MSDN Image/Key for anytime upgrade?

C

Carlo Razzeto

Hello,

Recently I bought an HP laptop at a great price which came with Windows
Vista Home Premium, which would be perfect for my needs if it wasn't for the
fact that I plan on using this system (among other things) as my work
computer/development machine. What I need is Windows Vista Ultimate edition
so I can use Virtual PC and FTP server and other such things.

My question is, ideally what I would love to do (since I have an MSDN sub)
is use a Vista 32b image downloaded from msdn and my msdn Vista Ultimate
Key. I figure why should I spend $159 on a new copy of vista ultimate
edition if I'm already (by my license) allowed to install 5 copy's of the OS
on my own machines. Why not use one of those right?

Well my problem is, the anytime upgrade system seems to be absolutly intent
on having me start the process by purchasing an anytime update disc. Anyone
know how I would go about doing an anytime update with my msdn vista
ultimate key and such? Thanks,

Carlo
 
M

Mike Hall - MVP

Carlo Razzeto said:
Hello,

Recently I bought an HP laptop at a great price which came with Windows
Vista Home Premium, which would be perfect for my needs if it wasn't for
the fact that I plan on using this system (among other things) as my work
computer/development machine. What I need is Windows Vista Ultimate
edition so I can use Virtual PC and FTP server and other such things.

My question is, ideally what I would love to do (since I have an MSDN sub)
is use a Vista 32b image downloaded from msdn and my msdn Vista Ultimate
Key. I figure why should I spend $159 on a new copy of vista ultimate
edition if I'm already (by my license) allowed to install 5 copy's of the
OS on my own machines. Why not use one of those right?

Well my problem is, the anytime upgrade system seems to be absolutly
intent on having me start the process by purchasing an anytime update
disc. Anyone know how I would go about doing an anytime update with my
msdn vista ultimate key and such? Thanks,

Carlo


You don't do an anytime upgrade. Use your MSDN ISO and key code..
 
P

PvdG42

PhilKOregon said:
That requires a fresh install. At least it did when I tried to upgrade
from Vista Home 64 bit to Vista Ultimate 64 bit (from MSDN ISO; burned
to DVD). The installer for Vista Ultimate did not ask be about an
upgrade, and I was quite surprised to see my previous windows directory
was renamed windows.old and my user directories were moved.

Did I do something wrong?

It was a real pain having to install everything from scratch just so
that I could get Remote Desktop.


Did you boot from the install DVD or from the installed OS? IIRC, you don't
get the upgrade option if you boot from the install media.
 
M

Mike Brannigan

PhilKOregon said:
That requires a fresh install. At least it did when I tried to upgrade
from Vista Home 64 bit to Vista Ultimate 64 bit (from MSDN ISO; burned
to DVD). The installer for Vista Ultimate did not ask be about an
upgrade, and I was quite surprised to see my previous windows directory
was renamed windows.old and my user directories were moved.

Did I do something wrong?

It was a real pain having to install everything from scratch just so
that I could get Remote Desktop.

Why would you pay for an anytime upgrade from a MSDN licensed OS?
The MSDN licensed OS is only licensed for use in none production
environments so you may not use that license for an anytime upgrade unless
this upgraded OS is also to be only used in a test and dev environment and
not day to day.
Beside your MSDN subscription contains all the versions of Vista you could
need (including Ultimate) so you have no need to pay for the anytime upgrade
unless you erroneously thought that by buying on you could use your MSDN
licensed OS as the base for the upgrade - which you may not for production
use.
 
C

Colin Barnhorst

IIRC, you don't
get the upgrade option if you boot from the install media.


Correct. As with all previous Windows, you must start an in-place-upgrade
from the desktop of the existing Windows.
 
C

Colin Barnhorst

PhilKOregon said:
That requires a fresh install. At least it did when I tried to upgrade
from Vista Home 64 bit to Vista Ultimate 64 bit (from MSDN ISO; burned
to DVD). The installer for Vista Ultimate did not ask be about an
upgrade, and I was quite surprised to see my previous windows directory
was renamed windows.old and my user directories were moved.

Did I do something wrong?

It was a real pain having to install everything from scratch just so
that I could get Remote Desktop.


You got a windows.old because you did a Custom install.

If you started Setup by booting with the dvd the upgrade options would be
disabled. It makes no difference whether your media was retail, MSDN, MSDN
..iso burned to media, or even from an OEM pack. It's the product key and
how you start Setup that matters.
 
M

Mike Brannigan

Phil the trick here is to clearly state what you are trying to do and what
you have got in terms of license etc.

Is any of this related to your use of MSDN software ? And is this about
32-bit or 64-bit or an attempt to upgrade between the 2?
If this is related in anyway to going form 32 to 64 bit then it is a clean
install required irrespective of media and license being used.

If this is about MSDN use then as long as this is not your day to day
production machine but one that is for development work under the terms of
your MSDN license then just burn your self a DVD from your MSDN media ISO
download - and put it into your machine when running your MSDN Home edition
and do an inplace upgrade and enter your MSDN key for Ultimate.

If you have either a Home Basic or Premium OEM or Retail installed then you
can just buy an upgrade to ultimate from any source you like. (unless this
is a switch in platform from 32 to 64 in which case it is a clean install
using real media)

Now is this does not address your specific situation please post back with
exactly what you are trying to do and how.

Also try and not post so that you cannot tell where one post ends and the
reply starts (as you have done to mine above)
 

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