Microsoft forced us to the RC2 Ultimate by not providing us with keys to the
other editions in the same download (I tried the key I was e-mailed from MS
on an RC2 Home Premium install and it didn't work, so I had to install the
Ultimate edition. Microsoft also promised on its Web site that there would be
an upgrade path from RC1/RC2 to the RTM. The SKU downgrade issue is debatable
as it's just when people are moving from a higher to a lower spec edition...
A Google search will tell you what I mean. Thanks for your help. This will
probably be Microsoft's last full OS, so I'll have to look for another proper
OS in the future anyway. Cheers, --MB

"Mike Brannigan" wrote:

> "mbvista" <mbvista@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:05D8F291-F20F-4768-ABDB-7999518B57BF@microsoft.com...
> > 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.
>
>
> There is nothing unfair here - the upgrades are more tightly checking
> that you qualify for the upgrade by only running from within a valid
> genuine qualifying OS.
> You chose to remove your OS and use a pre-release product that there
> was never any guarantee that you would be able to upgrade from - that
> is why they are usually marked for evaluation and testing and not for
> production use etc.
> Also you are in a situation that is well understood in all other
> operating systems such as Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 etc in
> that a downgrade to a lower spec SKU is never enabled except by a full
> reinstall.
>
> In future you need not look for another OS, you just have to have
> little more understanding about using pre release test software on a
> production machine that you are not willing to rebuild or loose data
> from.
>
> --
>
> Mike Brannigan
>
> "mbvista" <mbvista@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:05D8F291-F20F-4768-ABDB-7999518B57BF@microsoft.com...
> > 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
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>