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Keith86
08-05-2007, 19:29
hello i need help here

i installed windows vista home premium on a clean new HDD and when i go to try to activate it in the welcome centre part of it, it just says this is for upgrades not for clean installs

any help will be great

keith86
Lomax
08-05-2007, 19:34
Did you buy an upgrade version then or were you lead to believe that it was a full version?
Keith86
08-05-2007, 19:58
it say upgrade on the front cover but on the back of it is say you must perform a clean install of vista
jacobzcoool
08-05-2007, 20:29
Do you have XP?

If yes, do a clean install of XP then use the vista upgrade.
mattierara
08-05-2007, 20:41
i hate it when solutions are so blindingly obvious that i don't think of them. . . .
Lomax
08-05-2007, 21:19
Boot from the disk again and when it asks whether you want to perform a fresh install or upgrade, choose upgrade and activate after that has completed.
Keith86
09-05-2007, 00:36
thanks for you help everyone i will try these out on thursday as it is my day off work but if there is any more info please do tell me
Zozart
09-05-2007, 06:53
Isn't there some trick with the upgrade versions? Something like you install Vista on its own, without using a key (thus making it a 30-day evaluation copy), then "upgrade", using your actual key, from within Vista.
Fireblade
09-05-2007, 11:18
Isn't there some trick with the upgrade versions? Something like you install Vista on its own, without using a key (thus making it a 30-day evaluation copy), then "upgrade", using your actual key, from within Vista.

Yup!

'Clean Install' workaround with Vista Upgrade DVD's (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932)...



If you have the Upgrade versions of Vista you are supposed to do a full XP install, then install vista over the top.
Most of us dislike these types of 'dirty' installs, preferring instead to do an install to a clean drive/partition.

Here is a workaround:

This workaround allows users to perform a “clean install.” The process is a bit tedious, but is not hard at all to complete.
Users have to perform these simple steps to perform a clean install of Vista, without a previous version of Windows installed with an upgrade DVD:

1. Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
2. When prompted to enter your product key, DO NOT enter it. Click "Next" and proceed with setup. This will install Windows Vista as a 30-day trial.
3. When prompted, select the edition of Vista which you have purchased and continue with setup.
4, Once setup has been completed and you have been brought to the desktop for the first time, run the install program from within Windows Vista.
5. This time, type in your product key when prompted.
6. When asked whether to perform an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) install, choose Custom (advanced) to perform a clean install of Vista.
Yes, this means that you will have to install Vista for a second time.
7. Once setup has completed for the second time, you should be able to activate Windows Vista normally.
You can also delete the Windows.old directory which contains information from the first Vista install.
Keith86
09-05-2007, 20:49
thank you for your help everyone i give it a go
movinginthedark
09-05-2007, 23:49
Gah - you beat me to it. Yeah, it saves a few pounds buying the upgrade as opposed to the OEM or retail. I would imagine SP1 will patch that though. So I think I may get my copy of Vista before then.
Keith86
10-05-2007, 11:52
i've reinstalled vista for the 2nd time and it does NOT work. so now im off to reinstall xp then vista
Westy5
10-05-2007, 11:57
You need to make the first install of Vista a trial version, not try and activate it.

You then do another install over the top and activate
Fat Jez
10-05-2007, 12:22
You need to make the first install of Vista a trial version, not try and activate it.

You then do another install over the top and activate

Don't enter your product key either, just select the version of Vista you are using (e.g. Home Premium, Ultimate, etc). Once that install is complete, you can then reinstall over the top, as per Fireblade's instructions.

Cheers,
Stephen
Keith86
10-05-2007, 20:20
just like to say thank you for your help and it is working fine now

thank you

keith86
Ghod
13-05-2007, 03:27
vista running fine :eek:

how the f**k did u do that?
nicky munchkin
13-05-2007, 12:33
just like to say thank you for your help and it is working fine now

thank you

keith86
Care to say how you did it?