question reguarding genuine keys and reinstalling a OS

IceShock · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:16

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.

SiriusB · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:18

Generally you will need an OEM DVD from the manufacturer for it to work. Though generic OEM media may also work too.

Another option is to make your own by getting a Retail ISO and using the ei.cfg removal tool.

robinbredin · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:20

The key has to match the version of Vista, apart from that, if you can download Vista, or borrow a OEM disc, then you should be ok.

IceShock · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:25

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

SiriusB · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:30

It might work. It might not.

If it doesn't, do a search for the vista ei.cfg removal tool.

IceShock · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:36

Okay thanks chaps will give it a shot later on

apatia77 · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:52

If they key won't work then just call the free number, provide the serial key from the sticker and they will give you a key that works.

Just say that your hdd died or something and that you had to replace it with a new one.

I believe the sticker is your license.

marc2003 · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:56

SiriusB said:
If it doesn't, do a search for the vista ei.cfg removal tool.

no such thing on vista. that's only for windows 7.

nightmare99 · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:01

no such thing on vista. that's only for windows 7.

Yes ei.cfg is on vista as well as w7

marc2003 · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:11

nightmare99 said:
Yes ei.cfg is on vista as well as w7

oh really. care to open it with notepad and paste the contents here?

Dewotter · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:01

It certainly does exist, I remember imaging some guys Home Premium disc and using it to install a trial of Ultimate.

marc2003 · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:18

RKO said:
It certainly does exist, I remember imaging some guys Home Premium disc and using it to install a trial of Ultimate.

vista has always let you install whatever edition you want without modification. it either matches your product key for you during setup or you can omit it and then choose which edition to install.

i have vista disks here and there is no ei.cfg file. and there is nothing whatsoever on google about it either.

so, how certain are you?

SiriusB · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:22

I just assumed since Vista and 7 are so similar. Never needed to do it to date, so I wouldn't know either way!

Sp00n · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:33

Do you not have a recovery partition?

Dewotter · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:41

marc2003 said:
vista has always let you install whatever edition you want without modification. it either matches your product key for you during setup or you can omit it and then choose which edition to install.

i have vista disks here and there is no ei.cfg file. and there is nothing whatsoever on google about it either.

so, how certain are you?

Because the disc I had only accepted the Home Premium key or nothing. I did have an ei.cfg file to remove. Unless retail versions were different I remember having to make a new image with the file removed.

When I got my disc from software4students for the Windows Vista Ultimate upgrade, I got the option to choose whatever with no key inputted.