Upgrade from OEM to Retail Ultimate via DVD

Hi

Before wasting my money, I'd like to know if I am able to upgrade my Dell
machine from Home Premium to a retail version of Ultimate using a purchased
DVD.

The upgrade centre within my OEM Vista doesn't appear to allow me to buy and
upgrade online, which is a funny commercial decision by MS to supply versions
of Windows to OEMs that block customers from buying stuff from MS. I can only
assume that there are technical reasons for this block.

If anyone at MS knows the answer, please help, or if anyone has done a
similar thing, please let me know - thanks in advance for your time.

Luke

"LukeSkywalker" wrote...
> Before wasting my money, I'd like to know if I am able to upgrade my Dell
> machine from Home Premium to a retail version of Ultimate using a
> purchased
> DVD.
>
> The upgrade centre within my OEM Vista doesn't appear to allow me to buy
> and
> upgrade online, which is a funny commercial decision by MS to supply
> versions
> of Windows to OEMs that block customers from buying stuff from MS. I can
> only
> assume that there are technical reasons for this block.
>
> If anyone at MS knows the answer, please help, or if anyone has done a
> similar thing, please let me know - thanks in advance for your time.


If you found the "upgrade center" in the start menu under programs- Extra
and Upgrades, then you should have a direct link to upgrade to Ultimate. If
you do not have the "Windows Anytime Upgrade" link there, look for it in the
Control Panel under "System and Maintenance".

LukeSkywalker wrote:
> Hi
>
> Before wasting my money, I'd like to know if I am able to upgrade my Dell
> machine from Home Premium to a retail version of Ultimate using a purchased
> DVD.
>
> The upgrade centre within my OEM Vista doesn't appear to allow me to buy and
> upgrade online, which is a funny commercial decision by MS to supply versions
> of Windows to OEMs that block customers from buying stuff from MS. I can only
> assume that there are technical reasons for this block.
>
> If anyone at MS knows the answer, please help, or if anyone has done a
> similar thing, please let me know - thanks in advance for your time.
>
> Luke
>

This is what you require to upgrade from OEM Home Premium to Ultimate:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windows-Anyt..._sw_h__title_4

It's also available at John Lewis, Tesco, Currys or your favourite store.

BTW, if you decide to use "Complete PC Backup", you will need this disk
to boot system to restore to bare metal with "Complete PC Restore".