Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago. Everything
works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
perform the upgrade again.

Does this sound logical?

Hi Jim,

How about you do the most simply install of XP you can think of. Once done,
start the upgrade to Vista, but this time taking notice of the clean install
option within the upgrade. What that option does is it does a clean install
just like the one that works for you, except it takes the old Windows XP and
moves it to Windows.old. That ought to resolve it for you mostly.

Best,

Alex


"Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0633BBB4-C5D9-4B6B-8585-ED6C3D3F74EB@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago.
> Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

If the Vista Home Premium is an upgrade download or DVD disc, and you
upgraded over XP. You must install XP on your hard drive first, then install
vista for a clean install upgrade. You can also buy the full version or the
oem version and simply install just vista.



"Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0633BBB4-C5D9-4B6B-8585-ED6C3D3F74EB@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago.
> Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:37:03 -0800, Jim
<Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
>Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
>Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago. Everything
>works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
>hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
>perform the upgrade again.
>
>Does this sound logical?[/color]

Maybe if it's an upgrade disk, I'd assume that's the company policy
to suggest that.

You can try the install fresh Vista install upgrade Vista trick? That
would give you a fresh Vista

Cheers,
Rod.

What type of Windows Vista Premium do you have? upgrade or full version.








"Jim" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago. Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

So... when you did the install, when it prompted for key, you defered...
yes? That got you the "clean install," right?

You have to run the Vista upgrade from within the Vista OS after doing the
clean install... that should let you activate it.

I haven't done this, only read about it in Brian Livingston's newsletter, so
if it doesn't work, blame him, not me. ;-)

Lang

"Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0633BBB4-C5D9-4B6B-8585-ED6C3D3F74EB@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago.
> Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

the clean install with Window Vista upgrade version work if done correctly.
Google this Clean Install with Windows Vista Upgrade disc and you'll find a
lot of information about it.

"Jim" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago. Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930985/en-us[/url]

"Upgrade installation keys are blocked when you start from the Windows Vista
DVD"

You have an upgrade disc. Either start the installation from within Windows
Vista, XP or 2000, or get the full version or OEM disc.

"Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0633BBB4-C5D9-4B6B-8585-ED6C3D3F74EB@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago.
> Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

Thanks for the replies! I finally reloaded Win XP Pro and performed the
upgrade.

"Jim" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago. Everything
> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3 1/2
> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
> perform the upgrade again.
>
> Does this sound logical?
>
>[/color]

Interesting, I tried to upgrate my XP Pro install to Home Premium and it
wouldn't let me. Said I needed Ultimate, Business or Enterprise version.
Forced me to do the clean install work around.


"Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A761569B-4D6D-4515-8ED1-3A61AAA59124@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Thanks for the replies! I finally reloaded Win XP Pro and performed the
> upgrade.
>
> "Jim" wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Two weeks ago I upgraded my Windows Media Edition to Vista Home Premium.
>> Then went through two weeks of nothing but problems. Today I performed a
>> Clean Install with the same Vista DVD that I used two weeks ago.
>> Everything
>> works great, except that I am unable to activate it. After spending 3
>> 1/2
>> hours talking to Microsoft Tech Support they tell me to reinstall XP and
>> perform the upgrade again.
>>
>> Does this sound logical?
>>
>>[/color][/color]