activation problem

[r.bartlett]

Hi guy's

I did a new install with vista business. 'upgrade' . The reason for this
was a new hard drive. I couldn't -then- see the point of installing xp then
vista then start the long hard migration process. I was told of a work
around, so I did.

Now I'm getting 'activation' notices which when I try I get "this is an
upgrade pack not a clean install" failed

Now I have XP disks/codes here which are genuine -can I phone MS and would
they allow me to quote a XP product key rather than having to go through the
whole process again?

All software legit and above board - can send pics to prove ;-)

Any help/work around most welcome

Cheers

Richard

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Have you activated Windows?

Your XP product key is not relevant. The Vista product key is. That is the
only pk MS cares about.

What upgrade pack are you referring to?

The workaround, while many think is legal (after all you apparently do own a
license for XP that is eligible for upgrade to Vista), is not supported by
Microsoft Product Support Services. While I have no issue with the
workaround as long as you are otherwise properly licensed Microsoft may.
You may be wiser to use the traditional method or use a Vista full edition
product key.

Because all installations of Vista are clean installs of the OS (unlike XP),
if you do install XP and then upgrade to Vista Business, the Vista installer
will completely remove XP to a windows.old file which you can easily take
ownership of and then delete. The end result is no different than a
straight clean installation. Even the workaround involves a windows.old
folder which you remove afterwards.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If by "upgrade pack" you mean an Anytime Upgrade dvd, you cannot activate an
AU installation that was clean installed using the workaround. You will get
an error. AU can only be activated when installed as a standard upgrade to
another installed copy of Vista. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937769/en-us
This is by design.

 

[AJR]

Regarding "...Now I'm getting 'activation' notices which when I try I get
"this is an upgrade pack not a clean install" failed...." - you are being
told the product key is invalid - use the optional phone activation.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Boot into Vista Business, insert your DVD and do an in-place upgrade using
the Product Key. After the (re)installation completes, you should be able to
activate. Most likely you will need to phone it in.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Actually, I think he is being told that he cannot activate at all if he
clean installed with just the Anytime Upgrade kit.