Ultimate Vista was upgrade not full version

[Raffie]

I bought this last year when CompUSA was closing its store in Lynnwood, Wa.
All versions of Vista had the red lettering on the box UPGRADE except
Ultimate.

I looked over the box and bought it.

Since I was waiting for the patches I never installed it till 2 weeks ago.
To my suprise it was the UPGRADE, on the side of the box in small white
lettering was "This is upgrade only version."
I wanted full version and not upgrade.

Who at MS could I contact about getting the full version?

 

[David B.]

No one, you paid for the upgrade, that's what you got, you will need to
purchase the full version if you want it.

 

[Raffie]

Since the box was misleading its my problem then right?

 

[David B.]

It does say upgrade on the box, even though you may need a magnifying glass
to see it, I seriously doubt MS is going to give you a full version, or even
a discount on a full version, you can always call them and ask, no one here
can say whether they will or not with 100% certainty.

 

[Raffie]

Ya I sent them a email.
While the box was very misleading does say upgrade in very small text.

 

[David B.]

If push comes to shove you can do a full install on an empty hard disk with
it, just takes a bit more time.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Raffie,

If you follow the instructions in my post 'Clean Install Windows Vista Using
Upgrade Media', also in this newsgroup (dated 9/21/2007), you should be able
to solve your problem. Although this is written for Home Premium (as that is
what I am using), it can be adapted for other versions of Vista.
Dwarf

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...2be7&mid=c2e2a2bd-c0ed-4c78-ae89-5eb74dcf2be7

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The first thing you need to do is look at the receipt.
What price is shown on the receipt?
And what is the description of the product on the receipt.
Retail or OEM, probably retail.
Did you get what you paid for?
Not necessarily what you wanted.

You will probably need to purchase the full version again since Comp
USA is gone and you waited so long.
If the box was misleading, you should have made that determination
long ago.
You are probably past any reasonable time.
Contact Microsoft and if no satisfaction, your only alternative may
require a lawyer.

My Ultimate upgrade case has Upgrade clearly on the top left front in
white letters in a red box and similar on the side.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Raffie

This tutorial will show you how to do a clean install with a Upgrade
version of Vista.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/68767-clean-install.html

 

[Bill Yanaire]

The first thing you need to do is look at the receipt.
What price is shown on the receipt?
And what is the description of the product on the receipt.
Retail or OEM, probably retail.
Did you get what you paid for?
Not necessarily what you wanted.

You will probably need to purchase the full version again since Comp USA
is gone and you waited so long.
If the box was misleading, you should have made that determination long
ago.
You are probably past any reasonable time.
Contact Microsoft and if no satisfaction, your only alternative may
require a lawyer.

Are you kidding? A lawyer? All he needs to do is follow the directions
that a few others have posted about doing a clean install with an upgrade
copy. No big deal. He will then have a clean install.

Problem solved.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

"Problem solved."
Can you GUARANTEE it, permanently?
No, you can not.
Temporarily or maybe permanently is unknown.
Microsoft may very well close that hole at some later time.

And NO I am not kidding.
I was giving information that may help the OP.
Your contribution is little more that criticism with nothing of value
for the OP or anyone else.

 

[CB]

I bought this last year when CompUSA was closing its store in Lynnwood, Wa.
All versions of Vista had the red lettering on the box UPGRADE except
Ultimate.

I looked over the box and bought it.

Since I was waiting for the patches I never installed it till 2 weeks ago.
To my suprise it was the UPGRADE, on the side of the box in small white
lettering was "This is upgrade only version."
I wanted full version and not upgrade.

Who at MS could I contact about getting the full version?

Raffie,

If the price you paid for your retail Ultimate was substantially less
than what a FULL retail product sold for at the time why did you not look
more closely at the box? Why didn't you ask the sales clerk if it was a full
or upgrade?

I agree that many things on a product are subject to "fine print" but
this has been the case for decades. You need to pay closer attention in the
future regarding anything you purchase.

I didn't have any trouble whatsoever when I went to a retail store to
buy Vista Ultimate. I could clearly see the "Upgrade" listed on the box, just
as I could clearly see the listing for the "full" version.

Microsoft is not going to give you a product you did not pay for. You
paid for the upgrade, not the full version.

Have a nice day.

C.B.