Home Premium Upgrade to Ultimate Using Family Offer Plan License

[DocB1973]

In 2007 I purchased the Vista Ultimate upgrade retail package along with two
additional license through the family offer plan. I am not currently using
the additional licenses. Last month I purchased a Dell notebook PC with
Vista Home Premium. I attempted to upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista
Ultimate by using the retail DVD and one of the license from the family offer
plan. Everything works up to the point where I am to choose between an
upgrade or a clean install. The upgrade is grayed out and a message appears
that says the upgrade is disabled. I really want to upgrade versus a clean
install because of the many software packages I would have to reinstall.

Is it possible to do what I am attempting to do? Appreciate any help as all
your online information tells me this can be done.

Thanks - Doc

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If your new Dell computer has SP1 installed, you'll need to
uninstall SP1 first.

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

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

In 2007 I purchased the Vista Ultimate upgrade retail package along with two
additional license through the family offer plan. I am not currently using
the additional licenses. Last month I purchased a Dell notebook PC with
Vista Home Premium. I attempted to upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista
Ultimate by using the retail DVD and one of the license from the family offer
plan. Everything works up to the point where I am to choose between an
upgrade or a clean install. The upgrade is grayed out and a message appears
that says the upgrade is disabled. I really want to upgrade versus a clean
install because of the many software packages I would have to reinstall.

Is it possible to do what I am attempting to do? Appreciate any help as all
your online information tells me this can be done.

Thanks - Doc

 

[Richard G. Harper]

The additional licenses that came with the family upgrade offer were to
upgrade an existing system to Windows Vista Home Premium. Unless the
licenses say they're specifically for Vista Ultimate, you won't be able to
use those licenses to upgrade.

 

[DocB1973]

Richard - the licenses were for upgrades to Vista Ultimate

The additional licenses that came with the family upgrade offer were to
upgrade an existing system to Windows Vista Home Premium. Unless the
licenses say they're specifically for Vista Ultimate, you won't be able to
use those licenses to upgrade.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/

In 2007 I purchased the Vista Ultimate upgrade retail package along with
two
additional license through the family offer plan. I am not currently
using
the additional licenses. Last month I purchased a Dell notebook PC with
Vista Home Premium. I attempted to upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista
Ultimate by using the retail DVD and one of the license from the family
offer
plan. Everything works up to the point where I am to choose between an
upgrade or a clean install. The upgrade is grayed out and a message
appears
that says the upgrade is disabled. I really want to upgrade versus a
clean
install because of the many software packages I would have to reinstall.

Is it possible to do what I am attempting to do? Appreciate any help as
all
your online information tells me this can be done.

Thanks - Doc

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

The family license offer that was in place last year was for two additional
Home Premium licenses when an Ultimate license was purchased. They are not
additional licenses for Ultimate. If you are not currently using the one
Ultimate license, then of course you can use it to upgrade the Dell system.

However, I suspect that Carey has hit on the root of your problem. Upgrade
would be disabled if you are trying to go from any version of Vista with SP1
installed to any version without it. You would have to uninstall the SP
first, and that may not be possible with your preinstalled machine.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

Richard - the licenses were for upgrades to Vista Ultimate

The additional licenses that came with the family upgrade offer were to
upgrade an existing system to Windows Vista Home Premium. Unless the
licenses say they're specifically for Vista Ultimate, you won't be able
to
use those licenses to upgrade.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/

In 2007 I purchased the Vista Ultimate upgrade retail package along
with
two
additional license through the family offer plan. I am not currently
using
the additional licenses. Last month I purchased a Dell notebook PC
with
Vista Home Premium. I attempted to upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista
Ultimate by using the retail DVD and one of the license from the family
offer
plan. Everything works up to the point where I am to choose between an
upgrade or a clean install. The upgrade is grayed out and a message
appears
that says the upgrade is disabled. I really want to upgrade versus a
clean
install because of the many software packages I would have to
reinstall.

Is it possible to do what I am attempting to do? Appreciate any help
as
all
your online information tells me this can be done.

Thanks - Doc