Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
133 Posts
0
23150
May 5th, 2008 06:00
Vista Basic OEM to Ultimate OEM Upgrade
Hello, everyone!
Please help me with this issue: I was recently able to obtain a Key for Vista Ultimate from a person who purchased an OEM DVD but has bever used it. I assume this key has never been attached to that specific hardware. Furthemore, it's a Dell Vista Ultimate OEM and I have Dell Inspiron E1705, too, so I assume that just like in Windows XP, activation will not be required as the machine is Dell and DVD was for Dell OEM. (unless Vista changed - please tell me if I am correct)
However, the Vista Ultimate DVD is missing. I only have my Vista Home Basic DVD for that specific computer. Previously I heard that Vista DVD's are supposed to include ALL versions of Windows Vista. I tried Upgrading using it and it didn't ask me for a new CD Key, but rather upgraded from Basic to Basic. (so, simply waste of time) Is there any way to upgrade to Ultimate? Or is it only for retail copies that have all Vista versions, but not the OEM ones? (I think OEM Basic has 2.6 GB taken up on DVD) Could anyone please explain this to me and maybe to tell me the possible actions I could take to upgrade my computer?
Thank you!
Eugene.
0 events found
RobinBredin
6 Operator
•
3.7K Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 10:00
pcgeek11
2 Intern
•
1.9K Posts
0
May 5th, 2008 11:00
You can use the Vista Basic DVD you have as a source to install Vista Ultimate. Only do this if you have a legal license for Ultimate. It will require some effort on your part and some additional software.
1. Create an ISO image on the hard disk of the Vista DVD you have as it does have the installation images of all versions. Power ISO works well for this task, but there are many softwares that will do the job.
2. Open the ISO Image with Power ISO or whatever software that you used. Look in the sources directory for a file called " PID.TXT ". Delete this file from the DVD Image. You do not need the PID.TXT file as the retail versions etc do not have it. It is just a container answer file for the DVD Key ( Basic Vista in your case ) on the SLP BIOS locked DVD.
3. In the sources directory you will see a directory called " $OEM$ ". Delete this folder and all folders and files in it. This is also a folder used to contain the OEM specific files for the OEM installation such as the SLP Certification XML file.
4. Save the ISO Image.
5. Burn this image to a DVD with Nero, Roxio, or a burning program of your choice that will burn ISO images.
Now you can boot from it and it will ask you to enter a key. At that point you can enter the legit retail DVD key that you have. If it is a legit unused retail key it will activate via the internet.
pcgeek11
tinue
22 Posts
0
May 8th, 2008 18:00
It is different with Vista: The key that is used internally of an OEM preinstalled Vista is not the same key that is printed on the PC casing.
You can use the key you obtained, but you will have to activate Vista via phone. This shouldn't be a problem, though.
Regards, Martin