Many thanks. I do have a genuine qualifying OS (XP MCE) that came with my new
laptop, and that's the reason I am receiving the Home Premium upgrade.
However, I replaced it on the day I received the laptop in December 2006 with
RC2 Ultimate that I had downloaded from Microsoft in October 2006. Now
looking at your "solutions", this seems to me like an unfair treatment by
Microsoft for its customers, and I'd better look for some other OS in the
future (free or from Apple) rather than buy a so-called "Ultimate" OS I don't
need from you.

"Mike Brannigan" wrote:

> "mbvista" <mbvista@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2FDDFD51-F77B-4737-BF8A-A1B7666B2F61@microsoft.com...
> >I hope this is possible. I am currently running RC2 Ultimate (but not
> >using
> > any of the Ultimate features), with many dozens of my work/research
> > applications properly installed, configured, and running under it,
> > and would
> > like to upgrade to the final release, which I am about to receive
> > from
> > Moduslink https://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/Vista/ in a few weeks
> > (this will
> > be the Home Premium 32-bit edition). I hope the "upgrade" will be
> > smooth,
> > otherwise please let me know what are the necessary steps/measures
> > to take to
> > upgrade my existing RC2 and keep all installed applications? I don't
> > won't to
> > buy or upgrade to the final Ultimate edition. Home Premium is all
> > what I
> > want. Thanks.
>
> Firstly unless you have an installed copy of a qualifying OS such as
> Windows XP you will not be able to perform and upgrade (as an RC is
> not a qualifying product), secondly you cannot down grade to a lower
> spec version of Windows so you will not be able to go from Ultimate to
> Home Premium.
>
> If you wish to use your upgrade DVD then you will have to start the
> process from within a running valid, activated and genuine Windows XP
> install.
>
> Your only option to avoid reinstalling your apps is to buy a full
> retail version of Ultimate and use that to perform and "upgrade".
>
> --
>
> Mike Brannigan
>
>
>
>