Windows Vista Forums

Vista Reinstall
  1. #1


    BigE Guest

    Vista Reinstall

    I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home Premium and
    installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the Ultimate
    upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought another
    one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I don't
    have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at all which
    is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is an
    invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.



    John

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Rick Rogers Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    Hi,

    If you've lost your Product Key, you need to contact Microsoft Product
    Support:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default...en-us;cntactms

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
    http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
    Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
    My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

    "BigE" <BigE@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com...
    >I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home Premium
    >and
    > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the Ultimate
    > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought another
    > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I don't
    > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at all
    > which
    > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is an
    > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    >
    > John



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Conor Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    In article <83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com>, BigE
    says...
    > I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home Premium and
    > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the Ultimate
    > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought another
    > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I don't
    > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at all which
    > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is an
    > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    >

    I assume you did the Anytime Upgrade and selected Amazon as the
    retailer?

    (assuming this works the same as when you use MS as the retailer)

    You should have a digital locker that will have a copy of the installer
    as well as the product key.

    Go to http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/

    Click on the "Your locker" link at the top and use the same e-mail
    address you used when purchasing the upgrade.


    --
    Conor

    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
    until you hear them speak.........

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    BigE Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    Yes, I did order Windows Anytime Upgrade Vista Home Premium - Vista Ultimate.
    Like I said, Amazon didn't provide any information in their email invoice or
    on their Digital Library web site.

    I just tried calling them, and they said that my earlier call was sent to
    the wrong department. She told me she would forward my info to the right
    department which doesn't accept phone calls. I have to wait for 2 business
    days for a reply.

    I then call MS who said they could not help me. They transferred me to
    DigitalRiver even though I told them I purchased the upgrade from Amazon.

    Digital river, of course, said they could not help me. However, she did ask
    me to carefully review the invoice and the Digital Library for licensing
    information. I did as she asked, but still couldn't find anything. She told
    me how upgrade procedures work for DigitalRiver and hopes Amazon's procedures
    are the same. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so.

    So here I am with a legit copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and no way to
    reinstall it. Guess I will have to wait 2 business days for Amazon to get
    their act together and call me unless someone has any other recommendations.


    "Conor" wrote:

    > In article <83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com>, BigE
    > says...
    > > I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home Premium and
    > > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the Ultimate
    > > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought another
    > > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I don't
    > > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at all which
    > > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is an
    > > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    > >

    > I assume you did the Anytime Upgrade and selected Amazon as the
    > retailer?
    >
    > (assuming this works the same as when you use MS as the retailer)
    >
    > You should have a digital locker that will have a copy of the installer
    > as well as the product key.
    >
    > Go to http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/
    >
    > Click on the "Your locker" link at the top and use the same e-mail
    > address you used when purchasing the upgrade.
    >
    >
    > --
    > Conor
    >
    > Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
    > until you hear them speak.........
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    BigE Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    I finally got the issue solved. After 30 days, Amazon moves your upgrade
    download to MS Digital Locker. If you don't have a digital locker account,
    you have to create one using the email address used during the purchase.
    Once your account is activated, the upgrade download will be in your account.

    Now I have another problem. Do I now have to install Vista Home Premium
    (full edition, not upgrade edition), run the upgrade software, and then
    install Vista Ultimate? Why can't they just sell the product code so I only
    have to perform on clean install?

    "BigE" wrote:

    > Yes, I did order Windows Anytime Upgrade Vista Home Premium - Vista Ultimate.
    > Like I said, Amazon didn't provide any information in their email invoice or
    > on their Digital Library web site.
    >
    > I just tried calling them, and they said that my earlier call was sent to
    > the wrong department. She told me she would forward my info to the right
    > department which doesn't accept phone calls. I have to wait for 2 business
    > days for a reply.
    >
    > I then call MS who said they could not help me. They transferred me to
    > DigitalRiver even though I told them I purchased the upgrade from Amazon.
    >
    > Digital river, of course, said they could not help me. However, she did ask
    > me to carefully review the invoice and the Digital Library for licensing
    > information. I did as she asked, but still couldn't find anything. She told
    > me how upgrade procedures work for DigitalRiver and hopes Amazon's procedures
    > are the same. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so.
    >
    > So here I am with a legit copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and no way to
    > reinstall it. Guess I will have to wait 2 business days for Amazon to get
    > their act together and call me unless someone has any other recommendations.
    >
    >
    > "Conor" wrote:
    >
    > > In article <83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com>, BigE
    > > says...
    > > > I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home Premium and
    > > > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the Ultimate
    > > > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought another
    > > > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I don't
    > > > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at all which
    > > > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is an
    > > > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    > > >

    > > I assume you did the Anytime Upgrade and selected Amazon as the
    > > retailer?
    > >
    > > (assuming this works the same as when you use MS as the retailer)
    > >
    > > You should have a digital locker that will have a copy of the installer
    > > as well as the product key.
    > >
    > > Go to http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/
    > >
    > > Click on the "Your locker" link at the top and use the same e-mail
    > > address you used when purchasing the upgrade.
    > >
    > >
    > > --
    > > Conor
    > >
    > > Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
    > > until you hear them speak.........
    > >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    HSS Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    Big E

    When you "download" the product you arer basicllay downloading an XML file
    that contains the product key,

    Look in the Windows_Anytime_Upgrade.slupkg-ms file after downloading but not
    "installing"
    Inside the xml is a key:
    <licensingToken description="ProductKey" type="productKey"
    version="msft:rm/algorithm/pkey/2005">[your product key
    here]<<licensingToken>

    Now whether you have to updrade or not is another matter.

    "BigE" <BigE@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:F1CEC0D4-3AE9-4C9F-A79F-8983B9269959@microsoft.com...
    >I finally got the issue solved. After 30 days, Amazon moves your upgrade
    > download to MS Digital Locker. If you don't have a digital locker
    > account,
    > you have to create one using the email address used during the purchase.
    > Once your account is activated, the upgrade download will be in your
    > account.
    >
    > Now I have another problem. Do I now have to install Vista Home Premium
    > (full edition, not upgrade edition), run the upgrade software, and then
    > install Vista Ultimate? Why can't they just sell the product code so I
    > only
    > have to perform on clean install?
    >
    > "BigE" wrote:
    >
    >> Yes, I did order Windows Anytime Upgrade Vista Home Premium - Vista
    >> Ultimate.
    >> Like I said, Amazon didn't provide any information in their email
    >> invoice or
    >> on their Digital Library web site.
    >>
    >> I just tried calling them, and they said that my earlier call was sent to
    >> the wrong department. She told me she would forward my info to the right
    >> department which doesn't accept phone calls. I have to wait for 2
    >> business
    >> days for a reply.
    >>
    >> I then call MS who said they could not help me. They transferred me to
    >> DigitalRiver even though I told them I purchased the upgrade from Amazon.
    >>
    >> Digital river, of course, said they could not help me. However, she did
    >> ask
    >> me to carefully review the invoice and the Digital Library for licensing
    >> information. I did as she asked, but still couldn't find anything. She
    >> told
    >> me how upgrade procedures work for DigitalRiver and hopes Amazon's
    >> procedures
    >> are the same. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so.
    >>
    >> So here I am with a legit copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and no way to
    >> reinstall it. Guess I will have to wait 2 business days for Amazon to
    >> get
    >> their act together and call me unless someone has any other
    >> recommendations.
    >>
    >>
    >> "Conor" wrote:
    >>
    >> > In article <83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com>, BigE
    >> > says...
    >> > > I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home
    >> > > Premium and
    >> > > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the
    >> > > Ultimate
    >> > > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought
    >> > > another
    >> > > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I
    >> > > don't
    >> > > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at
    >> > > all which
    >> > > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is
    >> > > an
    >> > > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    >> > >
    >> > I assume you did the Anytime Upgrade and selected Amazon as the
    >> > retailer?
    >> >
    >> > (assuming this works the same as when you use MS as the retailer)
    >> >
    >> > You should have a digital locker that will have a copy of the installer
    >> > as well as the product key.
    >> >
    >> > Go to http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/
    >> >
    >> > Click on the "Your locker" link at the top and use the same e-mail
    >> > address you used when purchasing the upgrade.
    >> >
    >> >
    >> > --
    >> > Conor
    >> >
    >> > Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
    >> > until you hear them speak.........
    >> >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    BigE Guest

    Re: Vista Reinstall

    What program do I use to view the XML file?

    "HSS" wrote:

    > Big E
    >
    > When you "download" the product you arer basicllay downloading an XML file
    > that contains the product key,
    >
    > Look in the Windows_Anytime_Upgrade.slupkg-ms file after downloading but not
    > "installing"
    > Inside the xml is a key:
    > <licensingToken description="ProductKey" type="productKey"
    > version="msft:rm/algorithm/pkey/2005">[your product key
    > here]<<licensingToken>
    >
    > Now whether you have to updrade or not is another matter.
    >
    > "BigE" <BigE@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:F1CEC0D4-3AE9-4C9F-A79F-8983B9269959@microsoft.com...
    > >I finally got the issue solved. After 30 days, Amazon moves your upgrade
    > > download to MS Digital Locker. If you don't have a digital locker
    > > account,
    > > you have to create one using the email address used during the purchase.
    > > Once your account is activated, the upgrade download will be in your
    > > account.
    > >
    > > Now I have another problem. Do I now have to install Vista Home Premium
    > > (full edition, not upgrade edition), run the upgrade software, and then
    > > install Vista Ultimate? Why can't they just sell the product code so I
    > > only
    > > have to perform on clean install?
    > >
    > > "BigE" wrote:
    > >
    > >> Yes, I did order Windows Anytime Upgrade Vista Home Premium - Vista
    > >> Ultimate.
    > >> Like I said, Amazon didn't provide any information in their email
    > >> invoice or
    > >> on their Digital Library web site.
    > >>
    > >> I just tried calling them, and they said that my earlier call was sent to
    > >> the wrong department. She told me she would forward my info to the right
    > >> department which doesn't accept phone calls. I have to wait for 2
    > >> business
    > >> days for a reply.
    > >>
    > >> I then call MS who said they could not help me. They transferred me to
    > >> DigitalRiver even though I told them I purchased the upgrade from Amazon.
    > >>
    > >> Digital river, of course, said they could not help me. However, she did
    > >> ask
    > >> me to carefully review the invoice and the Digital Library for licensing
    > >> information. I did as she asked, but still couldn't find anything. She
    > >> told
    > >> me how upgrade procedures work for DigitalRiver and hopes Amazon's
    > >> procedures
    > >> are the same. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so.
    > >>
    > >> So here I am with a legit copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and no way to
    > >> reinstall it. Guess I will have to wait 2 business days for Amazon to
    > >> get
    > >> their act together and call me unless someone has any other
    > >> recommendations.
    > >>
    > >>
    > >> "Conor" wrote:
    > >>
    > >> > In article <83619C2A-144C-46F7-97F7-9C0D2F6A9A47@microsoft.com>, BigE
    > >> > says...
    > >> > > I have quite a problem. I paid for a full version of Vista Home
    > >> > > Premium and
    > >> > > installed it on my computer. Later I bought and installed the
    > >> > > Ultimate
    > >> > > upgrade from Amazon.com. Last night my hard drive died. I bought
    > >> > > another
    > >> > > one, and want to install my copy of Vista Ultimate on my HDD, but I
    > >> > > don't
    > >> > > have the product key for my copy. Amazon.com has been of no use at
    > >> > > all which
    > >> > > is why I am asking for help on this forum. The only thing I have is
    > >> > > an
    > >> > > invoice email proving that I paid for the Ultimate upgrade.
    > >> > >
    > >> > I assume you did the Anytime Upgrade and selected Amazon as the
    > >> > retailer?
    > >> >
    > >> > (assuming this works the same as when you use MS as the retailer)
    > >> >
    > >> > You should have a digital locker that will have a copy of the installer
    > >> > as well as the product key.
    > >> >
    > >> > Go to http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/
    > >> >
    > >> > Click on the "Your locker" link at the top and use the same e-mail
    > >> > address you used when purchasing the upgrade.
    > >> >
    > >> >
    > >> > --
    > >> > Conor
    > >> >
    > >> > Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
    > >> > until you hear them speak.........
    > >> >

    >
    >
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

Vista Reinstall problems?

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cannot Reinstall SharePoint Services 2.0 onto SBS2003 Reinstall. jmillerWV SBS Server 10 19 Mar 2010
Does "reinstall" require reinstall of all application software mikiehahn Vista installation & setup 1 06 Oct 2008
Save before reinstall and restore after reinstall-Vista Ultimate and WLM Karl Snooks Live Mail 11 31 Aug 2008
XP reinstall under Vista? Carl Vista installation & setup 12 20 Jun 2007
Upgrade to Viasta Ultimte - Fine - Reinstall requires XP reinstall jhoelz Vista General 9 31 Jan 2007