Has anyone actually gotten the two premium keys for $50 after buying Vista Ultimate?
0
Comments
LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited March 2007
I don't understand. Does Microsoft offer an inexpensive upgrade in the form of keys to unlock "Premium", or to use the same Windows DVD to stall the OS on more than one system at a time?
With Vista all the versions are on the DVD and only the key determines the type of install.
M$ has a deal that if you buy the $400 Ultimate retail full install they will let you buy 2 additional keys for home premium at $50 a piece.
I got Vista business from my action pack subscription and upgraded to ultimate for $114 so I couldn't try it.
My buddy's computer shop will be trying it shortly I believe. I'll ask him how it went.
0
LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited March 2007
M$ has a deal that if you buy the $400 Ultimate retail full install they will let you buy 2 additional keys for home premium at $50 a piece.
OK, so assuming that works, that means for an outlay of $500 you could legally install and validate on three separate computers a copy of Ultimate and two copies of Premium. That comes out to $167/computer, retail copy. That's seems to be decent, as you aren't stuck with OEM or the lowest level of Home.
The thing I was wondering about it it says to qualify you have to have a valid XP key on the machines. Is it an upgrade with the premium keys or a full install? The laptop got the full Ultimate install but the two other PCs arent compleley valid so to speak.
My understanding from the literature is that the Home Premium keys are upgrades only no matter what version of ultimate you buy.
The install does check for a valid key on the existing OS and contrary to rumor it does not go out to M$ and disable your existing XP key. If you want to move the key to another machine and it is not an oem version it will work just fine (after the 4 month database reset). Or you can call the nice people and tell them to let you reuse it right away. I have done it and they will let you as long as it only on 1 machine.
You can always do the double install trick as long as you don't mind wiping the hard drive and moving all your data.
So can I install the full version from the disk? I am pretty sure the key that is on my other machines is a VLA and wouldnt want for it to look weird that it was used for an upgrade if I didnt have to.
You can't do a full install in the common way with an upgrade key on Vista.
There is a well known way to do a double install and M$ says they are going to allow it to continue and not fix it.
In this method you boot from the cd and upgrade will be greyed out. You do not input any key when asked and install it as a Vista trial making sure when asked you choose the right version from the list. When the install completes you go immediately into my computer and install it again from within Vista. This time it upgrade will be available. This time you enter your real key. When you get done there will be a folder on the disk windows.old. You delete it. You now have a fully installed Vista installation without any previous Windows being installed. Works for all versions. (OEM I don't know)
Easy and semi legal since M$ is aware and said they are going to let it continue. You also save a lot of money.
Works for me. Being I have til June I think Ill wait a bit though to purchase the keys. My son was born this morning so not wanting to waste money. My 5th and final child lol.
Congrats on number 5. Don't know how you handle it. I had to stop at 3 and now I'm in the little payback from Dad phase. It's wonderful to hear, "but Grandpa lets me"
Comments
M$ has a deal that if you buy the $400 Ultimate retail full install they will let you buy 2 additional keys for home premium at $50 a piece.
I got Vista business from my action pack subscription and upgraded to ultimate for $114 so I couldn't try it.
My buddy's computer shop will be trying it shortly I believe. I'll ask him how it went.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/familydiscount.mspx?wt_svl=20108a&mg_id=20108b
The install does check for a valid key on the existing OS and contrary to rumor it does not go out to M$ and disable your existing XP key. If you want to move the key to another machine and it is not an oem version it will work just fine (after the 4 month database reset). Or you can call the nice people and tell them to let you reuse it right away. I have done it and they will let you as long as it only on 1 machine.
You can always do the double install trick as long as you don't mind wiping the hard drive and moving all your data.
There is a well known way to do a double install and M$ says they are going to allow it to continue and not fix it.
In this method you boot from the cd and upgrade will be greyed out. You do not input any key when asked and install it as a Vista trial making sure when asked you choose the right version from the list. When the install completes you go immediately into my computer and install it again from within Vista. This time it upgrade will be available. This time you enter your real key. When you get done there will be a folder on the disk windows.old. You delete it. You now have a fully installed Vista installation without any previous Windows being installed. Works for all versions. (OEM I don't know)
Easy and semi legal since M$ is aware and said they are going to let it continue. You also save a lot of money.
Hope all are doing well.
Congrats, Byrds6.