Vista CD Key question

Greg · 18 May 2007 at 17:47

Ok, I installed my retail copy of vista ultimate onto my old pc i built. I've now got another PC and will no longer be using the old pc. how do i 'transfer' my old cd key to the new one?

many thanks

Greg

Ronaldo · 18 May 2007 at 17:52

format the old PC and install vista on new PC and activate it.

iCraig · 18 May 2007 at 17:59

Remove the copy of Vista from the old one and install it on the new one.

As long as the copy is used on only one PC, you'll be fine.

stoofa · 18 May 2007 at 18:02

It really is as simple as removing Vista from your old machine and installing it onto your new one.
Depending on how long ago you activated Vista on your old machine it may or may not activate automatically online.
However even if it doesn't it'll only take a 5 minute phone call to sort.

Greg · 18 May 2007 at 18:34

stoofa said:
It really is as simple as removing Vista from your old machine and installing it onto your new one.
Depending on how long ago you activated Vista on your old machine it may or may not activate automatically online.
However even if it doesn't it'll only take a 5 minute phone call to sort.

i think i'll just call up microsoft and tell them of the situation.

when you say 'remove' what do you mean? I've installed it onto a totally different harddrive.

I activated it about 2 months ago.

chris74 · 18 May 2007 at 21:10

What there meaning is from a legal point of view as long as you dont have that copy running elsewhere (ie another harddrive/computer) and as its retail your free to install it on your new pc.

I wouldnt bother phoning microsoft unless when installing it tells you to.

Chris

daven1986 · 18 May 2007 at 21:15

just tell MS when they ask that you had to reinstall it. don't elaborate it'll just complicate things. I had to do that and they didn't press further.

daven

Philio · 19 May 2007 at 00:11

If you have activated the CD Key it won't let you use the same key again on a different machine if the hardware profiles don't match. You will have to call up MS to get it activated. As daven1986 suggested tell them it's a reinstall or an upgrade and they will hopefully sort it out for you.