no RC to Retail?!

Very messy indeed.

sup3rsprt said:

Well, that's not a change. Vista didn't even allow you to activate a full clean install with an upgrade key. If you wanted to activate Vista using an upgrade key you had to do the upgrade over top of itself. That was the whole trick.

I'm fairly certain I activate a full install (using a TechNet disc) with an upgrade key. I can't prove it, so there isn't much to go on for a discussion, but I ordered three upgrades from Dell with three new laptops about three years ago. I never liked doing an upgrade install, so I had Vista already installed using my TechNet disc on one of the laptops...without a key. Within the 30 days, I thought I put in the upgrade key, and activated it.

OK sorry I guess I misunderstood you or misread your post. I thought we were referring to a full clean install using the upgrade media.

I'm fairly certain I activate a full install (using a TechNet disc) with an upgrade key. I can't prove it, so there isn't much to go on for a discussion, but I ordered three upgrades from Dell with three new laptops about three years ago. I never liked doing an upgrade install, so I had Vista already installed using my TechNet disc on one of the laptops...without a key. Within the 30 days, I thought I put in the upgrade key, and activated it.

NO, you can not activate a clean install simply by inserting the upgrade key.

NO you can not ACTIVATE the FULL install with the UPGRADE KEY.
Yes, you can boot to - insert the DVD and when ask click "upgrade" and when ask insert the UP GRADE KEY. Average time to UPGRADE takes from
2 hours to 48 hours... depends on what all you have installed, what all upgrade are needed. (most upgrades done this method take for the average home owners 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

DeaconFrost said:

Snuffy, that trick worked with Vista, but the rumors are saying that it won't with Windows 7. It seems as though Microsoft is closing that loophole. What I want to know is, if I use a full version media disc to do the install, and don't insert a key (who does during install...why would you?), can I later, within those 30 days, pop in the upgrade key and activate? I'm guessing not, but again, nothing's been finalized.

No, you can not insert the UPGRADE KEY when you did a CLEAN INSTALL.
How ever is you used a RETAIL Disk to clean install - did not insert a key,
used REARM to keep you early install working... receive you DISK and your RETAIL KEY, then you and open system, click change key, insert the NEW RETAIL KEY - then click Activate that will work...
A UPGRADE KEY must be used when you UPGRADE. A Retail Key can not be inserted to UPGRADE, A RETAIL Key can be used to CLEAN Install and Activate.

PS: That info is not called a "TRICK" nor is it a HACK or a CRACK.
It is stated in the manual with which Microsoft sends with the "UpGRADE" disk set... PS: Vista Ultimate also included both x64 and x86 DVDs.

Please don't attach bigger images. I'd rather not look at it (Vista either).