Passing through a department store in Geneva I saw an Acer Aspire L100
small desktop PC discounted to circa 50% normal price. Because I needed
another PC on impulse I bought it.

At home in Berne I started it and, of course, the OEM Vista Home
Premium OS was in French - okay, I thought, I could live with that
although my French was pretty terrible. Then I saw that included in the
CDs was an Acer disk labelled "Windows Anytime Upgrade" with a number of
languages listed, one of which being English.

I loaded it and proceeded to install a new version of Vista, and joy,
in English - everything worked.

Then on the next boot it all turned sour. Vista asked for the product
key (it had done that on the original install) then said it was
incompatible and led me to register for upgrading on-line. But there was
no Internet link on the PC so I opted for the alternative phone call
procedure. I was then presented with a list of countries and chose
"Switzerland", two numbers were shown and both met with "invalid number"
when dialled.

The Microsoft support costs an arm and a leg (Sfr 98) per query I found
when I went to send an e-mail to ask how to get my copy registered and
paid for. Short of buying a new copy of Vista (or XP) at full price -
totally negating the discount price of the PC. And even then can I be
sure an installation OS CD would make a clean install without finding
some incompatible product id?

Thanks for any tips.


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Barnacle wrote:


Passing through a department store in Geneva I saw an Acer Aspire L100
small desktop PC discounted to circa 50% normal price. Because I needed
another PC on impulse I bought it.

At home in Berne I started it and, of course, the OEM Vista Home
Premium OS was in French - okay, I thought, I could live with that
although my French was pretty terrible. Then I saw that included in the
CDs was an Acer disk labelled "Windows Anytime Upgrade" with a number of
languages listed, one of which being English.

I loaded it and proceeded to install a new version of Vista, and joy,
in English - everything worked.

Then on the next boot it all turned sour. Vista asked for the product
key (it had done that on the original install) then said it was
incompatible and led me to register for upgrading on-line. But there was
no Internet link on the PC so I opted for the alternative phone call
procedure. I was then presented with a list of countries and chose
"Switzerland", two numbers were shown and both met with "invalid number"
when dialled.

The Microsoft support costs an arm and a leg (Sfr 98) per query I found
when I went to send an e-mail to ask how to get my copy registered and
paid for. Short of buying a new copy of Vista (or XP) at full price -
totally negating the discount price of the PC. And even then can I be
sure an installation OS CD would make a clean install without finding
some incompatible product id?

You bought the wrong thing. The upgrade needs to be in the same language as
the original; i.e., French. You will need to return the upgrade for credit.
If you want an English version of Vista, you will need to purchase a full
one and do a clean install OR upgrade to Vista French Ultimate and then you
can switch languages with MUI.

Otherwise, restore the computer to factory condition and eBay it. Presumably
it isn't convenient for you to return the machine to the store where you
bought it.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Malke;4014064 Wrote:


You bought the wrong thing. The upgrade needs to be in the same
language as the original; i.e., French. You will need to return the
upgrade for credit. If you want an English version of Vista, you will
need to purchase a full one and do a clean install OR upgrade to Vista
French Ultimate and then you can switch languages with MUI.

Otherwise, restore the computer to factory condition and eBay it.
Presumably it isn't convenient for you to return the machine to the
store where you bought it.


Thanks for your response. You have confirmed my worse fears, but, hey,
it's only money.

I will keep the computer and buy a new English-language OS DVD for a
clean install, hoping that the paranoiac MS doesn't detect a hidden
hard-disk product code that it takes exception to.

I am presuming that the DVD can be inserted and will automatically
install on bootup? I ask because I can do nothing with the PC once
booted, it just remains locked out by Vista.

Thanks again for your very helpful respnse.


--
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Use another computer to track down the drivers you may/will need for the
Acer computer. Then burn them to a CD for use when you install clean on the
Acer.

Boot from the retail version of Vista that you purchase. Use the advanced
options under install. Delete any partitions that currently exist. Create a
new partition and then format the new partition. The install will take over
after the format has concluded.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Barnacle" wrote in message
...

Malke;4014064 Wrote:


You bought the wrong thing. The upgrade needs to be in the same
language as the original; i.e., French. You will need to return the
upgrade for credit. If you want an English version of Vista, you will
need to purchase a full one and do a clean install OR upgrade to Vista
French Ultimate and then you can switch languages with MUI.

Otherwise, restore the computer to factory condition and eBay it.
Presumably it isn't convenient for you to return the machine to the
store where you bought it.


Thanks for your response. You have confirmed my worse fears, but, hey,
it's only money.

I will keep the computer and buy a new English-language OS DVD for a
clean install, hoping that the paranoiac MS doesn't detect a hidden
hard-disk product code that it takes exception to.

I am presuming that the DVD can be inserted and will automatically
install on bootup? I ask because I can do nothing with the PC once
booted, it just remains locked out by Vista.

Thanks again for your very helpful respnse.


--
Barnacle
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Hi,

I will keep the computer and buy a new English-language OS DVD for a
clean install, hoping that the paranoiac MS doesn't detect a hidden
hard-disk product code that it takes exception to.

They won't, the old key will be inconsequential as you will be creating a
new installation.

I am presuming that the DVD can be inserted and will automatically
install on bootup? I ask because I can do nothing with the PC once
booted, it just remains locked out by Vista.

Correct, you can either format (preferred since presumably there's nothing
in the original that you want) or create a new installation with the
original moved to a windows.old folder.

--
Best of Luck,

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

"Barnacle" wrote in message
...

Malke;4014064 Wrote:


You bought the wrong thing. The upgrade needs to be in the same
language as the original; i.e., French. You will need to return the
upgrade for credit. If you want an English version of Vista, you will
need to purchase a full one and do a clean install OR upgrade to Vista
French Ultimate and then you can switch languages with MUI.

Otherwise, restore the computer to factory condition and eBay it.
Presumably it isn't convenient for you to return the machine to the
store where you bought it.


Thanks for your response. You have confirmed my worse fears, but, hey,
it's only money.

I will keep the computer and buy a new English-language OS DVD for a
clean install, hoping that the paranoiac MS doesn't detect a hidden
hard-disk product code that it takes exception to.

I am presuming that the DVD can be inserted and will automatically
install on bootup? I ask because I can do nothing with the PC once
booted, it just remains locked out by Vista.

Thanks again for your very helpful respnse.


--
Barnacle
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Thank you all for these great tips.

Just so that I quite understand - please bear with a dumb jackass with
little PC savvy - can you please confirm my actions when I have my new
OS Vista DVD as the following:
1. Do a normal boot of my present system, which will suspend at the
password entry stage.
2. Insert the OS disk in the drive.
3. Shut down system with the Vista command.
4. Power up the PC.

Whereupon the boot will be driven from the DVD drive ??? Doesn't this
need a change to the BIOS? If so, how can I change that? I sort of
remember using a function key on startup to access that many years ago
on another computer - I don't have much in the way of documentation with
this one.

Sorry for my limited knowledge - but that's why I'm here ...

Thanks in advance.

B.

Hi,

Most systems are preset to boot from the optical drive. If you do need to
change it, you'll have to do it in the sytem BIOS by depressing a key during
the initial startup - before Windows begins to load. There should be a line
to depress key to enter setup. If you have a manufacturer logo screen,
simply hit escape to see the lines. The key varies by manufacturer.

Essentially yes, all you need to do is boot the system with the disk already
inserted. You don't actually have to boot it all the way to the logon screen
and then restart, just insert the disk when you power up.

--
Best of Luck,

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

"Barnacle" wrote in message
...

Thank you all for these great tips.

Just so that I quite understand - please bear with a dumb jackass with
little PC savvy - can you please confirm my actions when I have my new
OS Vista DVD as the following:
1. Do a normal boot of my present system, which will suspend at the
password entry stage.
2. Insert the OS disk in the drive.
3. Shut down system with the Vista command.
4. Power up the PC.

Whereupon the boot will be driven from the DVD drive ??? Doesn't this
need a change to the BIOS? If so, how can I change that? I sort of
remember using a function key on startup to access that many years ago
on another computer - I don't have much in the way of documentation with
this one.

Sorry for my limited knowledge - but that's why I'm here ...

Thanks in advance.

B.


--
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Thanks Rick, it is very comforting to read your advice.

I have ordered my English language full MS Vista Ultimate package
(thought I may as well go for broke) and played a bit with testing the
function keys - I caught a brief glimpse of the Acer bootstrap screen
showing that F12 would get me into the BIOS screen to choose device
loading, which is a relief as a contingency strategy. In the meantime
Vista has given up on me and now all I get on startup is:
"Verifying DMI Pool Data
Missing operating system"
following which the system just hangs.

So, I'm looking forward to receiving my Vista pack and maybe, just
maybe, bugging you guys again when it all turns to dross - let's hope
not.

Thanks again for a great forum help facility.

Rick Rogers;4015997 Wrote:
Hi,

Most systems are preset to boot from the optical drive. If you do need
to
change it, you'll have to do it in the sytem BIOS by depressing a key
during
the initial startup - before Windows begins to load. There should be a
line
to depress key to enter setup. If you have a manufacturer logo
screen,
simply hit escape to see the lines. The key varies by
manufacturer.

Essentially yes, all you need to do is boot the system with the disk
already
inserted. You don't actually have to boot it all the way to the logon
screen
and then restart, just insert the disk when you power up.

--
Best of Luck,

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

"Barnacle" wrote in message
...

Thank you all for these great tips.

Just so that I quite understand - please bear with a dumb jackass
with
little PC savvy - can you please confirm my actions when I have my
new
OS Vista DVD as the following:
1. Do a normal boot of my present system, which will suspend at the
password entry stage.
2. Insert the OS disk in the drive.
3. Shut down system with the Vista command.
4. Power up the PC.

Whereupon the boot will be driven from the DVD drive ??? Doesn't
this
need a change to the BIOS? If so, how can I change that? I sort of
remember using a function key on startup to access that many years
ago
on another computer - I don't have much in the way of documentation
with
this one.

Sorry for my limited knowledge - but that's why I'm here ...

Thanks in advance.

B.

http://forums.techarena.in



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Barnacle;4016363 Wrote:
Thanks Rick, it is very comforting to read your advice.

So, I'm looking forward to receiving my Vista pack and maybe, just
maybe, bugging you guys again when it all turns to dross - let's hope
not.

Thanks again for a great forum help facility.

The plot has thickened and I have to come back to ask for some more
advice.

The English language Vista arrived and I successfully installed, thanks
to all the excellent advice I received here.

However, the Acer Aspire L100 mini-desktop was a disaster, unable to
run the Pinnacle program for which I bought the system. The hardware
would just die on me due to power supply inadequacies and overheating; I
found on various forums many other sufferers of the multiple problems of
this machine - a total dog.

I found a local computer shop that made a decent offer to use the
Acer's AMD Athalon dual-core CPU and 320Gb hard disk in a new system
with decent PS and 4Gb memory. I should be picking up the system in the
next few days.

Now I find that I probably will not be able to re-install my new Vista
Ultimate that cost me big bucks and only ran a few days in the Acer, in
my new system - the product keys will have been registered with MS and
not be allowed to be further installed and activated.

Could someone clarify this disaster situation for me.

Thank You.


--
Barnacle
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"Barnacle" wrote in message
...

Barnacle;4016363 Wrote:
Thanks Rick, it is very comforting to read your advice.

So, I'm looking forward to receiving my Vista pack and maybe, just
maybe, bugging you guys again when it all turns to dross - let's hope
not.

Thanks again for a great forum help facility.

The plot has thickened and I have to come back to ask for some more
advice.

The English language Vista arrived and I successfully installed, thanks
to all the excellent advice I received here.

However, the Acer Aspire L100 mini-desktop was a disaster, unable to
run the Pinnacle program for which I bought the system. The hardware
would just die on me due to power supply inadequacies and overheating; I
found on various forums many other sufferers of the multiple problems of
this machine - a total dog.

I found a local computer shop that made a decent offer to use the
Acer's AMD Athalon dual-core CPU and 320Gb hard disk in a new system
with decent PS and 4Gb memory. I should be picking up the system in the
next few days.

Now I find that I probably will not be able to re-install my new Vista
Ultimate that cost me big bucks and only ran a few days in the Acer, in
my new system - the product keys will have been registered with MS and
not be allowed to be further installed and activated.

Could someone clarify this disaster situation for me.

Thank You.


--
Barnacle
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Install it and try to activate over the Internet.

If that fails, activate by telephone..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx