Buying Vista

I'm running an unactivated Vista Basic on an old P3.

I installed it off the Business CD.

If I decide to keep it, can I just buy the key, hopefully cheaper than the
$99 upgrade?

If you want, but that would be a downgrade and you will have to buy the full
version of Vista Basic since Anytime Upgrade only qualifies for a better
version of the product.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Bill Condie" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm running an unactivated Vista Basic on an old P3.
>
> I installed it off the Business CD.
>
> If I decide to keep it, can I just buy the key, hopefully cheaper than the
> $99 upgrade?

Not really. The price of the media is not all that much. In fact, although I
haven't checked for Vista, a MS vendor will often ship you only the media
for about $7.00 shipping and handling (or free, occasionally, depending on
the vendor). There is no big savings to be had by having the media already.

-Frank

"Bill Condie" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm running an unactivated Vista Basic on an old P3.
>
> I installed it off the Business CD.
>
> If I decide to keep it, can I just buy the key, hopefully cheaper than the
> $99 upgrade?

I was thinking of convenience, really.

This P3 oldie can't handle Business, and it's my backup machine :-(


"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news: ...
> Not really. The price of the media is not all that much. In fact, although
> I haven't checked for Vista, a MS vendor will often ship you only the
> media for about $7.00 shipping and handling (or free, occasionally,
> depending on the vendor). There is no big savings to be had by having the
> media already.
>
> -Frank
>
> "Bill Condie" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I'm running an unactivated Vista Basic on an old P3.
>>
>> I installed it off the Business CD.
>>
>> If I decide to keep it, can I just buy the key, hopefully cheaper than
>> the $99 upgrade?
>

But the Vista Business license does not support downgrading, you will have
purchase an upgrade license of Vista Basic and use a copy of XP as a
qualifying product which I think might now work since, Upgrade licenses of
Vista needs to have an installed copy of XP to check for compliance.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Bill Condie" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I was thinking of convenience, really.
>
> This P3 oldie can't handle Business, and it's my backup machine :-(
>
>
> "Frankster" <> wrote in message
> news: ...
>> Not really. The price of the media is not all that much. In fact,
>> although I haven't checked for Vista, a MS vendor will often ship you
>> only the media for about $7.00 shipping and handling (or free,
>> occasionally, depending on the vendor). There is no big savings to be had
>> by having the media already.
>>
>> -Frank
>>
>> "Bill Condie" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> I'm running an unactivated Vista Basic on an old P3.
>>>
>>> I installed it off the Business CD.
>>>
>>> If I decide to keep it, can I just buy the key, hopefully cheaper than
>>> the $99 upgrade?
>>
>