Vista RC1 Activation Product Key Question

[Keith]

Today I download RC1 and obtained a product key with the Windows Live Log
on and acount activation. When I installed Vista RC1 it did not prompt me
for a product key and installed. This was a fresh install onto a computer.
Now when I attempt to enter a product key Windows vista rejects it, it
already has a all numbers product key and I can not activate the product.
Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this problem?

TIA,


Keith

 

[Guest]

Let me guess. You have previously installed the Beta 2 release? The same
Product key is used and was probably still in the registry....

 

[Guest]

If you previously installed Beta 2 then the product key is already there.
(same key for RC1)

 

[Will Schuitman]

The product key you have is only valid for Vista Ultimate if you installed
Home Premium or Home Basic or one of the others, it will not let you
activate it The vista DVD has all versions on it but you can only activate
the version you have the product key for and MSFT has only given out keys
for the Ultimate edition.

You can check which version you have installed by typing "winver" in the run
command

 

[Will Schuitman]

In addition to my last post
If you did install the Ultimate edition you should try right clicking the
"computer" icon on your desktop then click on properties at the bottom
you'll see a "Change product key link"
re-enter your product key this has worked for many others
I hope this info helps you.

 

[Kevin John Panzke]

Microsoft did indeed hand out the following to MSDN Subscriber's beginning
with Windows Vista Beta 2 (and possibly Microsoft Tech Net Plus Subscriber's
as well): Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, and Windows
Vista Business Edition Product Keys, however they only work with the Beta 2
and RC1 Mile Stone Build's, and will not work with the Build 5728 Interim
Build. You need to use your MSDN, Microsoft Tech Net Plus, or CPP Program
Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Product Key with Build 5728.

 

[Keith]

The product key you have is only valid for Vista Ultimate if you installed
Home Premium or Home Basic or one of the others, it will not let you
activate it The vista DVD has all versions on it but you can only activate
the version you have the product key for and MSFT has only given out keys
for the Ultimate edition.

You can check which version you have installed by typing "winver" in the
run command

I installed the home premium edition. Do I reinstall the OS or can I leave
it alone?

 

[Kevin John Panzke]

P.S. I just tried out my MSDN Ultimate Edition Beta 2/Release Candidate 1
Product Key in Build 5728 and it works just fine, so Microsoft may be
planning to Release Build 5728 to MSDN Subscriber's as well (hopefully
sometime this Century).

 

[Robert Firth]

The technical beta keys for Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, and Business
work for 5728...

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Keith;
If you want use beyond the activation period, you will need to reinstall
using the Product Key.
Your Ultimate key will not work with Home Premium.

 

[Kevin John Panzke]

MSDN has Different Product Key Requirements with the Interim Build's (only
the MSDN Ultimate Edition Product Key worked with Builds 5472 and 5535),
Build 5728 is most likely the same thing. Also keep in mind that the Public
Download of Build 5728 is designed for the CPP Program Ultimate Edition
(only Ultimate Edition is Available for the CPP Program).

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is possible to install Vista without entering the PK. That should result
in a screen giving options for which edition to install. The PK you have is
only good for Ultimate, so if you have inadvertantly chosen a different
edition you cannot activate it. If so the edition you installed will only
run for 14 days. The only resolution is to reinstall Vista and provide the
PK when requested. It is the PK that tells Setup to install Ultimate and
not one of the other choices.

 

[Mark D. VandenBerg]

It is possible to install Vista without entering the PK. That should
result in a screen giving options for which edition to install. The PK
you have is only good for Ultimate, so if you have inadvertantly chosen a
different edition you cannot activate it. If so the edition you installed
will only run for 14 days. The only resolution is to reinstall Vista and
provide the PK when requested. It is the PK that tells Setup to install
Ultimate and not one of the other choices.

Has anyone tried doing an upgrade from one Vista version to Ultimate by
using the CPP Product Key? Or is this feature not available yet?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is not supported. Entering the Ultimate PK when you are running another
edition just gets you an "incorrect PK" message.

You can change the PK for the edition you are running but the Change PK link
does not facilitate changing between editions. You would have to run Setup
and choose Upgrade (or use the Anytime Upgrade website) to change from a
lower edition to Ultimate.

A downgrade to a lower level edition from Ultimate would require a Custom
Installation.