Vista licensing question

Donoh · 03-01-2009, 02:30 PM

I purchased a used computer with a wiped hard drive and a product key for Vista Home Premium stuck to the side of the case.

To do a clean/fresh install is it as simple as obtaining a copy of the media and pluging in the product key (on the side of the case) or must I purchase a copy of the OS (and corresponding product key)?

part 2: If the answer above is that I must purchase, will an OEM version (from NewEgg for example) suffice or must it be a retail version? The price difference caused me to ask this question.

Thanks in advance,
-Donoh

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crabby · 03-02-2009, 06:55 AM

It depends whether you bought the license to the software. As the sticker is attached to the computer, you can presume the sofware was OEM. And if the software was OEM a stipulation fo the agreement is it is for a single system.

Therefore, I believe you have bought the license with the computer and as such, if you can get a copy of Vista you can install using that key legitimately.

HOWEVER, if the person you bought this off has tried to keep the license (by isntalling to another computer with it and then activating it over the phone) you may have problems activating the software on-line. If you do, I would call Microsoft to get your activation code... As soon as you state your position, they will activate your Vista as you now own the hardware which the OEM software is licensed to.

If any of this goes wrong and they will not allow you to activate it, then you can just purchase a new OEM license. This would then only be linked to this computer. If you buy a retail copy, you can transfer it to another computer.

crabby

wolfie · 04-19-2009, 03:37 PM

I have a similar question regarding a Vista OEM product! i have decided to upgrade and will sell all my old computer parts, i would like to then use my OEM Vista to install on my new PC! Can i do this?

felix8406 · 04-20-2009, 08:11 AM

You can try. One thing to remember though is that OEM licensing is dealt with by the manufacture and not by Microsoft. You may not be able to register your OEM because it has been registered for the PC you are trying to sell. When calling Microsoft they might (in most cases will) ask you to call your manufacture.

crabby · 04-20-2009, 12:35 PM

OEM licenses are non-transferable, so you aren't legally allowed to transfer the license. When you install Vista on the new machine you wont be able to activate the product online, but if you call them they will most likely give you a code. Then the OEM license will apply to the new system.

It's wierd, it's not transferable but they will transfer it. :scared: Basically, it's not the 'right' thing to do, but if you aren't duplicating the license on both the old and new systems they're usually happy people.

crabby

sifa123 · 07-28-2009, 10:47 PM

HOWEVER, if the person you bought this off has tried to keep the license (by isntalling to another computer with it and then activating it over the phone) you may have problems activating the software on-line. If you do, I would call Microsoft to get your activation code... As soon as you state your position, they will activate your Vista as you now own the hardware which the OEM software is licensed to.
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03-01-2009, 02:30 PM	#1
Donoh Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1	Vista licensing question I purchased a used computer with a wiped hard drive and a product key for Vista Home Premium stuck to the side of the case. To do a clean/fresh install is it as simple as obtaining a copy of the media and pluging in the product key (on the side of the case) or must I purchase a copy of the OS (and corresponding product key)? part 2: If the answer above is that I must purchase, will an OEM version (from NewEgg for example) suffice or must it be a retail version? The price difference caused me to ask this question. Thanks in advance, -Donoh
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03-02-2009, 06:55 AM	#2
crabby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salisbury, UK Posts: 2,355	It depends whether you bought the license to the software. As the sticker is attached to the computer, you can presume the sofware was OEM. And if the software was OEM a stipulation fo the agreement is it is for a single system. Therefore, I believe you have bought the license with the computer and as such, if you can get a copy of Vista you can install using that key legitimately. HOWEVER, if the person you bought this off has tried to keep the license (by isntalling to another computer with it and then activating it over the phone) you may have problems activating the software on-line. If you do, I would call Microsoft to get your activation code... As soon as you state your position, they will activate your Vista as you now own the hardware which the OEM software is licensed to. If any of this goes wrong and they will not allow you to activate it, then you can just purchase a new OEM license. This would then only be linked to this computer. If you buy a retail copy, you can transfer it to another computer. crabby
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04-19-2009, 03:37 PM	#3
wolfie Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 15	I have a similar question regarding a Vista OEM product! i have decided to upgrade and will sell all my old computer parts, i would like to then use my OEM Vista to install on my new PC! Can i do this?
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04-20-2009, 08:11 AM	#4
felix8406 ABXpert Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,628	You can try. One thing to remember though is that OEM licensing is dealt with by the manufacture and not by Microsoft. You may not be able to register your OEM because it has been registered for the PC you are trying to sell. When calling Microsoft they might (in most cases will) ask you to call your manufacture. __________________ Your site for Free Always software: [URL="http://http://www.softdorm.com/"]http://http://www.softdorm.com/[/URL]
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04-20-2009, 12:35 PM	#5
crabby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salisbury, UK Posts: 2,355	OEM licenses are non-transferable, so you aren't legally allowed to transfer the license. When you install Vista on the new machine you wont be able to activate the product online, but if you call them they will most likely give you a code. Then the OEM license will apply to the new system. It's wierd, it's not transferable but they will transfer it. :scared: Basically, it's not the 'right' thing to do, but if you aren't duplicating the license on both the old and new systems they're usually happy people. crabby
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07-28-2009, 10:47 PM	#6
sifa123 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 51	HOWEVER, if the person you bought this off has tried to keep the license (by isntalling to another computer with it and then activating it over the phone) you may have problems activating the software on-line. If you do, I would call Microsoft to get your activation code... As soon as you state your position, they will activate your Vista as you now own the hardware which the OEM software is licensed to. ___________________________ managed services email Werbemittel
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