Vista OEM

Damian^ · Aug 26, 2008

I heard that you dont necessarily have to buy another OEM disk when building another computer or switching motherboards (which is what i am doing). Like you could call Microsoft to reactivate it or something like that, just don't tell them your using it on a different computer?

Does anyone know what exactly i have to say or do to just use the same OEM disk?
I have an idea but..ehh not to sure

Mussels · Aug 26, 2008

Just tell them the motherboard failed, and that you got a new one.

Reassure them that its just the one PC, and its because it was repaired.

Damian^ · Aug 26, 2008

cool thanks man.

JC316 · Aug 26, 2008

I don't get it, I changed my complete setup, new mobo and all. Reformatted and still, I never got asked to activate it again or anything. Very happy about it too.

gerrynicol · Aug 26, 2008

My motherboard was on it's way out, swapped it out (current 1 in sig) installed Vista, got asked to activate went through the process with no issues

Wile E · Aug 26, 2008

It will activate a few times without having to call.

How about this, I bought a lappy with Home Premium 32bit on it. The lappy was killed by my girlfriend spilling a glass of wine on it.

I borrowed my dad's Retail x64 Vista disk, and installed it on the rig in my System Specs, using the key on the lappy. It activated without calling.

Not only completely different hardware, but also 64bit instead of 32.

gerrynicol · Aug 26, 2008

Wile E said:
It will activate a few times without having to call.

How about this, I bought a lappy with Home Premium 32bit on it. The lappy was killed by my girlfriend spilling a glass of wine on it.

I borrowed my dad's Retail x64 Vista disk, and installed it on the rig in my System Specs, using the key on the lappy. It activated without calling.

Not only completely different hardware, but also 64bit instead of 32.

I thought I had read somewhere that vista was going to be hardware locked(oem version anyway) I take it that was a load of B/S :rolleyes:

Wile E · Aug 26, 2008

gerrynicol said:
I thought I had read somewhere that vista was going to be hardware locked(oem version anyway) I take it that was a load of B/S

OEM XP is supposed to be that way too, but it isn't either. Vista is just a little harder to have installed on multiple machines, from what I gather.

Mussels · Aug 26, 2008

sometimes its locked sometimes it isnt, pretty random. I think its 3 activations before they start nagging you to call.

32 and 64 bit are irrelevant to the key, thank god.... 64 bit ftw.

Damian^ · Aug 26, 2008

Wile E said:
It will activate a few times without having to call.

How about this, I bought a lappy with Home Premium 32bit on it. The lappy was killed by my girlfriend spilling a glass of wine on it.

I borrowed my dad's Retail x64 Vista disk, and installed it on the rig in my System Specs, using the key on the lappy. It activated without calling.

Not only completely different hardware, but also 64bit instead of 32.

well with retail vista disks, they can be installed on multiple machines, but with OEM you cant (well at least that's what i thought)

DonInKansas · Aug 26, 2008

I didn't have to reactivate today going from AMD 5200+/Asus to MSI/E2180. Yay Vista!

qamulek · Aug 26, 2008

well with retail vista disks, they can be installed on multiple machines, but with OEM you cant (well at least that's what i thought)

I thought out of common sense that I could install both the 64bit and 32bit versions of vista on the same computer using one retail version. About two weeks after the dual boot intallation and activation I found both versions deactivated themselves. I re-read the EULA and found that you can't even install two versions on the same computer. Almost a month later and the 64bit version finally accepted an online activation, and I formated the 32bit version.

BTWWWW..... I used to like steam till I read their EULA. Although I don't cheat it scares me to think that steam can cancel your account[bye bye to all your games purchased] if they find you cheating in one of their online VAC games :twitch:

Makes me like direct2drive a lot more after reading their agreement.

Mussels · Aug 27, 2008

qamulek said:
I thought out of common sense that I could install both the 64bit and 32bit versions of vista on the same computer using one retail version. About two weeks after the dual boot intallation and activation I found both versions deactivated themselves. I re-read the EULA and found that you can't even install two versions on the same computer. Almost a month later and the 64bit version finally accepted an online activation, and I formated the 32bit version.

BTWWWW..... I used to like steam till I read their EULA. Although I don't cheat it scares me to think that steam can cancel your account[bye bye to all your games purchased] if they find you cheating in one of their online VAC games Makes me like direct2drive a lot more after reading their agreement.

after i've played several games and had to suffer with online cheaters (mostly older FPS games, everyones played a CSS game with cheaters before) i'm glad they ban them. I'd never even think of using a hack on a legit game online, so i feel quite safe there.

AsRock · Aug 27, 2008

My XP pro x64 installed on it's second machine with out issue's. IF the OS is of a company like DELL Compac it will likely be a different story.

Wile E · Aug 27, 2008

Damian^ said:
well with retail vista disks, they can be installed on multiple machines, but with OEM you cant (well at least that's what i thought)

It's not the disk that matters, is the license key.

System Name	Quad Damage
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Motherboard	MSI 785GM-E65
Cooling	Thermaltake Contac 29
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Storage	Seagate 250GB 7200RPM/Hitatchi 500GB
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System Name	Quad Damage
Processor	AMD Phenom II x4 965
Motherboard	MSI 785GM-E65
Cooling	Thermaltake Contac 29
Memory	DDR3 6gb 1533Mhz
Video Card(s)	9800gt (HD4200 for now)
Storage	Seagate 250GB 7200RPM/Hitatchi 500GB
Display(s)	Acer AL2216 22" (1680X1050)
Case	Antec 300
Power Supply	Corsair VX550W
Software	Vista Home Premium 64bit

System Name	Budget Gaming
Processor	AMD FX6300
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Vista OEM

Damian^

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Mussels

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Damian^

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JC316

Knows what makes you tick

gerrynicol

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Wile E

Power User

gerrynicol

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Wile E

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Mussels

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Damian^

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DonInKansas

qamulek

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Mussels

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AsRock

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Wile E

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