Error message when you try to use an upgrade product key to install Windows Vista from the Windows Vista DVD: "To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your existing version of Windows"

When you try to use an upgrade product key to install Windows Vista from the Windows Vista DVD, you may receive the following message:

To use an upgrade product key, Setup.exe must be run within an existing operating system that meets the upgrade compliancy check. For example, Windows XP meets the upgrade compliancy check. Therefore, Setup.exe can be run within Windows XP.

Note There is no prompt to insert a compliant CD or DVD of the legacy operating system that allows for setup to continue.

To resolve this issue, start the existing copy of Windows, run setup, and then enter the upgrade product key. If you do not have an existing copy of Windows that is available on the computer, you must reinstall a legacy copy of Windows that meets the compliancy check. Or, you can obtain a full package product key, and then you can install Windows Vista from the Windows Vista DVD.

Upgrade media is the compliance checking product (CCP).

The full packaged product (FPP) does not require an upgrade compliancy check. The Windows Vista Retail media contains all the stock keeping units (SKUs).

The CCP media and FPP media are the same except for the product key.