Vista Upgrade a Slap in the Face to MS Customers

[Dr. Raymond Blacketer]

I have been a Microsoft customer since the DOS days, well over twenty years
now, and I am fed up with MS. I installed an upgrade version of Vista, using
the ridiculous method of installing it from XP, but there were problems with
the installation. I reinstalled Vista (clean install), assuming that once I
had activated it, I could reactivate it. That would be fair and reasonable,
but it turns out that neither of these terms mean anything to Microsoft. I
spent an entire day restoring/reinstalling all my programs, settings, and
documents. Now, because MS says my product key is invalid, I either have to
spend more days reinstalling and reconfiguring, or pay a few hundred bucks or
something for a new license, or vista will stop working fully in a few weeks.

I paid for XP (not to mention W98, WME, W95, Windos 3.0, various versions of
DOS, Office for Dos through Office 2007, etc. etc. etc.) and I am therefore
eligible to upgrade to vista; but MS had made it terribly complicated, and
simply wants to extract more money out of its customers, even the long time,
loyal ones, who must be a rapidly decreasing breed.

I can understand the need to have some kind of proof that the installer owns
a legit copy of XP, etc, but the hoops one has to jump through for a clean
install are simply ridiculous. If I had any confidence that Mac could run the
software I need, I'd be there.

Even when I try to contact customer support, they want to charge me $60
bucks just for listening. Microsoft is damnable.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you installed an upgrade version of Windows Vista
on a blank hard drive, then you already know that a
"full version" Windows Vista license is required.
Apparently, you completed ignored the setup question
that asked if you have the correct version product key.

Upgrade installation keys are blocked when you start from the Windows Vista DVD
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930985/en-us

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

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

I have been a Microsoft customer since the DOS days, well over twenty years
now, and I am fed up with MS. I installed an upgrade version of Vista, using
the ridiculous method of installing it from XP, but there were problems with
the installation. I reinstalled Vista (clean install), assuming that once I
had activated it, I could reactivate it. That would be fair and reasonable,
but it turns out that neither of these terms mean anything to Microsoft. I
spent an entire day restoring/reinstalling all my programs, settings, and
documents. Now, because MS says my product key is invalid, I either have to
spend more days reinstalling and reconfiguring, or pay a few hundred bucks or
something for a new license, or vista will stop working fully in a few weeks.

I paid for XP (not to mention W98, WME, W95, Windos 3.0, various versions of
DOS, Office for Dos through Office 2007, etc. etc. etc.) and I am therefore
eligible to upgrade to vista; but MS had made it terribly complicated, and
simply wants to extract more money out of its customers, even the long time,
loyal ones, who must be a rapidly decreasing breed.

I can understand the need to have some kind of proof that the installer owns
a legit copy of XP, etc, but the hoops one has to jump through for a clean
install are simply ridiculous. If I had any confidence that Mac could run the
software I need, I'd be there.

Even when I try to contact customer support, they want to charge me $60
bucks just for listening. Microsoft is damnable.

 

[Dr. Raymond Blacketer]

I didn't "completely ignore" the setup question, and I don't appreciate your
patronizing tone.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Please describe the procedure you used to perform
a clean install of Vista using the upgrade version.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

 

[Dr. Raymond Blacketer]

Thank you to the two helpful responses (alteredcurrents and curious):

To AlteredCurrents: I did learn about this method, but I am frustrated that
I would still have to spend countless hours reinstalling OS, software,
settings, and documents, device drivers, and downloading software upgrades.

To Curious: Thanks for that suggestion (); I will try it, but I'm not
optimistic.

To Carey Frisch: What does it mean to be an MVP? It doesn't mean insulting
people. It says, by the way, in the little Quick Start Guide that comes with
my copy of Vista Home Premium Upgrade, quote: "You can choose to upgrade to
Windows Vista or install a new, or 'clean' copy." (page 3). I didn't
"completely ignore" the setup instructions, as you thoughtlessly suggest; I
had already installed the OS once while in XP, and I had already activated
vista once. But I mistakenly though the Quick Start Guide was telling the
truth. If it says that, there must be a legitimate way to do a clean install,
without having to find some loophole (like installing Vista from Vista).
Given that I had already registered and activated this upgrade OS once, I
thought I could simply restore or reset that activation online. In any case,
if you want to be really valuable, skip the patronizing insults, please. When
people post to these forums, they are already frustrated, and they don't come
here to be kicked when they're down.

 

[Nonny]

When people post to these forums, they are already frustrated,
and they don't come here to be kicked when they're down.

You weren't "kicked", but even if you were... this is Usenet.

Shit happens on Usenet.

Grow some thicker skin.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Assuming you upgraded to Vista in a supported manner:

You can reset your Windows Vista activation by performing the following:

1. Click on the Start button and in the Start Search box type in: slui.exe 4

2. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

3. Select your Country.

4. Follow the instructions for phone activation (no charge).

5. Once completed, restart your computer.

6. Then visit: http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/ and click on "Validate Windows".

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

The upgrade disk has to be started from within a working installation in
order to insert the product key and proceed. If you want a clean install,
you simply need to use the custom install option once the upgrade process
has been initiated. The downside here is that if you want your system to
start over clean, it doesn't provide for a clean install by booting the
disk. You'd have to either reinstall the previously upgraded OS, or use the
well-known workaround of installing twice (first w/o the product key to get
past the booted disk block, and then as an inplace upgrade). Either way you
have to install twice.

As to activation, you can (re)activate it as often as you deem necessary.
It's just that activations subsequent to the first one usually require that
you use the phone method. Automated ones will be blocked. You would not in
any case be required to purchase an additional license.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Dr. Raymond Blacketer]

Thank you for the helpful reply.
I've spent the last half hour trying to activate by phone, but without
success. I was connected to someone in India, I presume; I gave her the
numbers, and still the activation failed. She transferred me to some other
support department, also apparently in India, and it turned out to be the
wrong department. They game me another number to call, and I ended up
transferred back to the first place.

I think it's time to just start drinking heavily.

Does anyone know of a number to call to contact someone in North America?

 

[Dr. Raymond Blacketer]

I tried your suggestion, and they basically told me I'd have to start all
over and I had no other options, just like Microsoft has no real customer
service.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Microsoft Activation Centers Worldwide Telephone Numbers:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/vol/numbers.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

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

Thank you for the helpful reply.
I've spent the last half hour trying to activate by phone, but without
success. I was connected to someone in India, I presume; I gave her the
numbers, and still the activation failed. She transferred me to some other
support department, also apparently in India, and it turned out to be the
wrong department. They game me another number to call, and I ended up
transferred back to the first place.

I think it's time to just start drinking heavily.

Does anyone know of a number to call to contact someone in North America?

 

[f/fgeorge]

Thank you for the helpful reply.
I've spent the last half hour trying to activate by phone, but without
success. I was connected to someone in India, I presume; I gave her the
numbers, and still the activation failed. She transferred me to some other
support department, also apparently in India, and it turned out to be the
wrong department. They game me another number to call, and I ended up
transferred back to the first place.

I think it's time to just start drinking heavily.

Does anyone know of a number to call to contact someone in North America?


:

A person in India working for MS makes about $5.00 a day! Someone here
in the US, that you may not be able to unserstand either, makes $6.??
per HOUR! India is the place of choice for tech support when 90% of
the calls are because of user error. We have all read the stories of
people that are just inept at best, they are not gone and are not
disappearing! At my work I sent out an email asking everyone if they
had a certain brand of monitor, we were replacing them. One lady
emailed me back asking what a monitor was and how to tell if she had
one! We have over 17,000 people at my work and over 90% have a
computer on their desk, it would not be practical to walk to every
single one, when this kind of thing comes up. Oh as for the lady, she
is a supervisor of about 10 to 15 people. With these kind of things
happening every day India is a good choice to farming out t tech
support.

 

[Mark H]

Since you have now wasted days installing Vista both legally and illegally,
then complaining it wouldn't work, why don't you take the "hours" needed to
do it correctly:

Format the drive.
Install XP (no need to activate)
Upgrade to Vista.
Uncheck the box to Auto-Update during installation.
Do not automatically activate (it wouldn't work anyway.)
When done installing, then go to manufacturer websites for the components
you own and update drivers.
Install a free anti-virus.
Start the activation process from the System Properties page and call MS
with the number provided when told your key is already in use.
Answer "No" to the one question they will ask and enter the numbers they
provide you. (<5 minute call)
No lengthy discussion required.
Install any additional software you want to use.
Turn on Auto-Update and install all updates from MS.
Now, make a full backup or image so that your next "install" takes only 20
minutes. (Recovering your backup.)

If this fails, take it to a shop and have it fixed.
We can't solve your frustration with MS.