Thread: 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.

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...

Guess :

Right click > My Computer (Properties)

Scroll to bottom, Change CD-Key. - Insert key here.

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?

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.

Yeah, I'd never ask one of those phone activation guys something is okay... They never seem to know what they are talking about.

Glad to hear you got it all sorted out though. :9