Vista MSDN to Vista Retail

Hi,

when I install Vista that I downloaded from MSDN is it possible to change
the key of the install to the key of a retail version?

I want to setup some PCs with the MSDN version to do some testing but when
Vista arrives in stores I want to change the key to Retail.


Thanks in advance,

Marcus

Marcus Wulf wrote:
> Hi,
>
> when I install Vista that I downloaded from MSDN is it possible to change
> the key of the install to the key of a retail version?
>
> I want to setup some PCs with the MSDN version to do some testing but when
> Vista arrives in stores I want to change the key to Retail.
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Marcus

As I understand it (ie. from what I remember it said in the ISO download
page), the MSDN versions use retail keys - so the keys provided by MSDN
are retail keys for 10 activations.

D

"Marcus Wulf" <Marcus.Wulf@ixtra.com> wrote in message
news:%23vhzcOEGHHA.1784@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> when I install Vista that I downloaded from MSDN is it possible to change
> the key of the install to the key of a retail version?
>
> I want to setup some PCs with the MSDN version to do some testing but when
> Vista arrives in stores I want to change the key to Retail.

Hi Marcus,

Go to 'Control Panel/System and Maintenance/System' and at the bottom of the
page there is a link that will allow you to change your product key.

If you've bought retail boxes then I would imagine this should work as the
MSDN 'bits' are retail, as David has said above.

I don't know the legallity of this though! I would check in
nntp://microsoft.public.msdn.general for answers about that. It's been
discussed before for other operating systems.

HTH, Loz.

The MSDN images are the same as retail versions will be, but the 10
activation key is for testing purposes, not production. Marcus wants to use
a retail key on the MSDN version, and can do this in the manner described by
Lawrence.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"David Hearn" <dave@NOswampieSPAM.org.uk> wrote in message
news:4tkrpgF14j5q3U1@mid.individual.net...
> Marcus Wulf wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> when I install Vista that I downloaded from MSDN is it possible to change
>> the key of the install to the key of a retail version?
>>
>> I want to setup some PCs with the MSDN version to do some testing but
>> when
>> Vista arrives in stores I want to change the key to Retail.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Marcus
>
> As I understand it (ie. from what I remember it said in the ISO download
> page), the MSDN versions use retail keys - so the keys provided by MSDN
> are retail keys for 10 activations.
>
> D