How can I upgrade to Vista Ultimate from Vista Home Premium?

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rowrites · #1 Post by **rowrites** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:47 pm

From what I read I would need to insert a Vista disc at some point in the upgrade process. But my machine came with my machine came with Vista preinstalled and no disc. I tried to download Vista to a DVD from R&R but it will only copy back to the partition. I'm baffled and would appreciate any help--

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:34 pm

I do not know if this would work, but why don't you try to upgrade from your Windows Vista Desktop itself? It is possible all the necessary files for the upgrade are already on your hard drive. If it won't let you, it won't let you.

rowrites · #3 Post by **rowrites** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:15 pm

I thought of just hoping the installed Vista would provide the necessary information at the right time but if it doesn't I'm out $158. Seems a bit risky.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:16 pm

I do not have a commercially released version of Vista on my laptop. However if the past is any guide, you should be able to burn yourself a set of Product Recovery Discs to recovery your original factory configuration to a new hard drive. You should make a set of these right away. See if the program might be locatied: Start > All Programs > ThinkVantage > Create Recovery Media. It should take one CD/R and one DVD+-R

If anything was to go wrong, you should be able to use these diiscs to restore your original factory software. Be aware that using these discs will erase all existing data on your hard drive, so back up any important files first.

#5 Post by **carbon_unit** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:27 am

I think what he means is that if it does not work he is out the money he has to pay Microsoft for the upgrade.
I would also make the recovery set before experimenting. Just to be safe.

rowrites · #6 Post by **rowrites** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:53 pm

I talked to someone at IBM suuport who said that the Vista installed on my computer is, in effect, a stripped down version without the necessary codes to enable it to be used for an upgrade even if I did make the recovery discs. Is there a workaround that anyone knows that I could use to install Vista Ultimate?

#7 Post by **carbon_unit** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:34 am

I think you can purchase the cd you need from microsoft for a nominal fee.

rowrites · #8 Post by **rowrites** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:34 pm

I would be interested in purchasing a disc from Microsoft at a nominal price to be able to upgrade to Vista Ultimate. Do you know the name of the disc or where I could purchase it? I poked around the Microsoft Vista site and could find nothing that seemed even remotely like what you describe.

#9 Post by **carbon_unit** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:27 pm

From this link: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Window ... 81033.mspx
Click on "How can I obtain a Windows Vista disc?" and you will see this:

The Windows Vista disc may have come with your computer when you purchased it, or you may have purchased the disc to upgrade to Windows Vista. If you can’t find your disc, you can order a new one from the same website where you purchase the upgrade. After you click Begin upgrade process, Windows Anytime Upgrade automatically takes you to the website where you can purchase the upgrade and order the disc.

Your new disc will be sent in the mail. You are required to pay shipping and handling charges only.

sapibobo · #10 Post by **sapibobo** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:37 pm

Is there any Windows Anytime Upgrade applet in the Control Panel? You can use that to upgrade.

#11 Post by **Kyocera** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:04 pm

I read somewhere that by using the "change windows product key' in "system" you can upgrade without reinstalling due to the way vista installs now. Check that out.

The methodology behind the installation of Vista has changed from previous versions, vista now uses an image based installation, your windows vista CD contains all different vista edititions at the start of the installation. The product key you enter identifies which version you've purchased and will be installing.

#12 Post by **ryengineer** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:14 pm

Kyocera wrote:I read somewhere that by using the "change windows product key' in "system" you can upgrade without reinstalling due to the way vista installs now. Check that out.

I confirm that.

rowrites · #13 Post by **rowrites** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:32 pm

Yes, the upgrade process is in the control panel. and, according to the technician i talked to today all the Vista versions are already installed on my system, all I have to do is pay for the upgrade and start the process. Sounds pretty simple.
thanks, everyone, for your help. I plan to pay the money and hopefully upgrade to Vista Ultimate through the control panel later on today. i will post the results hopefully from a system running ultimate.