It's actually possible to do a clean install with the Upgrade Media.  Boot from the Vista Express Upgrade Disc and reformat the drive to yuor liking.  Then go through the install.  When you get to the stage for entering the key, simply click next and it will allow you to continue as usual.  After installing and getting into Vista, load the upgrade disc again.  This time, choose the upgrade option.  Enter your key when prompted and it will go through the process of "upgrading".  Interestingly, this actually took 20 minutes on my machine, whereas the first install only took about 10.  Once you reboot for the final time and load Windows, you will have a completely clean, activated version of Vista without ever touching the XP disc!  Thanks to Paul over at Win SS for discovering this.

I didn't needed the product key either... It is only necesary with the upgrade kit... I think:smileyvery-happy:

After reading through Paul's method again, I noticed he said the registration wouldn't work after doing just the clean install.  If your's went through ok, it's likely this information is now outdated.  Please do let us know whether or not it works when you hit the month mark, since a clean install using the upgrade media without the need to actually go through the upgrade process would take much less time and run less a risk of creating problems.  Thanks!

Heh, have only got the express disks within the past two weeks, so maybe at day 30 I will find that I need to run it again as an update on all of the PCs, that would not be cool.  That will not be cool if it kills all of the stuff I have reinstalled on those units.

Actually, with the Upgrade Media, I just did a clean install, then I went in to the new Vista Welcome Center and clicked the Register link and activated the account with the key from the hi-tech card board cut out that was provided by Dell.  I do not believe you actually have to do a second install?  I'm not a tech pro so I could be wrong but the PCs I have set it up on are working fine.  It's basically the same way I have set up the retail version on some of the other units.

Anything you installed should be ok since the second time through you are only "upgrading" the OS which allows you to keep your apps when working properly.  I didn't have much installed on the CPU I hit the 30 day mark with (it's my "work" computer, low tech and cheap as opposed to my gaming rig which I built recently) so I can't say for sure, but all the MS Ofiice stuff kept working after I upgraded from Vista to Vista.  Itunes didn't stick, but it was one of the earlier versions (and they have tons of compatibility issues with Vista).  For your reference, here's the article I followed when getting Vista set up on my newer rig:

 

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp

 

Hope you don't hit any serious problems.

Interesting.  I tried the same with my copy of Vista (and was able to "activate" it) but then after 30 days I got the message about the trial period expiring.  I then did the upgrade and reactivated my product.  Now I have a proper full version.  I guess it may depend on what revision of the upgrade media I used.

Probably you will, let us know plz. It will help us to know something else...

after checking Control Panel\System and Maintenance\System, this reads:

windows is activated

product id (yeah right, wont tell you)

 

so looks like is fully activated.:smileyvery-happy:

Sorry, I couldn't exactly read what you wrote after product id.  It's important to know this so we can better assist you (and I can activate Vista on my third computer) .  If you could also throw in your SSN and date of birth, I think we'll be all set!

 

Seriously though, if it's still working in two weeks let us know so future users don't waste time with the upgrade step.