So here’s the scenario - you currently run Windows XP and bought a Windows Vista upgrade because it’s cheaper. Like any other seasoned Windows user, you figure that you should format the hard disk to remove all the junk you’ve collected over the years and reinstall Windows. Although Microsoft would have you install Windows XP first and then upgrade to Vista, there’s actually a method of directly clean-installing Windows Vista with the upgrade disk.

1) Install Windows Vista using any installation disk but do not enter the serial number.

2) Select the version that you have bought, i.e. whether it’s Home Premium, Ultimate, etc.

3) Once the 30-day trial has expired, run Command Prompt as Administrator and enter this:
slmgr -ipk xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
(where the xxx is your serial number).

4) There will be a pop-up window informing you that the process was successful.

5) Online activation should automatically start and complete itself without any problem.

5) If not, enter this into the Command Prompt to manually activate your Windows Vista:
slmgr -ato

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