Downgrade from ultimate to Home using upgrade key

I had used the ultimate version of vista as a trial and it has now expired.
I bought the home version upgrade DVD for another PC, can I use the Home
version on the PC that the ultimate was on to get back up and running? Being
that I already have the upgrade disk I chose not to upgrade XP on the other
but was wondering if it was possible to use the same disc and key for the
expired Ultimate PC?

Hi,

You need an Ultimate product key to continue using the system now.
Otherwise, you'll need to format and install either a different Vista
version or different OS altogether. A single key (license) is only good for
a single installation on a single system, you can't use it on two machines
simultaneously. In addition, you can't "upgrade" the now-defunct Ultimate to
Home, you'd have to clean install *and* you can't do that with the upgrade
disk.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Jepp376" <> wrote in message
news:ED5E7391-1BD8-4679-8140-...
>I had used the ultimate version of vista as a trial and it has now expired.
> I bought the home version upgrade DVD for another PC, can I use the Home
> version on the PC that the ultimate was on to get back up and running?
> Being
> that I already have the upgrade disk I chose not to upgrade XP on the
> other
> but was wondering if it was possible to use the same disc and key for the
> expired Ultimate PC?

As Rick said, you need to do a clean install, but you can do it with an
upgrade version. Read this from Paul Thurrott.

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

Mark

"Jepp376" <> wrote in message
news:ED5E7391-1BD8-4679-8140-...
>I had used the ultimate version of vista as a trial and it has now expired.
> I bought the home version upgrade DVD for another PC, can I use the Home
> version on the PC that the ultimate was on to get back up and running?
> Being
> that I already have the upgrade disk I chose not to upgrade XP on the
> other
> but was wondering if it was possible to use the same disc and key for the
> expired Ultimate PC?

Jepp376 wrote:
> I had used the ultimate version of vista as a trial and it has now expired.
> I bought the home version upgrade DVD for another PC, can I use the Home
> version on the PC that the ultimate was on to get back up and running?


Only if you also have an available license for an older, qualifying OS
to first install, to make the Upgrade legitimate. Naturally, you'll
first need to format ther hard drive and start afresh with the older OS.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot