entered wrong (cheaper) version of windows and now can't activate.

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rjc - 26 Apr 2008 19:46 GMT

I did a clean install of a windows upgrade. I told it I was using windows
vista home premium, what I thought I was getting. It turns out it was really
ultimate, so now when I try to activate it wont let me. Can I change it to
ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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Carey Frisch [MVP] - 26 Apr 2008 22:54 GMT

Do you have a product key for Vista Home Premium
or Vista Ultimate? What exactly do you mean by
"I told it I was using windows vista home premium"?

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Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

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rjc - 27 Apr 2008 04:29 GMT

I have a product key for ultimate - the package came in the mail (disks and
all). I did a trial install - without a product key. There's a screen that
asks you which product you want to intall - premium, ultimate, etc. I chose
premium. So I had 30 days to activate. When I typed in the product key to
activate I got a message that it was the wrong version.

> Do you have a product key for Vista Home Premium
> or Vista Ultimate? What exactly do you mean by
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> ultimate, so now when I try to activate it wont let me. Can I change it to
> ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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PaulM - 27 Apr 2008 04:49 GMT

If you had a key for Ultimate, why would you try Premium??? Did you check
the key really well? Like an O could be a 0, check it real well.

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> I have a product key for ultimate - the package came in the mail (disks
> and
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> to
>> ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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Mick Murphy - 27 Apr 2008 05:48 GMT

All Vista versions are on the one disk!
But, you have installed the wrong one.
Your PK is for Ultimate, not Home Premium.

If it was me, I'd save my Data, and reinstall the correct version, Ultimate.

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Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

> I have a product key for ultimate - the package came in the mail (disks and
> all). I did a trial install - without a product key. There's a screen that
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> > ultimate, so now when I try to activate it wont let me. Can I change it to
> > ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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Carey Frisch [MVP] - 27 Apr 2008 05:04 GMT

You'll need to purchase a "full version" license
for Windows Vista Home Premium.

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Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

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

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rjc - 27 Apr 2008 06:05 GMT

Why would I do that when I've already purchased the ultimate upgrade and had
xp on the hard drive before the os got corrupted? Surely there's some way to
change it to ultimate without having to reinstall everything.

> You'll need to purchase a "full version" license
> for Windows Vista Home Premium.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> ultimate, so now when I try to activate it wont let me. Can I change it to
> ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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Richard G. Harper - 27 Apr 2008 10:40 GMT

No, there is not. That is why you are cautioned to select the exact version
of Vista you have purchased and that wiping and starting over or purchasing
the correct version may be necessary when you decline to enter the product
key during installation.

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> Why would I do that when I've already purchased the ultimate upgrade and
> had
> xp on the hard drive before the os got corrupted? Surely there's some way
> to
> change it to ultimate without having to reinstall everything.

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Curious - 27 Apr 2008 13:31 GMT

I suggest that you rerun your ultimate upgrade on the installed premium
version and enter the ultimate key and hopefully it will upgrade premium to
ultimate without destroying any of your data.

> Why would I do that when I've already purchased the ultimate upgrade and
> had
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>> to
>> ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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rjc - 27 Apr 2008 16:13 GMT

OK, Thanks everyone. Curious, that's what I was going to try but I was
hoping there was a fail-safe way. After a few hous setting things up I was
hoping I could avoid having to redo everything. ;)

> I suggest that you rerun your ultimate upgrade on the installed premium
> version and enter the ultimate key and hopefully it will upgrade premium to
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> >> to
> >> ultimate without losing everything I've installed so far?

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Spook 13 - 30 Apr 2008 17:16 GMT

Good luck. It really bites my backside to think that the vendor/Ms etc.
could just habe placed a colour codes sticker or something on the disk to
indicate correct version.
Cheers
http://warworld13.myminicity.com

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JW - 01 May 2008 03:30 GMT

They all ready do what you suggest.
Both my 32 bit and my 64 bit Vista Home Premium Upgrade disks are colored
green and clearly labeled as Vista Home Premium upgrade disks.

> Good luck. It really bites my backside to think that the vendor/Ms etc.
> could just habe placed a colour codes sticker or something on the disk to
> indicate correct version.
> Cheers
> http://warworld13.myminicity.com

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