question reguarding genuine keys and reinstalling a OS

[IceShock]

Hello there.

Iv got a laptop that has Vista home basic and when i got the laptop few years ago, it didn't come with a vista disk stupidly but it has a genuine sticker and key stuck to it.

So my question is, if i download a copy of vista, will the key just be accepted when its installed, or does the key have to match the cd?

Thanks.

 

[IceShock]

So if i download a ISO of vista and insert the key it wont work just like that?

what sort of tool will i need to make it work or to match the iso to the key.

thanks

 

[IceShock]

Okay thanks chaps will give it a shot later on