Changing Product Key ?

[Guest]

A friend of mine got some kit from Microsoft that came with a Windows Vista
CD. I've heard that you can install Vista w/o a key and get 30 days to use it
w/o activating. I plan to purchase it on the 30th when it comes out, but
would like to "try it out" before I make that decision.

My question is, if I installed it w/o a key (can it even BE done?), when I
purchase my CD, can I just change (or enter, or whatever) the product key
from the package I purchase, w/o having to completely re-install?

According to him, this shouldn't be a problem since I'm not entering *any*
key when I install, but I wanted to ask the pros before I waste half a day
installing it, and then finding out I'll just have to do the same thing over
again in 9 days.

Please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Yes, you can install Vista without entering a product key and it will work
for 30 days. By clicking "continue" on the product key page instead of
entering a pk you will be presented a menu of the four editions from which
you choose.

The caveats are: Since a full edition of Home Basic, Home Premium,
Business, or Ultimate gets installed the product key you enter after Jan 30
must match the edition you chose. For example, if you install Ultimate
without a pk and then buy Home Premium you will have to reinstall Home
Premium.

If you do this you must buy a full edition of Vista. Since a full edition
gets installed when you don't enter a product key you cannot later activate
it with an upgrade edition key. There is no choice to install an upgrade
edition when you decline to enter a pk. Setup just installs a full edition.

When you enter your product key, do not use the Change Product Key button on
System Properties. You have not yet entered a product key so there is none
to change. Instead you must click on the Activate Now link and enter the pk
when requested.

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

A friend of mine got some kit from Microsoft that came with a Windows Vista 
CD.

It's a DVD by the way -- in case he doesn't have a DVD drive <s>