Alternative Hack for Clean Installations of Vista with Upgrade Keys

Microsoft has restricted the installation of upgrade editions of Windows Vista for the systems with genuine reinstalled older copies of Windows. If you attempt to do a clean installation of Windows Vista using the upgrade license key, the operating system will not install due the fact that the operating system was not designed to verify upgrade compliance.

At the end of January, I have presented you with a method to do a clean install of Windows Vista. All you have to do is purchase an upgrade edition of the operating system. This will also help you spare a little money.

In this manner, you will be able to buy Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate for $99.95, $159, $199 and $259, compared to the retail prices for the full licenses $199, $239, $299 and $399. Buying the upgrade version instead of the much cheaper OEM version means that you will enjoy the flexibility of upgrading your system configuration and moving the operating system to another computer, after uninstalling it from its prior location. Click here to find out more.

However, there is a downside to the previous method: the fact that you have to install Vista twice. There is another way that only requires you to deploy the operating system a single time. First off you have to install the copy of the Windows Vista upgrade edition you acquired. When prompted for a product key do not enter one and simply click next.

You must make sure that you will install the edition of Windows Vista for which you have bought the license. The process will not function for the additional Vista editions on the DVD. Installing Windows Vista without a license key means that the operating system will be in the Initial Grace period for 30 days. Now turn off UAC - Start - Control Panel - User Accounts and Family Safety - User Accounts - User Account Control on or off.

Open command prompt (Windows key + R) and type this command :cscript C:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -ipk . This will allow you to modify the product key. Now enter :cscript C:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -ato to activate Windows Vista and :cscript c:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -dlv to verify the status of the activation. And you're done.