US version of Vista on a UK machine

[Adam Smith]

A couple of weeks ago I went into a Florida Circuit City and bought a copy
of Vista Home Premium Upgrade.
Quite a saving in price $170 against $260 over here in England.

As I'm still waiting for my "free Vista upgrade" from Modus , I thought I'd
try it on my laptop anyway.

Well it won't install. It gets as far as expanding the files and then tells
me the system cannot reboot to continue the process.

I tried the tricks on the web and nothing worked. Reluctantly I phoned MS
who tell me that US software will not install on my computer.
Have they booby trapped Vista or is this B***S**T.

I'm always buying software in the States so this problem is new to me.

 

[William Dowell]

that suprises me, because arent MSDN stuff and volume licnce all the same uk
or usa?

w

 

[Paul Smith]

that suprises me, because arent MSDN stuff and volume licnce all the same
uk or usa?

The bits are the same (which is why UK copies default to England US),
support policy isn't.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

 

[William Dowell]

That would make sense - but from the orginal post, i thought he was mearning
it was somehow locked down to region. I suspect the reason is hardware
issues... W.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I can understand the support policy with th OP buying the US copy, but why
should it not install on his machine? We, as MVPs all use US copies of the
software. All Beta software are US copies, yet they work fine on our
machines and, as William points out, MSDN are US copies.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

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[Zim Babwe]

With your upgrade version, you can do a clean install (I don't have the
instructions, but search for them), and don't enter in the product code.
You will have to do another install over the first install to then be ale to
enter your key in. Maybe with your existing machine there is a region
issue, but if you wipe your system clean, it should intsall.

 

[Adam Smith]

Thanks for the responses , I'm encouraged by them.
I did start a clean instal but it came up with the same fault so I guess I
need to look at hardware problems.
Clearly most of you think as I did , that the MS response was wrong.

 

[Zim Babwe]

You probably spoke with an $7.50 an hour worker who is reading off a script
and couldn't tell the difference between Vista and a toilet!

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Did you run the Vista Upgrade advisor on your machine before trying to
install VSIAT? What did it say about your machine?

 

[William Dowell]

VSIAT - that's a new name ;-)

But back to the topic.. yea, i suspect he needs to check his hardware is
compatible. I certainly dont think it's a regional issue per say.


William

 

[Adam Smith]

Did you run the Vista Upgrade advisor on your machine before trying to
install VSIAT? What did it say about your machine?

Well , the only device mentioned was RealTek Hi Def Audio and I've got the
vista drivers ready for that from the Computer Maker.

An Intel SATA AHCI Controller was unknown; again I have a new driver from
the manufacturer so it shouldn't be a problem.

Software issues relating to Real Tek Audio, Power DVD , Messenger and Intel
PROSet/Wireless event Log ; nothing startling.

I'm begining to hear about RAID/SCSI drivers mentioned with the warning I'm
getting so I think I'll research that area next.

FWIW , I get to the point where files are expanded about 21-23% and then
"windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of the
installation.
to instal windows restart the installation"
After restarting the process repeats.

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Just keeping you on your toes .....

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

I'm begining to hear about  RAID/SCSI drivers mentioned with the warning I'm
getting so I think I'll research that area next.

I've certainly see enough problems reported here with RAID systems.

It's not SATA in itself since my machine has 2 SATA drives, although not in
RAID, with XP Pro on one and now with VISTA on the other and it picked them up
with no complaints during installation.

It even picked up my ancient Adaptec 19160 scsi controller and the HP SJ5P
scanner on it!

How difficult for you would it be to disable all the drives on the machine
except one of the SATA ones and test install VISTA on that. Don't activate it
but just get it working OK. Then you know it is not media- or pure VISTA-
related.

 

[Adam Smith]

How difficult for you would it be to disable all the drives on the machine

except one of the SATA ones and test install VISTA on that. Don't activate
it
but just get it working OK. Then you know it is not media- or pure VISTA-
related.

That's a thought , I'll look at that.
Yesterday I had an email confirming that my free Vista upgrade disk had been
shipped so I'm going to wait and use that disk.
I can't imagine why it should make a difference but stranger things happen!

 

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Do let us know how you get on!