noob windows question

**maximusarian** · July 20, 2007, 01:41 PM

as you these days they dont offer the CD of the windows thats is already installed in yor laptop when you buy a new one.ok I paid 150$ more to recieve the CD of the windows vista premium that is already installed on my new laptop.

well anyway can I use that CD to install windows vista on my older laptop or is windows one computer per one CD(CD key)or can I use it at the same time that is operating in the new one to operate on my other laptop too.
and if it is one computer per CD then how can I transfer this windows from this laptop possibly to a desktop?should I uninstall first and then install on the other one or can I have both at the same time
I expect moderator not to close this cause it has nothing illegal in it

**Erik** · July 20, 2007, 02:43 PM

It's one computer per CD.
And you aren't allowed to transfer it to a different computer either. (so every time you buy a new computer you'll need a new copy of Vista).
Sometimes you even need a new copy after a hardware upgrade.

It's a real pain.

**Freddie** · July 20, 2007, 02:47 PM

Know one is going to close this thread unless someone grasses on us.

If you have OEM version of Vista you will only be able to install on one computer or in your case a laptop, OEM windows is sort of like the disposable version of windows i.e. use once then throw it away. If you have the retail version you can install one version of it on any one machine at anyone time, i.e. if you latter decide to change your laptop you will have to uninstall Vista first before you can install it on another machine.

Originally Posted by Erik

Sometimes you even need a new copy after a hardware upgrade.

It's a real pain.

I think the rule is (at least with Vista OWM) that you change any componant in your computer as long as it not the motherboard, as that is viewed as a brand new computer, however you don't get this problem if you buy a retial copy....or hack it, which is a no, no.

**maximusarian** · July 20, 2007, 03:30 PM

how can I know if my copy is OEM(what is this anyway) or not??

and BTW REP for both of you guys

and can I use the CD to reinstall the vista on the original laptop in case itr had any problem??

Triple post merged ~sapi

**Freddie** · July 20, 2007, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by maximusarian

and BTW REP for both of you guys

Originally Posted by maximusarian

how can I know if my copy is OEM(what is this anyway) or not??

Originally Posted by maximusarian

and can I use the CD to reinstall the vista on the original laptop in case itr had any problem??

Thanks for the rep.

Have a look on the Vista box, or better still look at the invoice it should say whether its OEM or retial.

Yes you can use it to reinstall windows if there is a problem, that applies to both OEM and retial.

**sapi** · July 20, 2007, 09:00 PM

OEM copies are locked to one computer.

They may remain with that computer, including reinstalling and the like, as long as the hardware has not significantly changed.

**spartan_phalanx** · July 20, 2007, 09:31 PM

My experience with Vista Ultimate 64-bit oem was I had to reactivate after updating my bios, but when I just updated my motherboard (same board, new revision) I didn't have to do anything.

**sapi** · July 21, 2007, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by spartan_phalanx

My experience with Vista Ultimate 64-bit oem was I had to reactivate after updating my bios, but when I just updated my motherboard (same board, new revision) I didn't have to do anything.

Did you physically change your board or just the drivers?

Even if the board itself was removed during a rebuild, Microsoft is usually nice enough to let you use the key, after you ring up, as long as the majority of the hardware is still original.

**spartan_phalanx** · July 23, 2007, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by sapi

Did you physically change your board or just the drivers?

Yes I swapped the motherboard out completely. I had the EVGA 680i AR version bought back in February, due to lack of OC'ing support for quad cores and some other minors bugs I decided to RMA it as per EVGA's suggestion and get their updated version, EVGA 680i A1.

Now a couple months back I update the bios and was shown the little activation bubble after restart. It connected automatically and I didn't have any problems activating it.

I have fully installed it 3 times on this computer due to various reasons, primarily due to mucking up the video drivers.

**Aristocrat** · July 21, 2007, 06:17 AM

As said Vista OEM is for use on one computer only, ever. You can reinstall on that computer, and can change everything but the motherboard (which begs the question...why should you have to shell out for a new CD if your motherboard dies).

Normal Vista versions, which typically cost $200+ more than OEM versions, can be reinstalled on any computer, but not activated on more than one computer at a time.

I have a question, while we are on the topic of Vista. I have a downloaded (legal academic) version of Vista business, I have the ISO's of all the cds (5 CDs). When I go to enter the key supplied, I get the "Setup has encountered an error and needs to close" message, nor can I just leave the key area empty and enter it after installation (setup just won't move foward).

Is this possibly because I am installing from the files on my computer and not an actual CD/DVD?

**sapi** · July 21, 2007, 06:47 AM

Possibly?

Can't help you much there - didn't even know vista came on CDs

**Aristocrat** · July 23, 2007, 06:12 AM

I figured it out. The downloadable microsoft tool for mounting virtual drives is a piece of junk.

Daemon Tools means I now have Vista. (In a dual boot set up with XP so I can play both old DX9 games on DX9 (properly), and new DX10 games in DX10 (as properly as you can on Vista...no EAX wtf).).