Vista OEM query

Shaw · 14 Oct 2008 at 21:34

I have read through the OEM Vista EULA on the box but I am still a bit confused.

I have a PC that currently has an OEM copy of vista installed on it. Can I sell the PC as a whole and leave vista on it? If so do I have to notify Microsoft of any change of ownership? Or does this in someway violate the EULA and I have to remove Vista?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RJC · 14 Oct 2008 at 22:02

If you sell the whole pc then you would need to supply the license key which should be attached to the case and idealy the Vista disc, as oem is tied to the motherboard you original activated with.

Shaw · 14 Oct 2008 at 22:23

Thanks for clearing that up.

I still have the disc and the sticker is on the case

stoofa · 14 Oct 2008 at 23:28

Shaw said:
I have read through the OEM Vista EULA on the box but I am still a bit confused.

I have a PC that currently has an OEM copy of vista installed on it. Can I sell the PC as a whole and leave vista on it? If so do I have to notify Microsoft of any change of ownership? Or does this in someway violate the EULA and I have to remove Vista?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Basically when a Systems Builder uses an OEM OS they are told to attach the Certificate of Authenticity to the case.
This is also in effect the license for the machine - its attached to the case as the license cannot be transfered to another machine etc.

You can legally sell the OS with the machine.

No need to tell Microsoft at all.
Although OS's need to be activated they don't need to be registered, so very rarely is a particular OS license tied to a particular "name" with MS.