Installing Vista RTM Home Premium..........

[Rick Tyefisher]

If I was to install Home Premium, how long will I be able to run it without
the key? I have the key from Ultimate that is good until June, but nothing
for Home. My upgrade will be to Premium, so I don't want to install
Ultimate then have to format to install Home Premium when the time
comes........... Or, where can I get the 6 month Home Premium key that
would see me thru until I receive my Express upgrade, hopefully next
month........

 

[Robert Firth]

You can run it for 30 days without a key. The key you received in the beta
that lasts until June is only good for beta builds. RTM is the retail
product, so you have to buy a key for it.

Only builds that will last more than 30 days will be pre-RTM beta builds
such as RC2, RC1...

--
/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Robert Firth *
* Windows Vista x86 RTM *
* http://www.WinVistaInfo.org *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

 

[Paul Smith]

If I was to install Home Premium, how long will I be able to run it
without the key? I have the key from Ultimate that is good until June, but
nothing for Home. My upgrade will be to Premium, so I don't want to
install Ultimate then have to format to install Home Premium when the time
comes........... Or, where can I get the 6 month Home Premium key that
would see me thru until I receive my Express upgrade, hopefully next
month........

You'll be able to use it for 30 days without entering a key.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/
Get ready for Windows Vista: http://www.windowsvista.com/getready/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You will need a full edition of Home Premium to upgrade a CPP Home Premium.
You cannot do that with an upgrade edition product key because the CPP copy
is evaluation software and does not qualify for upgrade pricing. If you buy
an upgrade edition product key you will have to reinstall XP Home to upgrade
to Home Premium.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

If I was to install Home Premium, how long will I be able to run it
without the key? I have the key from Ultimate that is good until June, but
nothing for Home. My upgrade will be to Premium, so I don't want to
install Ultimate then have to format to install Home Premium when the time
comes........... Or, where can I get the 6 month Home Premium key that
would see me thru until I receive my Express upgrade, hopefully next
month........

You can actually run for three months without activating, if you know the
'secret' command. It's in here somewhere...

ss.

 

[MICHAEL]

Actually, I believe it's 120 days. The original 30 day activation,
plus the ability to "rearm" three times.

------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know why this hasn't been mentioned,
but you can restart the 30 day grace period.
It is built into Windows, it's not a hack.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/plan/faq.mspx
<quote>
Q. What is Initial Grace?
A.Initial Grace (or OOB Grace) starts the first time you start your computer after you install
the operating system. It provides 30 days for the computer to be activated. The Initial Grace
period can only be restarted by running sysprep /generalize, or by using slmgr.vbs -rearm.
These processes reset the Initial Grace timer to 30 days. This will only work three times.
</quote>

In an elevated command prompt type:
slmgr -rearm


-Michael

 

[Rick Tyefisher]

"> In an elevated command prompt type:

slmgr -rearm"

Uh, without sounding too dumb, what is an elevated command? From the run command in windows, or maybe the C: prompt? If I did this, I could run it for 30+30+30 days if need be before I get my express upgrade and then could use that key?

R...

 

[Rick Tyefisher]

And, what "secret" command would I search for? I'm not trying to "beat the
system", just can't wait to try Home Premium for now.........

R...

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

And, what "secret" command would I search for? I'm not trying to "beat
the system", just can't wait to try Home Premium for now.........

Michael has told you what to do.

ss.

 

[MICHAEL]

Type CMD in Start Menu's search box.
When the result is shown, go ahead and
right click it, add it to the Start Menu or Quick Launch.
Now, you'll have it handy.
After you do that, right click CMD and click
Run as Administrator.
Type, slmgr -rearm
Hit enter. Wait a bit, and then
reboot. Your back to 30 days.

I'm don't think what you want to do will work with
an express upgrade key. Now, had you obtained
Vista Home Premium by other means, and then
waited until you could purchase it retail, that key
would work fine. You wouldn't have to reinstall.

The express upgrade disk will want to see a legacy OS
installed, and not Vista. It seems if you try to enter the
upgrade key in a retail version, it won't work. I could be wrong.
I've probably confused you, I confused myself.


-Michael

"> In an elevated command prompt type:

slmgr -rearm"

Uh, without sounding too dumb, what is an elevated command? From the run command in windows,
or maybe the C: prompt? If I did this, I could run it for 30+30+30 days if need be before I
get my express upgrade and then could use that key?

R...