How Microsoft screwed the Action Pack subscribers.

[techs]

I have been a MS Action Pack subscriber since 2002. Back when I signed up they sent me the ten copies of Windows XP Pro as advertised.

Now its 5 years later and the 10 Vista Business Upgrade editions they just sent me can only be installed on an already installed Windows XP Pro.

Which means that I either have to put Vista on very old machines which can't run it adequately OR I HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY TEN COPIES OF WINDOWS XP, INSTALL IT AND THEN RUN THE VISTA UPGRADES. OF COURSE THAT MAKES THE VISTAS WORTHLESS. I COULD JUST BUY 10 COPIES OF VISTA OEM.

SO THE 8 NEW COMPUTERS SITTING IN MY SHOP WAITING FOR VISTA HAVE NO SOFTWARE.

I tried calling the MS Action Pack team, and just about everyone else at Microsoft. At LEAST 20 calls.

NO ONE can help. They say there is nothing they can do.

Well, I know what I can do. This morning I am putting free Linux on all my boxes

 

[Tegeril]

Dailytech already posted a workaround for this. Install the Vista Business Upgrade without inputting a Product Key. Then run the Vista upgrade exe from within the no-key vista. It'll work.

 

[MoonglumWoW]

The 10 Vista upgrades seem perfectly reasonable since they are upgrades for the 10 XP Pro licenses. I would suggest you put free Linux on those very old machines and transfer your XP pro licenses to your 8 new machines, and then install Vista. Use the Dailytech workaround so you don't have to actually install XP before Vista.

 

[techs]

Uh, if I don't have an activated WinXP then how can I run the upgrade?

 

[InlineFive]

"The Dailytech Workaround"

 

[tcsenter]

Which means that I either have to put Vista on very old machines which can't run it adequately OR I HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY TEN COPIES OF WINDOWS XP, INSTALL IT AND THEN RUN THE VISTA UPGRADES. OF COURSE THAT MAKES THE VISTAS WORTHLESS. I COULD JUST BUY 10 COPIES OF VISTA OEM. SO THE 8 NEW COMPUTERS SITTING IN MY SHOP WAITING FOR VISTA HAVE NO SOFTWARE.

Huh? What is wrong with the 10 XP Pro copies you received? Why couldn't you install those on the new computers then upgrade to Vista?

What did you think "upgrade" version meant, upgrade from an empty hard drive? Welcome to...umm...1982.

 

[Slikkster]

I posted this *fix* or *workaround* days ago at FW. Read the thread and complete instructions here:

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/28/699796/

 

[techs]

WHOA! Now I get it.
Great work and many thanks to you guys!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Sting32]

what all else came with the action pack supb? ANYONE? I was about to plunk the 321 (with tax) but holding off until I find out what all you get, especially iff i start today...

FWIW, the site, has links that say "see this and that but I kept getting the have to be a member. I filled out the membership stuff maybe later I can get in.

TIA.