So I received my XP Pro OEMO + Vista Upgrade. Couple of Qs

[Schnitzel]

Hey all.

Hope you don't mind me asking a couple of questions here, I'm a bit confused.

I'm a home user, but I do sort of work building up/repairing computers, but as of yet there is no registered company.

I ordered XP Pro (OEM) + Free* Vista Upgrade from your site yesterday and it's just arrived (so welldone on the superfast delivery!).
Also with my order was 2 CD drives.
So on my invoice which I received (stapled to the Vista upgrade form) is my Aria receipt with the XP Pro/Vista, a CD RW drive and a DVDROM drive.

On reading the form, I get the impression that a computer system has to have been purchased with this OEM XP Preinstalled. It also says at the top, For distribution only with a qualifying new PC preloaded with XP Pro.

Am I entitled to this upgrade? It seemed like it when I was purchasing the product, which is esentially why I purchased it, to get Vista at a reduced price.

The second thing is on this Vista redemption form, there's various numbers. I have a \"Redemption Form Number\" in a box on the top right of the page, and 2 smaller numbers at the bottom of the paper.
I went through the online producure as explained on the form, and it asked me to specify whether my redemption form is serialized or not.

Well I wasn't sure, so I said Yes and tried filling it all in with each of the 3 different numbers, none of which could be verified. So I guess it isn't a serialized form?

So I started again, selecting no (to the serialized question) this time, and it said I'll be able to fill the form in on November 13th.

I'd be really grateful of some clarification as to whether I'll be able to qualify for the Free* vista upgrade based on what I've said here.
As I say, on my Aria receipt, it's not a PC that's been purchased - it's 2 OEM optical drives.

I've not opened the XP OEM packet or installed etc, so if I'm not entitled to the upgrade (which I certainly hope isn't the case, as I received the impression I was when purchasing!), would I be able to return it?
Hopefully it won't come to that though.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advnance

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[Schnitzel]

^Hey, thanks for the reply

I may well do that, but I'll give it a day or so first =)

[Biodoid]

to buy XP oem as far as I know all you have to do is buy a bit of pc hardware at same time i.e hard drive, cd drive etc even a cheap mouse or keyboard qualifies :wink:

So your fine for the vista upgrade as for the other question I have no idea

[Schnitzel]

I was thinking that too.

So when MS receive my Aria invoice, and only see XP/Vista + CD drives, they'll send me the Vista disc no questions asked?

[David]

[quote:657b58c996=\"Biodoid\"]to buy XP oem as far as I know all you have to do is buy a bit of pc hardware at same time i.e hard drive, cd drive etc even a cheap mouse or keyboard qualifies :wink:
[/quote:657b58c996]

That was the case with the old Microsoft OEM software license, but that requirement was relaxed in August 2005
(http://oem.microsoft.com/script/cont...?pageid=555654)

Now the Windows XP OEM packs can be sold without accompanying Hardware as long as they are sold unopened and to a System Builder. Note that 'System Builder' is not tightly defined so could cover anyone building a computer.

I'm afraid the Vista upgrade scheme is not something I know much about so I'll wait and see if someone else can answer that part of the question

[Schnitzel]

Thanks for the info about the OEM stuff, I didn't realise the policy had changed, but its certainly a change for the better!

I'm also wondering whether I should use my name on the MS Form, as well as my name that's already on the invoice I got from Aria.

Have got a couple of days to find out before the site opens for submissions anyhow.

However, could you confirm whether or not the Vista Upg form I received from Aria was a serialized one or not?

[Schnitzel]

Could anyone confirm whether the upgrade form is serialized or not please?

I've not yet filled in the website, and am unsure.
Ty.

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[Hosser]

After waiting until November 6th for the Upgrade Redemption Site (https://upgradeweb.moduslink.com/vista) to open, only to find that I would have to wait another week (Microsoft surreptitiously changed the page to say that the site would open on Nov 13th, not the 6th as was originally intended) I started to get a little peeved by this whole process.

So I waited until the 13th (today) and attempted to access the site once again. I told the website I had a \"Serialised Upgrade Redemption Form\" and that I was from the UK, before clicking the Vista banner.

After telling the system what software I was currently using (Windows XP Professional, EN) I was presented with a few text boxes for me to type in my Upgrade Redemption Form number, and the 14-digit COA number that came with my Windows XP OEM package.

Now, the latter was no problem, but I could only find one number which could be the Upgrade Redemption Form number, located in the top-right of the coupon. After entering this I was slightly worried by the fact that it was one digit too long. Odd. I dismissed this and clicked the Next button.

Bang. A nice red error telling me that my Upgrade Redemption Form number could not be \"confirmed\". I was really quite worried by this stage, and I thought I'd check out the comments on the item itself on Aria, and these forums for help.

I found this topic, and was slightly comforted by Schnitzel's pointing out of the fact that we may not have \"Serialised\" forms.

So I visited the site once more, and this time told the site that I did NOT have a serialised form. I then clicked the Vista banner, and to m annoyance the site threw this at me:

\"Thank You for your interest in the Upgrade Redemption website. We apologize for the inconvenience and anticipate this website will be available to accept your redemption on November 13, 2006. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service.\"

But it IS the 13th of November!! - I tried this several times, once last night at around half-past midnight, then again today from 9am onwards.

Generally I find Microsoft are excellent in terms of ease of use, but this... They've made a real pig's ear of this upgrade procedure. I don't know who Modus Link are, but they need to get their act together.

[Schnitzel]

Hosser,

I get the exact same things as you just described.
The code in the top right box is slightly too long, and it invalid anyway, as are any of the other numbers on the form that could be interpreted as serial numbers.

Just out of interest, did you purchase your copy of OEM XP + Vista Coupon with a complete new PC?
I didn't, but I hope the upgrade option is available.

[Hosser]

[quote:bb535f6db0=\"Schnitzel\"]Hosser,

I get the exact same things as you just described.
The code in the top right box is slightly too long, and it invalid anyway, as are any of the other numbers on the form that could be interpreted as serial numbers.

Just out of interest, did you purchase your copy of OEM XP + Vista Coupon with a complete new PC?
I didn't, but I hope the upgrade option is available.[/quote:bb535f6db0]

No, Schnitzel I purchased the Windows XP Professional OEM Package alone, to install on a PC I built in September 2006, but not to worry - we're still eligible for the upgrade.

I guess all we can do is wait for the non-serialized upgrade page to let us in. I'm going to keep trying today and tonight, and if I can't complete the upgrade procedure tomorrow I'll try email and phone contact with Modus Link. I'll keep checking the page today and if it lets me in I'll post full instructions here. ; D

* EDIT * At midnight last night the message changed to:

Thank You for your interest in the Upgrade Redemption website. We apologize for the inconvenience and anticipate this website will be available to accept your redemption on November 20, 2006. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service.

So they've put it back another week. If Vista itself wasn't delayed enough, now the upgrade procedure seems to be following in its footsteps.

Who reckons they'll put it back to November 27th next week? :wink:

[dab1630]

Having investigated this, e-mailed Aria and Moduslink with no reply from either , it seems it may be a problem with the Serial numbers linked to oem software upgrades.

Forums on American sites are reporting the same problems and their is a suggestion Microsoft may resolve it next week, on or about 21/11.

It would be nice for a someone/anyone who is selling these offers to let their customers know what is happening.

[Schnitzel]

I'd actually emailed the address on the site asking why my redemption number was being rejected etc, and they have said:

Dear Mr. Allen,

Thank you for contacting the Upgrade Redemption Support Centre.

We are constantly upgrading the upgrade redemption site to bring you a more
pleasant experience.

During this period, you may experience some issues with your serialized
redemption number.
Please use this serialized redemption number : <snip> and
re-submit your order at our upgrade redemption website.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Should you have further
enquiries, please contact us again.

Best regards,
Microsoft Customer Support

I'll try this out later, I'm somewhat sceptical that it will be rejected as now the number I'd submit on the website would not match the one I have on the form that I'll be posting.

Perhaps i'll include a printout of their email with the form.

[Schnitzel]

I must say, I really am losing my patience with this now.

It accepted the new number MS gave me. I proceeded to enter my payment information (which I entered correctly, and double-checked), only to be told that my payment couldn't be verified.

Thinking I'd misentered some of the payment info, I started again - only to be told that my coupon (the one MS issued in the email) had already been used and to contact customer service!

This really is incompetence at the highest level.
I'm beginning to regret purchasing this, perhaps I should have just waited for Vista OEM to surface.