Windows vista key

bmi92 · 16 Jan 2010 at 14:15

Hey,

I have a computer with Vista on it that needs activation. I want to stay with vista and not go to 7. The Microsoft website only seems to Windows 7 keys and I need a Vista one. It is the Ultimate 32-bit version and would be thankful if someone could guide me as to where I can puchase one.

Thank you
Ben

Django x2 · 16 Jan 2010 at 14:21

Need more info. Why can't you just activate over the internet? Do you not have a key on the machine / cd that you can use?

bmi92 · 16 Jan 2010 at 14:32

No not got a key on the computer or a CD. Just looking to purchase a key online.

Memphis · 16 Jan 2010 at 14:58

I genuinely can't think of any reason why you would deliberately purchase a new Vista licence and not one for Windows 7.

hoppyintheuk · 16 Jan 2010 at 15:11

Seriously dump Vista and go Window 7. No competition.

reflux · 16 Jan 2010 at 15:11

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Django x2 · 16 Jan 2010 at 15:13

Biblically, 7 is the perfect number. So, you know what to do right?

bmi92 · 16 Jan 2010 at 15:18

But can I upgrade from a not activated version of windows to 7 without doing a clean install and loosing my files?

hoppyintheuk · 16 Jan 2010 at 15:24

Hum.... Good Point. I suspect you will need to activate to upgrade, never tried it myself.

Burnsy2023 · 16 Jan 2010 at 18:46

What disc did you install with?

Anth · 16 Jan 2010 at 20:19

B3N said:
But can I upgrade from a not activated version of windows to 7 without doing a clean install and loosing my files?

If you want to get the files off the hard drive you could always boot into a linux live CD and copy the files off to another drive you have on the Pc or even just burn them all to a DVD.

Ubuntu is what I would recommend.

Or remove the hard drive from the PC and put that drive in a usb enclosure and copy to another drive which has windows installed.

Another (possible) option is you can extend the Vista registration deadline from the standard 30 days up to 120 days

http://www.windowssecrets.com/comp/070315/#story1

However I would say you should take this opportunity to go to W7 and not just feel obliged to stay with Vista, and definitely don't buy it. Vista is pretty terrible compared to W7

hoppyintheuk · 16 Jan 2010 at 21:15

Anth said:
However I would say you should take this opportunity to go to W7 and not just feel obliged to stay with Vista, and definitely don't buy it. Vista is pretty terrible compared to W7

Absolutely agree on this. No one I know has stayed with Vista. Even those who have it pre installed have replaced it with Windows 7.

kylew · 17 Jan 2010 at 07:53

Anth said:
If you want to get the files off the hard drive you could always boot into a linux live CD and copy the files off to another drive you have on the Pc or even just burn them all to a DVD.

Ubuntu is what I would recommend.

Or remove the hard drive from the PC and put that drive in a usb enclosure and copy to another drive which has windows installed.

Another (possible) option is you can extend the Vista registration deadline from the standard 30 days up to 120 days

http://www.windowssecrets.com/comp/070315/#story1

However I would say you should take this opportunity to go to W7 and not just feel obliged to stay with Vista, and definitely don't buy it. Vista is pretty terrible compared to W7

Waaaaay too much work there.

Simply install the OS to the current drive windows is installed to, but don't format it.

Windows installer will then say something like "if you install without formatting, all your old files will be moved to a new folder called "windows.old" located at the root of your C drive".