Clean Vista install WITH NO ACTIVATION

[kubel]

Excellent guide. Worked flawlessly!

[tac7t]

I can't find OEMCert on my brand new DV2500 either. Has anyone been able to?

[tac7t]

Will this method work for me?

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
(Installing Vista twice from the upgrade CD, activating the second time?)

If so any idea which product key I would use? Bottom of the laptop? The one found in the control panel? Or something dug up with one of the programs in this thread?

I already made recovery discs, so the worst thing that could happen would just be starting over with those again right....?

[anchor]

thanks dude, it completely works for my laptop.

[orev]

Will this method work for me?

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
(Installing Vista twice from the upgrade CD, activating the second time?)

If so any idea which product key I would use? Bottom of the laptop? The one found in the control panel? Or something dug up with one of the programs in this thread?

I already made recovery discs, so the worst thing that could happen would just be starting over with those again right....?

Sure, you could do that, but why would you want to? If you really want to spend 2x as long doing the install, then have a system with some garbage left on the drive instead of a clean install, go ahead .

I don't really see a reason why you would want to do that (based on what's in this guide), and I can't really speculate which serials you would use to make it work.

There's always the recovery disks, so yes, you can recover. Just make sure you backup your data!

[tac7t]

Sure, you could do that, but why would you want to? If you really want to spend 2x as long doing the install, then have a system with some garbage left on the drive instead of a clean install, go ahead .

I don't really see a reason why you would want to do that (based on what's in this guide), and I can't really speculate which serials you would use to make it work.

There's always the recovery disks, so yes, you can recover. Just make sure you backup your data!

Oh I didn't want to do it. My new DV2500 doesn't have an OEMCert folder. Oh well. It worked. What junk would be left? I deleted the windows.old directory?

[orev]

If you used the serial on the bottom of your laptop, it should work fine the first time without going through the 2nd reinstall for the "upgrade trick". That trick really shouldn't come into play here at all. If you use the serial on the sticker, the main difference is you'll need to activate somehow, either on the Internet or by calling Microsoft.

[R4000]

Nice guide and it will definitely come in handy when I get my new lappy. Boomarked.

[strategist333]

Anyone know if this method will work (or has worked) for the dv2000z series (specifically, dv2310us)? Thanks

[versachi]

I don't think there's an OEMCert folder in the dv2500t. I'm just not finding any trace of it.

Once my dv9500 arrives, I'll see if it's on there too. Maybe they found my guide and removed it!

I got my dv9500 today and its not there???? and no anytime upgrade disc