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COMMENTS

How To Get A Windows Vista RC1 Product Key


An anonymous tipster emailed me this morning saying that you can get your Vista RC1 product key now. After looking at their instructions I realized that this may not be the way Microsoft intended for people to receive a product key but it is going through them to get it, so it isn’t illegal. Here are the few quick steps you need to follow:

  1. Go to this site.
  2. Login with your Live.com account.
  3. Fill out the form.
  4. A key will be displayed on the screen and emailed to you. They will also show you the download links for RC1.
  5. That’s it!

I tried it and it worked great. I had my product key in less than 30-seconds but you better get them while they’re available.

CyberNotes: The Funniest Firefox Extensions Firefox 2 RC1 And Firefox 1.5.0.7 Release Dates September 13th, 2006 Written by Ryan
  1. PierreSeptember 13, 2006 at 8:18 am

    I installed vista rc1 last week and i used at that time my beta 2 key and it was working right. I was able to activate without any trouble.
    By the way, anyone know the meaning of the system rating ? Is it on 10 or else, i searched everywhere and i found nothing about it …. (the worst part of my pc is the cpu with 4.1, i have a Amd 64 3500 ….) oh well, the next one will be a quad core …. mac :P )

    Reply
  2. RyanAuthorSeptember 13, 2006 at 8:29 am

    If you had a Beta 2 key to use then you are fine, some people never signed up for Beta 2 though.

    The rating system is from 0 to 5. It is really just to help guide you on things that you can upgrade to make your PC better. The video card is a pretty big factor in what makes your rating higher. My dual-core desktop got a 3 and my laptop only got a 1 :(

    Reply
  3. OldManDeathAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 8:46 am

    Thanks for the information Ryan. I got my RC1 key. Now I will have to run home at lunch and download it. Good think I only live 3/4 mile from work. :mrgreen:

    Reply
  4. RyanAuthorSeptember 13, 2006 at 9:08 am

    If you’re lucky you might be able to get the 2.6GB download done by tonight so that you can play with it when you get home from work :)

    Reply
  5. Radu CapanAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 9:25 am

    Yep, working! I get a key!

    Reply
  6. PierreSeptember 13, 2006 at 9:31 am

    Are you sure it’s on 5 because my video card got a 5.2 ?

    Reply
  7. OldManDeathAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 9:43 am
    Ryan wrote:
    If you’re lucky you might be able to get the 2.6GB download done by tonight so that you can play with it when you get home from work :)

    Hopefully it should.

    Reply
  8. OldManDeathAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:23 am

    Well, I now have both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions downloading.

    I have an AMD 64 bit Dual Core CPU, so I think I will install the 64 bit version.

    Any ideas on this? Should I install the 32 or 64 bit version?

    Reply
  9. RyanAuthorSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:27 am

    That is a tough call. I have a dual-core machine which means I can use the 64-bit version as well but I have read about several driver issues that people have had. I haven’t tried that version myself so I am not sure though.

    Reply
  10. PierreSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:38 am

    I installed XP 64 bit on my amd 64 3500 for a while last june and i ran back to 32 bit XP because of a lack for drivers support. If your machine doesn’t used common hardware you will have tough luck.
    The other point is also the rarity of 64 bit software. So for now, i am back in the 32 bit world of Xp

    Reply
  11. OldManDeathAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:41 am

    I was thinking about trying the 64 bit version first because I can always wipe it and go back to the 32 bit version if it has issues.

    I would assume that 32 bit software would work ok, just would not be able to take advantage of the 64 bit OS features.

    Reply
  12. OldManDeathAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:44 am

    Oh yeah…

    Anyone have any idea how long the RC1 keys will be good for? I would assume that they expire after a certain period of time. Either that or the RC1 release itself.

    Reply
  13. PierreSeptember 13, 2006 at 10:52 am

    I would assume that 32 bit software would work ok, just would not be able to take advantage of the 64 bit OS features.

    exactly, so no true use of the 64 bits….

    the RC1 have a life of 9 month (my copy expired in june 1007)

    Reply
  14. Inferno_str1keAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 11:00 am

    I have heard much negative press of both XP and Vista 64-bit versions. I’ve had a 64 bit processor for over a year and a half and I’ve yet to try due to the apparent hassle it can cause. I hear of no real advantages anyway.

    Reply
  15. bloodsugarwilksmSeptember 13, 2006 at 11:26 am

    I downloaded Vista and got the RC1 product key, thanks for the tip Ryan!

    Question though here’s my setup:

    Dell Dimension 4550
    P4 2.4 GHz CPU
    64MB nVidia Graphics Card (bleh)
    768MB of RAM

    Question is – Even though Upgrade Advisor says I can run Vista, do YOU think it will work on my computer if I just change the Aero Interface to basic?? Everything else seems to be fine except my graphics card so just wondering…

    Reply
  16. DeanSeptember 13, 2006 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks for passing this information on. Works fine.

    Reply
  17. ShivaranjanSeptember 13, 2006 at 12:52 pm

    Great find Ryan. It really worked for me and I am currently downloading the iso files. :D

    Reply
  19. mediaphileSeptember 13, 2006 at 2:18 pm
    bloodsugarwilksm wrote:
    I downloaded Vista and got the RC1 product key, thanks for the tip Ryan!

    Question though here’s my setup:

    Dell Dimension 4550
    P4 2.4 GHz CPU
    64MB nVidia Graphics Card (bleh)
    768MB of RAM

    Question is – Even though Upgrade Advisor says I can run Vista, do YOU think it will work on my computer if I just change the Aero Interface to basic?? Everything else seems to be fine except my graphics card so just wondering…

    i’m running vista on a dell, 2.2ghz, 1gb ram, 64mb ati radeon, and to be honest, it runs a little slow, but i think that has more to do with my gfx card, and that it’s a celeron chip. you’ll probably be fine if yours is a pentium, though you still won’t be able to run aero.

    Reply
  21. RyanAuthorSeptember 13, 2006 at 3:23 pm
    bloodsugarwilksm wrote:
    I downloaded Vista and got the RC1 product key, thanks for the tip Ryan!

    Question though here’s my setup:

    Dell Dimension 4550
    P4 2.4 GHz CPU
    64MB nVidia Graphics Card (bleh)
    768MB of RAM

    Question is – Even though Upgrade Advisor says I can run Vista, do YOU think it will work on my computer if I just change the Aero Interface to basic?? Everything else seems to be fine except my graphics card so just wondering…

    I am running Vista on a laptop that just has an Intel 32MB integrated card, and the basic theme runs like a champ. I notice a minimal speed decrease.

    You have to watch for incompatible software though, that can slow your system down as well.

    Reply
  22. Radu CapanAll-StarSeptember 13, 2006 at 3:30 pm
    OldManDeath wrote:
    Anyone have any idea how long the RC1 keys will be good for? I would assume that they expire after a certain period of time. Either that or the RC1 release itself.

    RC1 release is “on” till June 1, 2007, if I remember well. The key… I don’t know.

    Reply
  23. AjayAll-StarSeptember 14, 2006 at 9:30 am

    Thanks for the link Ryan. Got my RC1 code finally :)

    Reply
  24. AnonymousOctober 5, 2006 at 6:54 am

    how long will this key work?

    Reply
  25. RyanAuthorOctober 5, 2006 at 8:03 am

    It will work on all Vista releases up to the one that gets released but I believe they expire 6-months after installation or June 2007, whichever comes first.

    Reply
  26. wolfNovember 7, 2006 at 9:56 pm

    :twisted:
    is there a key or activation for rc1 or rc2 that is permanent?

    Reply
  27. vickyNovember 27, 2006 at 4:37 am

    I Know All The Things About 98 To Vista RC-1
    I Know All The Things About x86 To Quad-Core
    From Childhood To Adult.
    Its My Pleasure That If I Found The Vista RC-1 Key

    Reply
  28. SLAAll-StarNovember 27, 2006 at 11:00 am

    This sounds like poetry, blank verse :)

    Reply
  29. RyanAuthorNovember 27, 2006 at 11:59 am
    SLA wrote:
    This sounds like poetry, blank verse :)

    I needed a Monday morning laugh. :D

    Reply
  30. FrankNovember 27, 2006 at 4:22 pm

    I downloaded the RC1 ISO. Tried to set it up on MS Virtual Server. Everything goes swimmingly until gets to the end of the “Windows is downloading files” progress bar. That’s where it hangs. Has anybody else had this problem????

    Reply
  31. NebunuFebruary 8, 2007 at 6:40 pm

    I got the product key. Can I use it with the Vista Home Premium Edition or the Vista Ultimate Edition. What does RC1 and RC2 stand for?

    Thanks :)

    Reply
  32. benSeptember 20, 2007 at 10:48 am

    :cry: please help indesperate need of a windows vista productkey the one they gave me didnt work! :cry: help!!

    Reply
  33. WakeelNovember 11, 2007 at 4:29 am

    Please help. My laptop is down I need a product key for windows vista business. Urgently! :cry:

    Reply
  34. JoeJanuary 30, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    lolllllllllll the ben guy is pretty damn funny. If they key “they” gave you didn’t work, then why in the heck did you not call them back to let them know ???? hahaha nice try ben !

    Reply
  35. NaZJuly 30, 2008 at 3:51 am

    i want a Key but i cant see any link which u pasted Ryan… its giving *This Site* not showing link plzz help

    Reply
  36. walJanuary 4, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    i tried the website and it says the page does not exit. can someone help me

    Reply
  37. AnonymousAugust 13, 2009 at 8:02 am

    need a full version vista product key

    Reply
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    Reply