Installed Vista without entering Prod. Key
 

I have a Dell XPS400 that came with XP PRO Sp2 installed. Recently I purchased the Vista Utimate retail upgrade. I installed a second hard drive and installed Vista on it using the clean boot method of installing it twice, once over itself. I then set out to install programs and numerous drivers and utilities etc. You have all been there so you know the drill. At some point I realized that although I had a dual boot, I had no idea how to remove XP when I was satisfied with Vista. My first post on SysChat was a reply to a very excellent tutorial by William Wilson on removing XP from a dual boot. Not having much experience posting on forums, I did not realize that I should have posted over on this thread.

Today I remembered that although I installed Vista twice I had not entered the 25 character product key either time! Soon I will have to activate it and I don't know any way to enter the key except to reinstall again and lose everything that I have done up to now. I have Acronis True Image 10 installed but I don't see how that would help in this case.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions that I could try? My only excuse for getting myself in this mess, is that I was not too smart to start with and I am older than I realized.

Hi,

not having Vista myself yet, I can't quite vouch for this answer but the place I got it from seems quit profficient (- Windows Vista help)

Follow these steps:

1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

2. The System window appears. Scroll down to the Windows Activation section, and click the link to enter your product key. The link might take a few seconds to appear, so be patient.

Hope it works!

/Petri

Installed Vista without entering Prod. Key
 

Hi Petri,

Thanks for your post. That works like a charm! I never really spent any time on the system page before. I went by it many times on my way to the device manager, but never stopped to look at it. I was so sure that I would have to reinstall Vista that I probably would have done just that in a day or two, so I was very suprised and pleased to get such a quick and helpful answer.

I only discovered this forum a couple of weeks ago and have really benefited from it. I will surely be here more often. Thanks again for your help. It was much appreciated. You saved me a whole bunch of time and trouble!!

Bob