Originally posted by: Darrin420
1. Boot with the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD.
2. Click "Install Now."
3. Do not enter a Product Key When prompted.
4. When prompted, select the Vista product edition that you do have.
6. Install Vista normally.
7. Once the install is complete, restart the DVD-based Setup from within Windows Vista. Perform an in-place upgrade.
8. Enter your Product Key when prompted.
If that's all there is to it, it sounds pretty simple. Basically, you just install Vista twice, once by booting from the DVD, using no key, then when that's done, you do it once more from within Vista, loading it over itself, entering the key this time. Odd that they set it up so that it'll install without having any key code at all entered during that first runthrough. Haven't recent Windows versions all crapped out their installation if you didn't enter a key? That "3. Do not enter a Product Key When prompted" must be the semi-secret kink this time around. There have always been ways to do clean installs with Upgrade Versions, Microsoft just likes to take advantage of the uninformed, and they scare 'em into thinking that they need to step up & (over)pay for the "Fool" Version....
I don't see anything in those steps that even requires you to put in a Win2k/XP CD. It just seems too good to be true. Anyone able to verify?