Vista - Validation Issue Installed on the wrong computer

First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to install
Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.

My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell machine
and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending hours
uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean hard
drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by mistake.
The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID still
not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.

When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the Ultimate
disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I was
happy that both machine were now running on Vista

Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me Vista
is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to figure
out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the Dell
and HP.

After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to fix
this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista� from
the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to figure
something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.

My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the Dell
Vista was work (activate)?

I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in several of
these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen suggesting I
have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have a
virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee. I
don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.

Any ideas?

Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.

There's no such thing as un-activation, once you get your installs
straightened out use the activate by phone option, simply removing it from a
PC does not de-activate it, I'm surprised they said it would.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.db-pc.com
_________________________________________________________________________________


"Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AEBF65EC-E1F6-45F5-907B-5F46C216633A@microsoft.com...
> First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to install
> Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.
>
> My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell machine
> and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending hours
> uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
> decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean
> hard
> drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
> picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by
> mistake.
> The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID still
> not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.
>
> When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the
> Ultimate
> disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I was
> happy that both machine were now running on Vista
>
> Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me
> Vista
> is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to
> figure
> out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the
> Dell
> and HP.
>
> After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to fix
> this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista� from
> the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to figure
> something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.
>
> My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the
> Dell
> Vista was work (activate)?
>
> I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in several
> of
> these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen suggesting
> I
> have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have a
> virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee. I
> don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
>

Thank you for your very quick response.

Honestly, that what the lady said.

Any ideas on how best to uninstall Ultimate?
----------
--------

"David B." wrote:

> There's no such thing as un-activation, once you get your installs
> straightened out use the activate by phone option, simply removing it from a
> PC does not de-activate it, I'm surprised they said it would.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.db-pc.com
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AEBF65EC-E1F6-45F5-907B-5F46C216633A@microsoft.com...
> > First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to install
> > Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.
> >
> > My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell machine
> > and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending hours
> > uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
> > decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean
> > hard
> > drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
> > picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by
> > mistake.
> > The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID still
> > not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.
> >
> > When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the
> > Ultimate
> > disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I was
> > happy that both machine were now running on Vista
> >
> > Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me
> > Vista
> > is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to
> > figure
> > out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the
> > Dell
> > and HP.
> >
> > After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to fix
> > this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista� from
> > the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to figure
> > something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.
> >
> > My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the
> > Dell
> > Vista was work (activate)?
> >
> > I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in several
> > of
> > these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen suggesting
> > I
> > have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have a
> > virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee. I
> > don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
> >
>

You don't uninstall an operating system any longer. You just reformat the
partition that the O/S is on and it is gone. Now you are legal. Then make
your phone call.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EDE782D2-01FD-4B5B-97BC-767D49103BE8@microsoft.com...
> Thank you for your very quick response.
>
> Honestly, that what the lady said.
>
> Any ideas on how best to uninstall Ultimate?
> ----------
> --------
>
> "David B." wrote:
>
>> There's no such thing as un-activation, once you get your installs
>> straightened out use the activate by phone option, simply removing it
>> from a
>> PC does not de-activate it, I'm surprised they said it would.
>>
>> --
>>
>> ----
>> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>> http://www.db-pc.com
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:AEBF65EC-E1F6-45F5-907B-5F46C216633A@microsoft.com...
>> > First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to
>> > install
>> > Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.
>> >
>> > My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell
>> > machine
>> > and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending
>> > hours
>> > uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
>> > decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean
>> > hard
>> > drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
>> > picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by
>> > mistake.
>> > The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID
>> > still
>> > not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.
>> >
>> > When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the
>> > Ultimate
>> > disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I
>> > was
>> > happy that both machine were now running on Vista
>> >
>> > Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me
>> > Vista
>> > is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to
>> > figure
>> > out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the
>> > Dell
>> > and HP.
>> >
>> > After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to
>> > fix
>> > this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista�
>> > from
>> > the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to
>> > figure
>> > something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.
>> >
>> > My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the
>> > Dell
>> > Vista was work (activate)?
>> >
>> > I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in
>> > several
>> > of
>> > these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen
>> > suggesting
>> > I
>> > have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have
>> > a
>> > virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee.
>> > I
>> > don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.
>> >
>> > Any ideas?
>> >
>> > Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
>> >
>>

Thanks, I give that a shot this weekend. I understand you can't reformat an
active hard drive so I'll install a second drive and install Vista Business
then reformat. Sounds easy ;-) Thanks

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> You don't uninstall an operating system any longer. You just reformat the
> partition that the O/S is on and it is gone. Now you are legal. Then make
> your phone call.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban MVP
> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:EDE782D2-01FD-4B5B-97BC-767D49103BE8@microsoft.com...
> > Thank you for your very quick response.
> >
> > Honestly, that what the lady said.
> >
> > Any ideas on how best to uninstall Ultimate?
> > ----------
> > --------
> >
> > "David B." wrote:
> >
> >> There's no such thing as un-activation, once you get your installs
> >> straightened out use the activate by phone option, simply removing it
> >> from a
> >> PC does not de-activate it, I'm surprised they said it would.
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> ----
> >> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> >> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> >> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >> http://www.db-pc.com
> >> _________________________________________________________________________________
> >>
> >>
> >> "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:AEBF65EC-E1F6-45F5-907B-5F46C216633A@microsoft.com...
> >> > First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to
> >> > install
> >> > Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.
> >> >
> >> > My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell
> >> > machine
> >> > and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending
> >> > hours
> >> > uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
> >> > decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean
> >> > hard
> >> > drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
> >> > picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by
> >> > mistake.
> >> > The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID
> >> > still
> >> > not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.
> >> >
> >> > When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the
> >> > Ultimate
> >> > disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I
> >> > was
> >> > happy that both machine were now running on Vista
> >> >
> >> > Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me
> >> > Vista
> >> > is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to
> >> > figure
> >> > out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the
> >> > Dell
> >> > and HP.
> >> >
> >> > After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to
> >> > fix
> >> > this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista�
> >> > from
> >> > the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to
> >> > figure
> >> > something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.
> >> >
> >> > My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the
> >> > Dell
> >> > Vista was work (activate)?
> >> >
> >> > I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in
> >> > several
> >> > of
> >> > these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen
> >> > suggesting
> >> > I
> >> > have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have
> >> > a
> >> > virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee.
> >> > I
> >> > don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.
> >> >
> >> > Any ideas?
> >> >
> >> > Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
> >> >
> >>
>
>

And why can't you reformat an active drive? Admittedly not when working from
Windows. Easy way is to simply restart the computer and boot using the DVD/CD
disk and then you can delete, resize or reformat from there before
reinstalling. You put a second HD in and install Business on that then that
will be come the primary HD and it may be Drive E or F or someother drive
letter.

Toolman

"Ish" wrote:

> Thanks, I give that a shot this weekend. I understand you can't reformat an
> active hard drive so I'll install a second drive and install Vista Business
> then reformat. Sounds easy ;-) Thanks
>
> "Richard Urban" wrote:
>
> > You don't uninstall an operating system any longer. You just reformat the
> > partition that the O/S is on and it is gone. Now you are legal. Then make
> > your phone call.
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Richard Urban MVP
> > Microsoft Windows Shell/User
> >
> >
> > "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:EDE782D2-01FD-4B5B-97BC-767D49103BE8@microsoft.com...
> > > Thank you for your very quick response.
> > >
> > > Honestly, that what the lady said.
> > >
> > > Any ideas on how best to uninstall Ultimate?
> > > ----------
> > > --------
> > >
> > > "David B." wrote:
> > >
> > >> There's no such thing as un-activation, once you get your installs
> > >> straightened out use the activate by phone option, simply removing it
> > >> from a
> > >> PC does not de-activate it, I'm surprised they said it would.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >>
> > >> ----
> > >> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> > >> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> > >> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> > >> http://www.db-pc.com
> > >> _________________________________________________________________________________
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> "Ish" <Ish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >> news:AEBF65EC-E1F6-45F5-907B-5F46C216633A@microsoft.com...
> > >> > First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to
> > >> > install
> > >> > Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.
> > >> >
> > >> > My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell
> > >> > machine
> > >> > and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending
> > >> > hours
> > >> > uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
> > >> > decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean
> > >> > hard
> > >> > drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
> > >> > picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by
> > >> > mistake.
> > >> > The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID
> > >> > still
> > >> > not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.
> > >> >
> > >> > When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the
> > >> > Ultimate
> > >> > disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I
> > >> > was
> > >> > happy that both machine were now running on Vista
> > >> >
> > >> > Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me
> > >> > Vista
> > >> > is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to
> > >> > figure
> > >> > out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the
> > >> > Dell
> > >> > and HP.
> > >> >
> > >> > After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to
> > >> > fix
> > >> > this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista�
> > >> > from
> > >> > the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to
> > >> > figure
> > >> > something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.
> > >> >
> > >> > My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the
> > >> > Dell
> > >> > Vista was work (activate)?
> > >> >
> > >> > I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in
> > >> > several
> > >> > of
> > >> > these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen
> > >> > suggesting
> > >> > I
> > >> > have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have
> > >> > a
> > >> > virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee.
> > >> > I
> > >> > don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.
> > >> >
> > >> > Any ideas?
> > >> >
> > >> > Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> >