thank you. However I'd like to be sure of what you said.
I had to re-install vista on my pc cause it didn't work properly. So I
installed my premium vista back and now I'm trying to install the upgrade
version I bought some months ago on the same machine.
Now I've two questions:
1) is that not possible even on the same machine?
2) if I upgrade again buying a new licence, what I have to do if i need to
re-install vista and I own just the premium product key but I bought an
upgrade to vista?
I don't quite understand: You say above "I later upgraded to Ultimate
online..", then you say "I do not own an ultimate product key..".
HOW did you "upgrade to Ultimate online.."?
HOW did you install the "upgrade" without a CD key?
HOW did you ACTIVATE the "upgrade" without a CD key?
NEXT, there is no such thing as "Vista Premium" -- only "Vista Home
Premium", or "Vista Ultimate" (these are the two "premium" editions of
Vista).
IF you "Upgraded to Ultimate online" using the Windows Catalogue, they
would have provided a product key when they received the money.
IF you ordered a BOXED UPGRADE to Ultimate, on the other hand, and are
expecting it to be delivered, you will get your key once it is
delivered, and are simply out of luck until it arrives.
Now, on to licensing issues:
IF you used the copy of Vista Home Premium as the product to be
upgraded, the new license will replace your old license for Vista Home
Premium, making it unusable until the upgrade license is removed.
Now, let's address your use of the word "upgrade".
Do you mean that you simply purchased online a FULL Retail copy of
Vista? Or do you mean what it soundls like you are saying, that you
purchased online downloadable Upgrade media for Vista Ultimate?
1) UPgrades must be installed on a computer having an approved upgrade
path, such as from Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate. If Vista
Home Premium is the version on your drive, and you purchased an
"upgrade version of Vista Ultimate, you will be able to install
Ultimate without formatting your Windows partition, and without losing
any of your own files and data.
In either case, it really doesn't matter, in either case.
IF the edition you purchased was a Retail Upgrade version, you will be
still be able to do either a clean installation, or an in-place
upgrade as long as there is already a version of Vista, XP, or 2k on
the HD.
Don't be in such a hurry, friend. Have patience until you get the
Vista Ultimate Product Key.
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
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