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Thread: Vista license question
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09-26-09, 06:13 PM #1
Vista license question
I own a retail disc (full, not upgrade) copy of Vista Ultimate which I use on my desktop.
I just got a laptop with an OEM license for Vista Home Premium, which came pre-installed on it, but with no install disc. The first thing I did when I got the laptop was create "recovery discs" (which is an image of the entire HDD from the factory) and then format the drive. I played around with Win7 RC1 for a while but now I am trying to go back to Vista, without having to use the recovery image since it's full of bloatware. I installed Vista from the Ultimate CD but put in the Home Premium key that is intended for the laptop, which I had heard would work. Indeed, it knew it was a Home Premium key as it installed Home Premium rather than Ultimate, which is what I wanted to happen. But now it won't activate.
I am sure I can start over and re-use my recovery discs, but that is not the point. I own a license to Vista, and if I want ONLY Vista installed on this lappy HDD (and not a bunch of stupid bloatware) from a clean start... I can't do it?
Any insight here? The MS tech on the phone sounded like an idiot but basically said it's not possible and I need to use my recovery discs, which is exactly what I don't want to do.
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09-26-09, 06:27 PM #2
Re: Vista license question
It's very possible to use that key for a fresh installation of Vista. My desktop installation of Vista Home Premium is from an OEM Vista key on a laptop that died on me a while back.
What "wont activate" exactly? Did you go through the call in process with the automated systems at Microsoft where they just spit out a long string of characters? It's been a while since I have reformatted so my memory might be a bit foggy on the process...
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09-26-09, 06:52 PM #4
Re: Vista license question
Ha Quick, I guess I fucked up by trusting an MS tech to answer me properly.
Here's what happened. Before posting, I did go through the automated 48 digit number entry, and then it said it couldn't be activated, and had to transfer me to a person. So, when he started asking me for the 48 numbers, I was like, look I already typed them all in, before we go through all 48 again, can I just explain what I'm trying to do and see if it is legit? So he listened and said, no that should not work.
Well, after your post I called back and this time just listed all 48 numbers verbally (after trying keypad version and failing again) and they guy responded back with another 48 numbers verbally, and now I am activated. What a bunch of BS.
If I reformat this same PC again, use the same disc and same key... will I have to go through this same 48 number bullshit again?
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09-26-09, 07:31 PM #5Re: Vista license question
I've reinstalled my old laptop 2 or 3 times using the Vista Home Premium OEM disk I purchased from Newegg. I used the key that came on the decal on the laptop itself. I couldn't activate it online, but it activated just fine over the phone. I just went through the automated system. Never once was hassled by anyone. One time I talked to a person after putting in my 'challange key' and indicated I was installing Vista back onto the laptop after downgrading to XP.
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