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If you choose to purchase an upgrade version of Windows Vista to upgrade XP, you will no longer be able to use that version of XP. Either on another system, or as a dual-boot option. The key will be invalidated, preventing activation.
From Vista’s EULA found here (PDF) :
13. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligiblefor the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
For many people this may not be a problem, but it’s a change from earlier versions of Windows.
Update: Workaround posted here!
I THOUGHT AGAIN TO HELP EVERYBODY
GOOD NEWS FOR GENUINE WINDOWS USERS
Hi,
i'm sab from India.are you get rid of windows activation.
the guy says vista upgrade invalidates xp activation.i say its impossible.
he must have reinstalled xp sevaral times & activated it also several times.Now he is blocked from internet
activation as well as telephone.
so i thought helping this guy,he might be in big trouble
(also anyone can use if blocked from activation due to reformatting so many times)
1-AFTER INSTALLING WINDOWS; INSTALL ALL DRIVERS LIKE CHIPSET,AUDIO,etc
2-Then use telephone method,Call microsoft & follow instructions.when automated system replies voice message"PRODUCT ACTIVATION ERROR" then press 1 & you will be transferred to customer care executive.
3-Tell about your problem why you reformatted system due to viruses,spywares or, any reason you faced.
Now they will give you confirmation ID. Dont directly put in the boxes of activation window.
4-This is IMPORTANT to notedown your installation ID,confirmation ID and VSN.
be careful and note it down anywhere(better your personal diary)
To know your system(C:) drive VSN open command prompt & directly type VOL press enter to get your volume serial no. (VSN) it is in the format xxxx-xxxx.notedown that carefully
5-After noting down these 3 items you will be your xp activator.
6-download volumeid.exe from anysite you choose.it's freeware(42kb)
you will need that after reformat. so save it in other drives
7-AFTER REFORMAT 1ST YOU HAVE TO INSTALL DRIVERS(chipset,video,modem,etc)
8-Extract volumeid.zip to desktop.then open command prompt & directly type CD DESKTOP press enter.
now it is C:\Documents and Settings\username\DESKTOP>
now type VOLUMEID C: XXXX-XXXX (xxxx-xxxx is your volume id you noted before reformat)
sytem will hang in 10 seconds;so press reset button
9-After reboot select telephone activation & you will surprised to see Windows GENERATED SAME INSTALLATION ID. now type confirmation ID you have noted down FROM PREVIOUS ACTIVATION.
click next.
10-it will show you
WHEN YOU ARE READY CLICK FINISH TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH WINDOWS
Can someone tell me the relationship of all these numbers: Windows Product Number on the back of any laptop; Windows Product that comes with a retail Windows O/S disc; and the Product key stored and hidden in the computer that can only be viewed with certain software. What purpose do all these numbers fulfil. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Don
So how do you reinstall windows XP? I'm not happy with Vista...It seems to slow my computer down way to much. Last were can you buy a new version of windows XP now?
Fred Compton, #68 is a classic example of how Apple brain washes the 1% of it's impressionable fan base. Fred, you talk about how Apple uses this honor system because they are so nice, yet Microsoft lives in fear because they are not creative. HAHAHA, that's really funny. First off. you are talking about Apple here. A company that is so paranoid it tried to RE-INVENT MP3 in order to prevent it's customers from being able to backup THIER music from an IPOD. I know how to do it, but the point is that made it difficult. It's also the same company that bricked peoples iPhones because the UPGRADE methods were not to Apples likings. Where is the honor in that? I can guarantee you that Apple doesn't do it simply for honor. As for the Apple OS being allowed to be copied 1000's of times just because people report bugs is an untrue notion.
Apple strives to create the ILLUSION of a confident company, and you have simply fallen for that. You see, what's going on is that Apple uses deceptive advertising to fool it's customers into thinking it's a better, cleaner company. That is the action of a frightened company, Apple that is. And anyone who claims this is paranoid, hasn't been around long. All you have to do is look at their ads that show a Mac with a nice white background and NOTHING plugged in to know they are trying ot make a statment that their system is easier and better to use than a PC. In fact all of their Ads are snobbish, "We're better" type commercials with a clever twist that gullable Mac snobs fall for. Then for all that "honor" they over charge for a piece of crap that is difficult to upgrade it's hardware since it's all integrated together. HEY, you can't say it's easier than a PC. It's not.
Another annoying thing Apple does is to target universities. Why do that? There are several reasons, but because the 18 to 22 year olds are the perfect age to start brainwashing their little Apple cult. They are SO impressionable it's funny. That's 90% of their customers which is less than 1% of the population. And that < 1% are THINK they have somehow out smarted everyone else because they simply "THINK DIFFERENT". . Which is my whole point. Apple is a company that tries to brain wash people who want to believe they are smart and clever into thinking they won by buying Apple. I'm not being rude, or a jerk. I have watched over 20 years of Apple ads and I absolutely know there is much truth in what I just said.
Apple doesn't lead 95% of the time! Yet they give the illusion of leading. There are exceptions like when they put a Garmin type touch screen interface into the ipod touch (Nice), but that's their entire existence. Attempting to prove they are a cut above when mostly it's not true at all. Most of the time they apeal to people who enjoy mere esthetics. As for buying a Mac to "save yourself a boatload of money", that's not true either. Apple is MORE expensive in the long run. You say the "bright and informed" know what you are talking about. You are full of shit, LOL. I think the bright and informed know what a deceptive, desperate company Apple has always been and always will continue to be. The uninformed and non-creative people will always be the people who fall into Apple's advertising. A creative person knows how to build a good PC and save money all while being better than a Mac. Yes, Jobs is creative at fooling his sheep into thinking they are "thinking differently". And no, I'm not a harsh person.
It just amazes me how many times a day I see these Apple lovers who suffer from Stockholm Syndrome insinuating in order to be "bright and informed" people must by Apple. Notice the condescending, MAC-SNOB attitude coming through. If anything, I've always said, keep your options open. Not be tied to ONE hardware vender.
And one other thing. How can Microsoft who is worth billions be Afraid? LOL. MS isn't afraid. They are simply greedy, just like Apple is. Only Apple sells less because most people know hype when they see it. Now that's funny.
Well to get the savings from an upgrade...the savings came from the cost of your xp that you bought. Vista just adds on to what you already have. So in essance, your xp and vista upgrade cd are one now. The 200 bucks for xp is your discount for a vista upgrade. No they dont want you to pass your xp on to someone else for free. While you have vista that was upgraded on the basis of you buying xp. I see no problem here. At least I get credit for buying xp. My 200 bucks for xp that I own is my discount to get the vista upgrade. I see it as a discount for buying xp and being a preferred costomer. They are minusing the cost of xp from the cost of vista. They are giving you your money back for xp in essence so you can afford vista.
Thank you jz and let me tell you something, Apple is a load of bull*hit. Who has an iPod? I can almost gurantee that without a skin, it will scratch and it will scratch alot. They just say it protects your iPod from scratched. That is also a load of (read what i put in my first sentence =) ). They just say that because they want you to buy the *amn skin. I was pretty pissed when they made ds skins but even a ds doesn't scratch up as bad as an iPod. Personally I think that Apple (the company with honor) is worst. If anyone owns a mac, everyone knows your in deep *hit if it crashes like hell. Apple is so confusing (it took me 3 hours to get everything installed right so i get to play my favorite game Wolfteam after installing a windows emulator). The graphics for their computers is equivelent to my Sony Vaio. One made in 2002 anyway. And MAC OSX TIGER you wouldn't beleive how hard i laughed when the first error came. Lol it was a problem so funny I can't even remember what it was (if you don't beleive me i have a magazine). *amn did you see their ads about mac osx tiger. Easiest OS to use... I would sasy a command prompt is easier to use (ever get a problem on one?). I accomplised in 4 hours what I accomplished in one on windows. Mac is a joke =). My regards to jz whoever he is. Dude you should publish your rant on some video worshipping macs. I had trouble selling mine after it got crapped up.
Thank you jz whoever you are. Who owns an IpOd Touch? If you do you might reconsider buying an iphone(both in my opinion crappy).
oh and one more thing zune has offically been called better then iPod. Ipod just has influence thats why. I remember a while ago an expiriment. People took two Mcchicken burgers from Macdonalds. They then wrapped one up in a burger king wrapper. They made it into samples and gave it out to people. People said they liked the one from Macdonalds more. Same thing, Ipod has influence. Bravo for the touch idea though. Just kidding if you own a treo, you can almost get the same effect almost.
[...] una nueva versión de Windows, ya que dejan de vender licencias, y el mercado va obligando (ver 1, [...]
[...] una nueva versión de Windows, ya que dejan de vender licencias, y el mercado va obligando (ver 1, [...]
[...] una nueva versión de Windows, ya que dejan de vender licencias, y el mercado va obligando (ver 1, [...]
cant believe someone actually said who activates there windows anyway................... answer... people who actually want to use it hahaha
but yeah vista, is far too slow and over the top with security its like being stuck in a crowded shopping centre with the things you want and and empty cash desk right there but people are getting in your way the entire time lol thats what vista is like
Hey it's probably true; go check the Vista Eula for yourself..I was wondering,as I was informed yesterday,if a Windows operating system such as 95,98,98SE,ME, (and soon win2000) is no longer supported by Microsoft,meaning no further security updates and patches provided,then does this make the EULA invalid.So your legal copy or cracked version,is in fact not illegal or pirated?So you couldn't get prosecuted for using an unsupproted cracked version, if you had all the critical updates and patches? What if someone created,as has been done,an autopatcher for all those unsupported versions? Or am I am misinformed?Where can I find info on this?
I always reinstalled Win98 on the same PC. Formatted the disk, and did a clean install. Why would I do this. To make sure any spyware, toolbars and sneaky programs did not leave anything behind.
I hope I can do this with my xp and vista.
I am really upset that my new laptop has no drivers CD and OS CD. If I cannot reinstall after formatting, maybe i'll try linux.
I was happy with my XP software untill I was invited to install SP3 for XP. Immediately aftwards, my computer was counting down the days until expiration. I followed all the steps for activation, but it wouldn't take. I finally got fed up. I shut down windows and installed Ubuntu Linux, wow, hours later I'm up and running, checking email, surfing the net, paying bills and what else could I ask for. I didn't have to spend not one dollar for the new linux software, just some good ol fashioned labor to set it up. I encourage everyone to dump windows all together.
I'm running XP Pro upgrade, which was installed as an update to 2000 Pro upgrade, which was installed as an update to 98 (and yes I still have the original discs for all of those). If I purchase the Vista upgrade and install from boot, could I slip in the 2000 Pro disc and upgrade from that? The only reason I ask is that I'm sure the XP Pro upgrade is possibly still worth a little $$ and I'd rather not mess the key up for someone else. At that point the XP key should still be ok right?
Switch to Linux, people! It is that easy. Ubuntu is one of the best Linux distributions around, with its easy installation process and support for many devices. Why would you want an unreliable operating system that is closed-source code made by an unscrupulous and devious company like Microsoft? Free yourself and switch to Linux now!
WHY ARE WE ARGUING OVER XP AND VISTA WHEN THERE IS WINDOWS 7