Possible to upgrade from RTM to bought packaged Vista?

[Guest]

Will I be able to make my RTM installation "permanent" by buying a copy of
Vista in the store and changing my install code to the one I bought?

I have installed the Ultimate version of the RTM pre-release. Does that mean
that I would need to buy the Ultimate in the store (if upgrading by changing
code is possible)?

If the above is possible and I do it, will Windows Update bring my
installation to the same state as if I would do a fresh install (that is,
will there be any differences between my RTM version and the one released to
the stores that will not be automatically "fixed" by Windows Update?

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you acquired the RTM release of Windows Vista legally,
it should have come with a legal Product Key. If you downloaded
it illegally, you'll need to purchase a "Full Version" of Windows
Vista Ultimate, then perform a "clean install".

All the illegal download sites for Windows Vista RTM are for
the "Volume License" version which cannot be used with a
"Retail" product key.

Windows Update only provides security and driver updates.
It will not offer any update to convert an illegal version of
Windows Vista to a genuine legal version.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

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

:

Will I be able to make my RTM installation "permanent" by buying a copy of
Vista in the store and changing my install code to the one I bought?

I have installed the Ultimate version of the RTM pre-release. Does that mean
that I would need to buy the Ultimate in the store (if upgrading by changing
code is possible)?

If the above is possible and I do it, will Windows Update bring my
installation to the same state as if I would do a fresh install (that is,
will there be any differences between my RTM version and the one released to
the stores that will not be automatically "fixed" by Windows Update?

Thanks.

 

[Mike Ketchen]

Actually, I'm pretty sure you can go to the Start menu (or the "Windows
Flag" menu--what do we call it now that it doesn't say "start" any more?),
click on Computer, click System Properties, and down at the bottom of the
window (you might have to scroll down) is a "Change product key" link. That
is, if you've actually got a legitimate copy of the RTM. Never tried it
myself, but I assume it's for situations like this.

 

[Rick Rogers]

The problems arise when one installs a higher level than they purchase a
Product Key for. In those cases, say installing Ultimate and then purchasing
a Home Premium key, the system will need to be clean installed in order to
use it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Mike Ketchen]

That's true. I was assuming he was going to buy a key/copy that matched the
version he had installed.