Vista OEM

Spitfir3

Spitfir3

Spitfir3

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Joined
9 Oct 2004
Posts
1,376
Location
Paris
Hey,

Bought Vista basic OEM when it first came out.. upgraded to my new rig (below) and ofc, when I try and reactivate it.. "this key is already in use" or words ot that effect.

So is there any way of reactivating it? Phoning them up or sumit? It cost like £70 and I dont want to shell that out again -.-

cheers
 
Phone up the customer activation line at Microsoft, you can get the number when you choose "activate by phone" in the selection panel on your activation screen...:cool:
 
Hi M8, I have used the phone activation option on the same OEM Vista Home Premium on 4 new builds, and microsoft have given me the activation code on the phone which I had to type in manually, will no problems at all.... didn't realise I was doing anything wrong :)
 
Fire Wizard said:
Hey BFG_9000, yes that is the case otherwise you will have no right in using Windows. :)
Click to expand...

Why on earth would you need another copy of Windows just because you replace your motherboard?

No wonder people are so willing to pirate Microsoft Windows seeing as the customer is being ****** up the backside with a red hot Vista shaped poker.

Funny how my copy (legit by the way) of Windows XP never complained no matter how much hardware I replaced, nor does my copy of OS X Leopard - hell that doesn't even come with any kind of protection, not even a serial number. ;)
 
BFG_9000 said:
Hi M8, I have used the phone activation option on the same OEM Vista Home Premium on 4 new builds, and microsoft have given me the activation code on the phone which I had to type in manually, will no problems at all.... didn't realise I was doing anything wrong :)
Click to expand...

Just keep on doing it. You paid for a copy of Windows Vista so you might as well use it on your computer...as long as you only install it on one computer that is!
 
LordSplodge said:
Why on earth would you need another copy of Windows just because you replace your motherboard?
Click to expand...

Hey LordSplodge, the OEM license clearly states that you can change any component in your system excluding the motherboard and you will still be licensed. If you replace your motherboard for performance upgrade purposes then you will need to purchase a new copy of Windows Vista (License). :)

LordSplodge said:
No wonder people are so willing to pirate Microsoft Windows seeing as the customer is being ****** up the backside with a red hot Vista shaped poker.
Click to expand...

Their is a Retail license. :)

LordSplodge said:
You paid for a copy of Windows Vista so you might as well use it on your computer...as long as you only install it on one computer that is!
Click to expand...

The above only applies if you have the Retail license of Windows Vista. :)

Spitfir3 said:
Ah sweet! :) Glad you can do tha..hopefully it'll work for me!
Click to expand...

Hey Spitfir3, to stay fully licensed, you will have to buy a new copy of Windows Vista (License). :)
 
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LordSplodge said:
Why on earth would you need another copy of Windows just because you replace your motherboard?

No wonder people are so willing to pirate Microsoft Windows seeing as the customer is being ****** up the backside with a red hot Vista shaped poker.

Funny how my copy (legit by the way) of Windows XP never complained no matter how much hardware I replaced, nor does my copy of OS X Leopard - hell that doesn't even come with any kind of protection, not even a serial number. ;)
Click to expand...


Why is there 2 copies :rolleyes: (OEM & Retail) have a read of each and you will notice the main reason the prices are different the OP should have purchased the copy after his new build or purchased retail then you wouldn’t have this problem, and what has OSX got to do with this? How many pirate copies of OSX do you see floating about?
 
LordSplodge said:
Why on earth would you need another copy of Windows just because you replace your motherboard?

No wonder people are so willing to pirate Microsoft Windows seeing as the customer is being ****** up the backside with a red hot Vista shaped poker.

Funny how my copy (legit by the way) of Windows XP never complained no matter how much hardware I replaced, nor does my copy of OS X Leopard - hell that doesn't even come with any kind of protection, not even a serial number. ;)
Click to expand...
There's always one ....:rolleyes:

Of course OSX doesn't have any copy protection, what else are you going to install it on? If you think MS is a rip off how can you justify an OS you can only run if you buy the publishers own inflated price hardware as well? Talk about over a barrell...

Spitfir3: As others have pointed out the limitation of OEM is that it is tied to one PC, that's why it's so much cheaper than the retail versions, which have no limitations on any upgrades or amount of time you transfer it to a new machine (as long as it's only one PC at a time).

As a compromise the license allows you to upgrade anything in your PC as many times as you like with the exception of the motherboard (which can be changed under warranty if faulty). In effect for the purpose of the license the closest thing MS could tie the "one machine" condition to was the motherboard as the heart of the PC. It allows you the flexibility of ugrading the PC pretty much across the board whilst still justifying the discounted price of OEM edition.

You can indeed bluff your way through activation with MS, however even if activated your copy of Vista would not be appropriately licensed. The MS licensing model works on a degree of trust so it's entirely down to your own level of honesty which route you take.
 
LordSplodge said:
Just keep on doing it. You paid for a copy of Windows Vista so you might as well use it on your computer...as long as you only install it on one computer that is!
Click to expand...

Thank you LordSplodge.. Yes the only computer that I have used my Microsoft Home Vista is my own, and its only been on one system at any one time, I do upgrade quite a lot thus its been on four of my own newly built systems...;) Merry Christmas M8.
 
BFG_9000 said:
Thank you LordSplodge.. Yes the only computer that I have used my Microsoft Home Vista is my own, and its only been on one system at any one time, I do upgrade quite a lot thus its been on four of my own newly built systems...;) Merry Christmas M8.
Click to expand...

Ignore the naysayers. If it won't activate online all you do is ring MS and if they ask just say your motherboard broke and you replaced it.

Athanor said:
There's always one ....Of course OSX doesn't have any copy protection, what else are you going to install it on?
Click to expand...

There's always one what? I'd be cold in my grave before I purchased another Vista license just because I had changed my motherboard. After all it is still only going to be installed on the one computer.

To answer your OS X question there is a load of places you could install it where Apple didn't want you to. Old Apple hardware, Virtual machines and even x86 hardware. I guess Apple trust me where as Microsoft don't or want to screw me for ever penny.

Fire Wizard said:
Hey Spitfir3, to stay fully licensed, you will have to buy a new copy of Windows Vista (License)
Click to expand...

Or he could just ring them and get an activation code.

Burnsy2023 said:
*Sigh*
Click to expand...

Do you (and the other people preaching about licenses) work for Microsoft or something? All these computer enthusiasts want to do is change there hardware whilst keeping a copy of Vista to install. It's not like they are taking their copy of Vista and installing it on their mums machine or their mates, is it?

Thank god Microsoft don't treat their Business and Enterprise Customers this way. The Volume Licence Key is the best thing they ever invented. :(


All this crap is why I am still running XP SP2 and will be for some time on x86 hardware.

Funny how I don't have any of these kinds of problems on my Macs? :D

Oh and I think I have gotten a record amount of :rolleyes: in this thread. Go me!
 
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Hello LordSplodge,

LordSplodge said:
Ignore the naysayers. If it won't activate online all you do is ring MS and if they ask just say your motherboard broke and you replaced it.
Click to expand...

What you can physically do and what you can legally do are two completely different things. :)

LordSplodge said:
After all it is still only going to be installed on the one computer.
Click to expand...

The above only applies if you have purchased the Retail copy. :)

LordSplodge said:
Or he could just ring them and get an activation code.
Click to expand...

Spitfir3 could do that but he certainly won't be licensed any longer. :)

LordSplodge said:
Do you (and the other people preaching about licenses) work for Microsoft or something?
Click to expand...

I do not. However, I am quite a morally person myself and can't sit here and say nothing. :)

LordSplodge said:
All these computer enthusiasts want to do is change there hardware whilst keeping a copy of Vista to install. It's not like they are taking their copy of Vista and installing it on their mums machine or their mates, is it?
Click to expand...

If you change your motherboard more than three times, then you will benefit from purchasing the Retail license copy of Windows Vista since you can buy three OEM license copies of Windows Vista for around the same price as one Retail license copy. :)
 
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*Sigh* * 2
happy Xmas

beer.gif
 
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