Unfortunately, I was impatient when ordering components to build a new system and intentionally bought OEM WinXP MCE with the "Express Upgrade" version of Vista, rather than wait two more weeks for Newegg to stock Vista directly; I never really intended to install WinXP, and brought home a downloaded copy of Vista from a colleague with an MSDN account to build my new machine. What I failed to realize was that the "Express Upgrade" was not really a full version, but the upgrade installation that requires WinXP to first be installed. Therefore, after waiting over 10 weeks to get my shiny, fully legitimate version of Vista in the mail (after finding out how to push out activation in order to keep the computer running), I was greeted upon trying to activate with the dreaded "This product code is not worthy of your installed version...".
I've tried to contact MS support to describe my dilema and ask for some slack, but every avenue I try ends with paying a $49 support fee, because I don't have an activated version of Windows... Is there any advice out there? Has anyone else that actually paid for their software run into the same type of issues?

Hi,
You'll have to do an in-place upgrade installation with your disk and Product Key. It will not activate unless it's been used to upgrade with the type of disk it comes with. OEM, retail, etc., are generally not interchangeable versions.
Best of Luck,
Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP mvp.support.microsoft.com/ Windows help - rickrogers.org My thoughts rick-mvp.blogspot.com
"JWayman"

You can legitimately do a clean install using an upgrade DVD, follow the instructions carefully here winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp
"JWayman" wrote: