >> >
> >> > "Theo" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> I can't guarantee it will work, but you might try a Repair
> >> >> Install and put in the Ultimate key then. I know there is
> >> >> the Repair Install option in Win XP after you go past the
> >> >> point where you press F8(?) to accept the EULA, but I don't
> >> >> know if you would have that option in Vista or not.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Tripp Lewis wrote:
> >> >>> When I installed RC1, I did not have a license key, and I picked
> >> >>> "Business"
> >> >>> version, as that was indicated the most appropriate. I now have a
> >> >>> key, but
> >> >>> that I see only works for the "Ultimate" version. Is there a way to
> >> >>> upgrade
> >> >>> the version to Ultimate so the key will work? I have not been able to
> >> >>> get a
> >> >>> key via telephone, as recommended earlier, the activation code just
> >> >>> seems to
> >> >>> baffle the operators when I call. I am unable to get a new
> >> >>> installation of
> >> >>> RC1 to take, and I have a working version that will stop if I can't
> >> >>> activate!
> >>