clean install with vista upgrade?

[CHARLIEBORG]

I did this last year and it work fine. My hd crapped out, so now I did it again, but it is not working?
I did this: First off you have to install the copy of the Windows Vista upgrade edition you acquired. When prompted for a product key do not enter one and simply click next.

You must make sure that you will install the edition of Windows Vista for which you have bought the license. The process will not function for the additional Vista editions on the DVD. Installing Windows Vista without a license key means that the operating system will be in the Initial Grace period for 30 days. Now turn off UAC - Start - Control Panel - User Accounts and Family Safety - User Accounts - User Account Control on or off.

Open command prompt (Windows key + R) and type this command :cscript C:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -ipk . This will allow you to modify the product key. Now enter :cscript C:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -ato to activate Windows Vista and :cscript c:windowssystem32slmgr.vbs -dlv to verify the status of the activation. And you're done.
Not working?

I did let my pc do some upgrades in the past few days. Is there something I am doing wrong?

 

[us3rnotfound]

What I did was just have Windows XP already installed, then I booted up to the Vista Upgrade disc, and continued from there. It allows you to do a full, clean install.

 

[Griswold]

One way that will work for sure is this:

Follow your first step (installing as trial) then, from within that vista install, you kick-off the installation again, this time as upgrade and with your key. This procedure will, of course, take twice as long but its as good as a clean install (you're just replacing a virgin vista with a virgin vista).

 

[Mem]

You can also can rid of your old windows directory,link ,frees up a lot of space.