- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: Windows upgrade activation
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "Windows upgrade activation"
Collapse
-
wow, thats cool, thank you so much for sharing this.... I have had alot of troubles with the upgrade version of Vista to get it installed, since exactly as they mention on the site, it won't let me activate the products, so I messed around with it and finally bought a full version of Vista, this could have safed me money....
-
-
Leave a comment:
-
If you look hard enough, you will find instructions on how to perform a clean install of Vista Upgrade without having to install any other OS.Originally posted by thunderlizard View PostI bought a laptop with XP home edition pre-installed.
Then I bought Vista Business upgrade edition, and installed that.
Then Norton failed to spot a hideous virus that messed up my disk partition so badly that the computer wouldn't start. The only way I could get it to start was to tell it to boot from a linux CD, which let me clean up the disk so I could install Windows Vista again.
That was a couple of weeks ago, and now Windows wants to be activated, but it won't accept my product key because it thinks it's a clean install and it's only an upgrade key.
Should I pop round to CEX and get a cheap Windows 2000 full edition CD, install that, then install my Vista upgrade on top? Or is there a better way?
Leave a comment:
-
Just phone the MS number thats displayed, they'll give you a new activation key if you explain it well enough. Had to do it before but it's fairly quick and painless.
Leave a comment:
-
Windows upgrade activation
I bought a laptop with XP home edition pre-installed.
Then I bought Vista Business upgrade edition, and installed that.
Then Norton failed to spot a hideous virus that messed up my disk partition so badly that the computer wouldn't start. The only way I could get it to start was to tell it to boot from a linux CD, which let me clean up the disk so I could install Windows Vista again.
That was a couple of weeks ago, and now Windows wants to be activated, but it won't accept my product key because it thinks it's a clean install and it's only an upgrade key.
Should I pop round to CEX and get a cheap Windows 2000 full edition CD, install that, then install my Vista upgrade on top? Or is there a better way?Tags: None
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Taxman tells contractors that only four new tax avoidance schemes needed avoiding in Q2 Jun 22 05:47
- VAT compliance checks are changing — here’s what contractors need to know Jun 17 07:30
- As HMRC steps up VAT compliance activity, how should company directors prepare? Jun 16 06:52
- Hiring of IT contractors returned to growth in May 2026, following 33 months ‘in the red’ Jun 15 06:02
- Zero Hours Contract Reform: A key consultation for recruiters, employers and contractors is finally here Jun 12 04:43
- Bills of Exchange: Here’s what caught my attention as an umbrella compliance expert Jun 11 03:46
- Loan charge recall issue returns, with new demands making UK contractors ‘half-suicidal’ Jun 10 03:58
- AI interviews are here. Here's how IT contractors can ace them Jun 9 06:53
- Closing your limited company isn't failure. It's just the end of a chapter. Jun 8 05:00
- Young people not in education, employment or training isn’t a contractor’s problem. It’s a problem for us all Jun 5 05:26

Leave a comment: