Vista RC-1 product key

[Guest]

Upgraded an installation of Vista Ultimate Beta with Vista Ultimate RC-1, and
was able to enable this update with the product key from the Beta intall.
However, I also need to test the Business version of Vista RC-1, and the
product key that I have does not allow me to activate this version of Vista.
Please send me a valid product key.

 

[Max]

This is not Microsoft, and nobody will send you a valid key.
There IS no 'valid key' for Beta/RC1 that is not the "Ultimate" version.
If Ultimate is running, it already has everything Business has, but more.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/feb06/02-26WinVistaProductsPR.mspx

If you want to simulate the lighter Vista Business (for whatever reason)
start removing things like Games, Multimedia Apps, etc through Control
Panel/Programs and Features/Turn Windows features on or off.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

There actually are. However, they are not available to CPP. Someone who
wants to test other editions extensively needs to be participating in one of
the programs that has the keys available.

 

[Mark D. VandenBerg]

They can always install any version and test it for 14 days without entering
a Product Key.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Which is why I said "extensively."

They can always install any version and test it for 14 days without
entering a Product Key.

 

[Mark D. VandenBerg]

Which is why I said "extensively."

How is the new system? I went on a four day sail fishing trip and haven't
been around.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Great. Except XP Pro x64 will not install or run with 4GB of ram. I added
ram and couldn't even install. XP Pro SP2 didn't mind the extra ram, but
x64 would have none of it. I pulled the extra ram and x64 installed and ran
just fine. I got an RMA for the ram but the replacement is no different.
It looks like a bug in the mobo or BIOS. I am pursuing, but slowly. I
figure it will get sorted out. In the meantime, it's a great box. I am
getting great performance out of the VT support. Install times for Linux
virtual machines is down from hours to about 30 minutes for the big ones
like Suse and Fedora. The GeForce 7900GT is a great card too.

 

[Max]

Ah. Was not aware of that.
Of course, anyone who *was* aware of that would not ask here for a product
key, no?
;-)

 

[Mark D. VandenBerg]

Great. Except XP Pro x64 will not install or run with 4GB of ram. I
added ram and couldn't even install. XP Pro SP2 didn't mind the extra
ram, but x64 would have none of it. I pulled the extra ram and x64
installed and ran just fine. I got an RMA for the ram but the replacement
is no different. It looks like a bug in the mobo or BIOS. I am pursuing,
but slowly. I figure it will get sorted out. In the meantime, it's a
great box. I am getting great performance out of the VT support. Install
times for Linux virtual machines is down from hours to about 30 minutes
for the big ones like Suse and Fedora. The GeForce 7900GT is a great card
too.

What happens if you reinstall the RAM after installing x64? No Boot? This
seems odd, like a MOBO issue, or perhaps the RAM is bad. Curious.

I started looking for a new desktop today. Falcon NW and CyberPower both
look good, but I think I'll wait until Vista can be the supported O/S and
then buy the 3-year onsite warranty.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No boot. I get "ntldr missing." I have already exchanged the added ram but
it made no difference. It also does not matter whether the original ram is
installed in slots 1 and 3 or the new ram. In other words a ram swap does
not help. I can put the new ram in 1 and 3 and the original ram in 2 and 4
and only x86 runs. Any of the modules in 1 and 3 and x86 and x64 both run.
Any more ram than that and only x86 will boot and run.

I think it is a mobo issue because I am now seeing posts in the Asus forums
that are very similar. It appears that pc6400 (800) ram is only viable for
x64 up to 2GB because of ram speeds supported by the initial BIOS release.
If I installed 667 ram I suspect x64 would use 4GB OK. I think the issue
may be resolved by BIOS updates by Asus. Not that Asus says so, but that's
where things look like they are headed.

Cyberpower sold me the initial 2GB of ram and preinstalled it (of course).
I thought it odd that my salesperson refused to sell me a second 2GB so it
could be preinstalled and tested. She told me that they only sold the
P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe mobo with 2GB. She wouldn't even to sell another 2GB to
me separately so I could be sure it matched (Cyberpower does not sell
components).

Either Cyberpower should not have sold me 800 ram for this mobo or they
should have told me why I might be limited to 2GB for x64 for awhile. I
elected to have SP Pro SP2 preinstalled since Cyberpower would not sell me
both x86 and x64 preinstalled. I knew it would be simpler to get the system
with x86 preinstalled and install x64 second (it was). That part worked out
fine. I just didn't expect x64 to fail on the larger ram configuration.

Keep in mind that I do not have any problem at all running x86 in the 4GB
that I have. I just can't run x64 in more than 2GB. That's what makes me
think it is a BIOS issue.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You would think so, but there are posts here from 5456 and 5472 users who
probably have a friend in TechBeta who gave them the software. Of course,
they don't have credentials to get alternate keys, so they ask in here.
They would know about the keys for the other editions from the friend who
gave them the software (but then choked at getting them keys).