Trick to Buy and Install Full Retail Windows Vista at Upgrade Price Even Without Existing Old Windows CD
As you should know, the upgrade version of Windows Vista is cheaper for existing Windows user as a way of thank, reward and strategy to retain customer by Microsoft. However, you need a license or product key of Windows 2000 or Windows XP edition to qualify for the Vista upgrade pricing and subsequently able to use the Vista upgrade DVD and upgrade key to install an upgrade copy of new operating system. If you don’t currently use or own Windows XP or Windows 2K (official and legal is that you can only upgrade to Vista from these two editions of previous version of Windows), may be just using Windows Me/98/95 or Linux, or for whatever reason you’re unable to buy OEM version of Windows Vista which is even cheaper, you can actually purchase an upgrade version of Windows Vista instead of paying expensive price for full retail version, but use the upgrade key as if it’s a full retail product key.
Windows Vista has a unique Windows Anytime Upgrade program that makes Microsoft stores every edition of Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit on any Windows Vista DVD media. It also has a policy that allows you to install any edition Windows Vista without product key and use the OS in evaluation or trial mode for 30 days (can be extended to 120 days). Vista also has a problem that you unable to perform clean fresh install by using an upgrade license key as Vista doesn’t perform upgrade compliance check. All these factors combined creates an opportunity where you can actually use the cheaper upgrade license key of Windows Vista to install a full retail version of Windows Vista, based on the workaround that Microsoft presents to solve the unable to clean install with upgrade key problem. The trick will require no CD or product key of previous version of Windows OS for verification of ownership or authenticity.
- Purchase an Upgrade copy of Windows Vista (Business, Home Premium and Home Basic edition should work, Business and Ultimate edition not certain).
- Install Windows Vista (your purchased edition) without input any product key.
- Boot up into Windows Vista after installed.
- From within Windows Vista, launch Windows Vista setup again for the second time.
- Install Windows Vista again (your purchased edition), and type your purchased valid and genuine product key this time for activation.
NEW: Even easier hack method to fresh install upgrade edition of Windows Vista with just one installation!
Detailed instruction can be found here. The downside is obvious, you have to install Windows Vista twice, however, you should be able to get a Windows Vista installation that is the same with the one you get if you purchase full license and product key of Windows Vista.
Note that as the upgrade installation keys are blocked symptom only happens in Windows Vista Business, Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter (you wouldn’t use this) edition, so it’s not clear if the trick will work on Windows Vista Ultimate. Beside, the trick is just yet an idea, not yet been proven. If you have an upgrade copy of Vista product key and a DVD (all Windows Vista DVD should be the same or similar), you can try it out and feedback on the finding.
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Related Articles
- Windows Vista Retail Price Cuts/Drops (Cheaper without Discount)
- Unable to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Edition Product Key
- Hack and Workaround to Clean or Fresh Install Windows Vista with Upgrade License DVD
- Buy Upgrade Copy of Windows Vista Key and Use it As Full Retail Version
- Windows Vista DVD Retail and OEM Price
- Windows Vista In-Place Upgrade from Windows XP Support Matrix and Options
- Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade - How to Upgrade Edition Guide and Price
- Windows Anytime Upgrade Another Vista Computer
- Windows Vista Family Discount Offers Pricing Details and Terms
- ‘Free Extra’ License or Product Key for Windows Vista OEM Version Hack
Entries (RSS)
February 3rd, 2007 05:53
Hi,
Hypothetically speaking, if you had a pirated version of XP and you legaly bought a full version of Vista (not just the upgrade) would you be able to install without a format?
February 3rd, 2007 08:15
Hi Baz, not all in-place upgrade is supported. Check out here.
February 3rd, 2007 10:14
Fortunately in this same hypothetical situation our subject is upgrading from XP Pro to Vista Ultimate. So would this be possible from pirated to legal?
Cheers!
Baz
February 3rd, 2007 11:30
Hi Baz if you purchase the OEM or full license, you’re definitely a legal user, regardless of your XP status. This trick is meant for those who unable to buy OEM key, instead of paying full price of Vista, can purchase cheaper Upgrade key and use the trick to install Vista, even though they don’t have XP.
February 5th, 2007 22:02
[...] is a simpler way or hack to use the Windows Vista upgrade license and product key as full retail version, which you can use to install on any computer. Upgrade copy of Windows Vista is meant for owners of [...]
February 9th, 2007 14:22
It works. I bought a copy of vista and I installed it via the method above twice and it works. Using Home Premium.
February 12th, 2007 10:49
Yea, they should have been a little more clear on the box about the “clean install” with upgrade key. You can “only” perform an “upgrade” from XP home SP2. Third time installing vista premium now so hopefully the “upgrade” from a “clean” install of Vista does work as it did for pat!!
February 15th, 2007 07:58
[...] NEW: Even easier hack method to clean install Windows Vista with upgrade key in just one install! [...]
May 18th, 2007 01:17
[...] buy the cheaper upgrade version of Windows Vista license but use the Microsoft instructed hack to fresh install on a computer without verification of old license, and hence effectively using an upgrade product key as genuine full retail Windows Vista license. [...]
October 5th, 2007 00:00
Hey there guys, i was just wondering if any of yas can help me. I recently tryed the manual install method listed above. The good thing is that it works perfectly but another problem has sprung up in the personlisation menu. The window just contains icons with no text or buttons. The icons can still be used to get to the desired menu but its still really annoying. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
October 1st, 2008 00:09
the trick really works, I used it to install homebasic, however I never tried it on any other edition of vista.