Upgrade Home Premium SP1 to Ultimate

[shoag_msft]

I just got a new computer with Vista Home Premium preinstalled, and I need to
upgrade to Ultimate. When I try to upgrade the Upgrade option is disabled,
with a message "The upgrade cannot be started. To upgrade, cancel the
installation and then choose to upgrade to a version of Windows that is more
recent than the version you are currently running."

I assume this is because I have Premium SP1, and the Ultimate disc that I
just bought is the RTM version. Is there any way around this, or do I really
need to do a clean install and then update to SP1?

Thanks,
Steve Hoag

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Steve,

If SP1 was preinstalled then there is no method to remove it and your
options are limited. You cannot install the upgrade unless the disk is at
the same service pack level or higher. As you have surmised, the only way
around is a clean install of pre-SP1 Ultimate.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[shoag_msft]

And, yes, I saw the post that recommends uninstalling the SP1 update, but in
my case I have an OEM SP1 install, so it doesn't show up in Programs and
Features.

 

[shoag_msft]

Thanks, I suspected as much. Fortunately I haven't installed too much onto
the new system yet, so a clean install isn't so bad.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

And, yes, I saw the post that recommends uninstalling the SP1 update, but
in
my case I have an OEM SP1 install, so it doesn't show up in Programs and
Features.

Ask the vendor for an exchange for Ultimate+SP1 or for a refund. The vendor
sold you product he should have long ago exchanged for fresh product.