Vista Ultimate for £40

Jimbo Mahoney · 17 Nov 2008 at 13:59

w11tho said:
A word of warning: I tried this about 2 hours ago, and so far the list of problems are:

1) Of the three files you needed to download, only two of them were linked to in my "confirmation page".
2) My confirmation page contains no sign of a product key.
3) My confirmation e-mail contains no sign of a product key.
4) The login/order status system is a bit of a joke and tells you next to nothing.

I've sent raised several requests through their online customer service section, but no luck yet. The three files you are told to download are <install.win>, <boot.win> and <X14-63452.exe>. It is the third of these which is not linked to, so I'm currently downloading <install.win> and waiting for an update. No doubt these are just teething issues, but I'm not particularly impressed with the system so far!

I'm having exactly the same since buying it yesterday. Awaiting a human to respond to my e-mail. So far, I've just had an automated response saying that I can pay extra to allow downloading beyond the limit of 30 days :rolleyes:

iviv · 17 Nov 2008 at 15:02

Well, just want to pop in with my success story. Made it a bootable DVD, formatted my new hard drive and installed onto there. It didn't ask me to upgrade any of the installs or anything. Very pleased with this, and thanks to whoever it was who linked to the guide!

Jimbo Mahoney · 18 Nov 2008 at 08:46

OK, it seems the system isn't instant.

I have now received my product key and a big green download button has appeared on my order page.

Except the big green download button only downloads the EXE (87MB), not the other two huge files.

Man, this system is poor...

iviv · 18 Nov 2008 at 11:24

Isn't this technically a competitor?

Deleted member 77746 · 18 Nov 2008 at 11:33

iviv said:
Isn't this technically a competitor?

I would say it was if OcUK sold upgrade licenses & media.

iviv · 18 Nov 2008 at 21:08

Like these? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=33&catid=1298

I'm not saying we shouldn't be able to talk about them, heck I'm glad someone posted this since I snapped it up because it was so cheap.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Nov 2008 at 20:00

Phil99 said:
You need the exe that you can only get when you buy it via Ultimate Steal or other methods that provide an online delivery method.

Instructions for creating the image are here for anyone that has bought it online.

Thanks for this link!

Jimbo Mahoney · 20 Nov 2008 at 13:38

Phil99 said:
For those having the same problem as me (no download links for the .wim files), here are some links that might work (I'm currently downloading):

Vista 32
boot.wim
install.wim

Vista 64
boot.wim
install.wim

Just wanted to say MANY thanks for posting these.

What an awful system this Ultimate Steal thing is.

I've just received a second reply to my "Can't download the two files I need" e-mail pointing me back to the download page where I can only get the one EXE file :rolleyes:

Fanatic · 20 Nov 2008 at 14:39

When I got mine there were 3 links. The big obvious green download button for the exe and then 2 hyperlinks below that for the other 2 files.

Jimbo Mahoney · 20 Nov 2008 at 15:16

I just have this:

(I've removed the Order details obviously).

It doesn't matter now, since Phil99 helpfully posted the links.

iFrag · 21 Nov 2008 at 10:01

Just purchased Vista Ultimate with back-up CDs, Im guessing I will need to have a legal copy of XP?

Phil99 · 21 Nov 2008 at 14:22

They're quite flexible with current operating systems you can upgrade from, if you've ever had a legal copy of Windows/Mac OS on the PC you're upgrading you're good to go.

Deleted member 77746 · 21 Nov 2008 at 21:47

I can confirm that installing Vista upgrade edition without serial key and then doing an upgrade with the key works. Just installed this on a laptop for someone and works 100%. I did this to test it but the user has business edition anyway so they upgraded it.

Jimbo Mahoney · 24 Nov 2008 at 14:19

Update - OK Digital River have just replied and given me links to the two files I need, so kudos to them, but it took a while and the system is less than intuitive.

BloodyL · 18 Dec 2008 at 05:28

I have a couple of questions for Burnsy:
1)Did you get clarification regarding the license for the Ultimate Steal edition of Vista, as to whether it is actually retail, academic or OEM?
2)Am i correct in thinking that the Retail license can be transferred from machine to machine as I upgrade whereas the Academc and OEM versions cannot?

I've been holding off installing my TUS Vista x64 until I am sure that the license can be transferred.

Cheers bud.

Deleted member 77746 · 18 Dec 2008 at 09:56

BloodyL said:
I have a couple of questions for Burnsy:
1)Did you get clarification regarding the license for the Ultimate Steal edition of Vista, as to whether it is actually retail, academic or OEM?
2)Am i correct in thinking that the Retail license can be transferred from machine to machine as I upgrade whereas the Academc and OEM versions cannot?

I've been holding off installing my TUS Vista x64 until I am sure that the license can be transferred.

Cheers bud.

Hopefully I can answer this for you.

1) This is 'upgrade' licencing not retail, academic or OEM. This is like an OEM product non transferable.

2) Yes, the retail can be transfered from machine to machine only installed on 1 system at a time though. Academic and OEM versions can not.

Sunbed · 18 Dec 2008 at 13:29

optitech-uk said:
Hopefully I can answer this for you.

1) This is 'upgrade' licencing not retail, academic or OEM. This is like an OEM product non transferable.

2) Yes, the retail can be transfered from machine to machine only installed on 1 system at a time though. Academic and OEM versions can not.

I have read somewhere that in the event of hardware failure, you can contact microsoft and they will renew your OEM license. Firstly, is this true?

If so.. does the same apply to upgrade?

Even so it seems like a good deal, as can buy 3 copies for less than price of retail. Are my assumtions correct that; like OEM, it is linked to your hardware (motherboard) so a motherboard upgrade would mean license no longer valid? (Sorry if this has already been answered)

boosfuk · 18 Dec 2008 at 14:12

optitech-uk said:
Hopefully I can answer this for you.

1) This is 'upgrade' licencing not retail, academic or OEM. This is like an OEM product non transferable.

Can you point to anything official to confirm this? As you can buy a "retail upgrade" edition I'm confused that you differentiate between upgrade and retail/academic: It is all very confusing. It is my understanding that historically OEM is tied to the hardware as it is sold (or should be) exclusively with new systems, while all licenses sold directly by Microsoft to the end-user (as is the case with Ultimate Steal) are transferable. Thanks

Deleted member 77746 · 18 Dec 2008 at 14:15

Sundance said:
I have read somewhere that in the event of hardware failure, you can contact microsoft and they will renew your OEM license. Firstly, is this true?

If so.. does the same apply to upgrade?

Even so it seems like a good deal, as can buy 3 copies for less than price of retail. Are my assumtions correct that; like OEM, it is linked to your hardware (motherboard) so a motherboard upgrade would mean license no longer valid? (Sorry if this has already been answered)

It is possible that if you have hardware failier you can contact microsoft and they will renew your OEM license for reactivation. Same as the upgrade really.

Correct that a motherboard upgrade licence would mean no longer valid however a lot of people say they had hardware failiers and the shop would not supply a new same model board and they had to buy a new one.

boosfuk said:
Can you point to anything official to confirm this? As you can buy a "retail upgrade" edition I'm confused that you differentiate between upgrade and retail/academic: It is all very confusing. It is my understanding that historically OEM is tied to the hardware as it is sold (or should be) exclusively with new systems, while all licenses sold directly by Microsoft to the end-user (as is the case with Ultimate Steal) are transferable. Thanks

Sorry don't think I can however burnsey might be able too. If Microsoft sold direct software to end users and was transferable I don't think people would buy from 3rd party's? unsure of this burnsey might be able to clarify it abit better.

Burnsy2023 · 18 Dec 2008 at 14:23

BloodyL said:
I have a couple of questions for Burnsy:
1)Did you get clarification regarding the license for the Ultimate Steal edition of Vista, as to whether it is actually retail, academic or OEM?
2)Am i correct in thinking that the Retail license can be transferred from machine to machine as I upgrade whereas the Academc and OEM versions cannot?

I've been holding off installing my TUS Vista x64 until I am sure that the license can be transferred.

Cheers bud.

Unusally MS have been very unhelpful for me with this. The usual guy I talk to is having trouble getting info about this scheme. Still working on it though.

optitech-uk said:
Hopefully I can answer this for you.

1) This is 'upgrade' licencing not retail, academic or OEM. This is like an OEM product non transferable.

Upgrade licensing is transferable. How do you know this? Also, this is not the same as normal upgrade licensing.

optitech-uk said:
2) Yes, the retail can be transfered from machine to machine only installed on 1 system at a time though. Academic and OEM versions can not.

If we're talking about academic licences such as MSDN:AA licences, then you are wrong. They are transferable.

Sundance said:
I have read somewhere that in the event of hardware failure, you can contact microsoft and they will renew your OEM license. Firstly, is this true?

This isn't quite cut and dry. In the even of a motherboard faliure, you must get the mobo replaced by the OEM under their warranty scheme. You can't do this yourself and the licence still be valid. However, if you are the system builder of the machine then you have control over the warranty terms and can therefore replace the mobo (which has failed not for solely upgrade purposes) and the licence will be still valid.

Sundance said:
If so.. does the same apply to upgrade?

Again, not cut and dry. The upgrade licence requires a prerquisite 'qualifying product' that you need to upgrade from. If that is a Windows OEM licence, then you need to make sure it is still valid. So if you upgrade the mobo on a PC that has a XP pro OEM licence then you cannot use the upgrade to Vista as the XP licence is no longer valid.

Sundance said:
Even so it seems like a good deal, as can buy 3 copies for less than price of retail. Are my assumtions correct that; like OEM, it is linked to your hardware (motherboard) so a motherboard upgrade would mean license no longer valid? (Sorry if this has already been answered)

I'm not sure about this particular licensing scheme and whether it is directly related to the OEM or ugrade licence.