Validation Issue Installed on the wrong computer

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  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

First, it’s my fault I admit it and I should never have tried to install
Vista on 2 machines when I was so tired.

My purpose was to install Vista Ultimate on a dual-core XPS- Dell machine
and install Vista Business on Vista ready HP machine. After spending hours
uninstall non-compatible Vista software and updating hardware drives I
decided to reformat the Dell hard drive and install Ultimate on a clean hard
drive. As the Dell was reformatting I started on the HP but instead of
picking up the Vista Business disk I picked up the Ultimate disk by mistake.
The load went absolutely wonderful… very easy and I activate the PID still
not realizing I had loaded Ultimate and not Business.

When Dell had finished reformatting it’s hard drive I picked up the Ultimate
disk and install it on the Dell. This time the install when well and I was
happy that both machine were now running on Vista

Of course now I get these little messages on the Dell PC that tells me Vista
is already registered to another machine. It took me several days to figure
out that I did not load Business on the HP and had Ultimate on both the Dell
and HP.

After spending too much time searching Microsoft.com for the steps to fix
this I called the Activation Number and was told to “Uninstall Vista†from
the HP and the Dell will work. After spending more time trying to figure
something that can not be done (uninstalling Vista) here I am.

My question is: how can I get Vista off the HP-pc (un-activate) so the Dell
Vista was work (activate)?

I tried reinstalling WIN XP SP2 that came with HP as suggested in several of
these messages, but it will not re-install. I get a blue screen suggesting I
have a virus or the hard drive is corrupt. I’m fairly sure I don’t have a
virus or malware. I have current virus protection software from McAfee. I
don’t think the hard drive is corrupt because Vista runs fine.

Any ideas?

Sorry to be so long winded but I felt an explanation was in order.
 
Thank you for your very quick response.

Honestly, that what the lady said.

Any ideas on how best to uninstall Ultimate?
 
You don't uninstall an operating system any longer. You just reformat the
partition that the O/S is on and it is gone. Now you are legal. Then make
your phone call.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User
 
Thanks, I give that a shot this weekend. I understand you can't reformat an
active hard drive so I'll install a second drive and install Vista Business
then reformat. Sounds easy ;-) Thanks
 
And why can't you reformat an active drive? Admittedly not when working from
Windows. Easy way is to simply restart the computer and boot using the DVD/CD
disk and then you can delete, resize or reformat from there before
reinstalling. You put a second HD in and install Business on that then that
will be come the primary HD and it may be Drive E or F or someother drive
letter.

Toolman
 
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