Windows Vista/7 OEM on another PC?

Ever since Windows XP I’ve bought OEM, I bought Vista Ultimate OEM and recently I bought Windows 7 Professionaly OEM.

Now, since I’m using Win7 on my PC and my parents’ laptop is in for repairs, I was planning on doing a clean install of my OEM copy of Vista on their laptop, when they get it back.

Can I do this, I know that there’s no difference on a technical level between the retail and OEM versions, and I don’t care for the legal mumbo jumbo between those versions. But since I’ve already had Vista installed and activated on my PC before, can I still activate it on my parents’ laptop?

I’ve read that there are some restrictions with reinstalling/activating OEM Windows on a different PC, is this true or can I just go ahead and install it on their laptop?

You should be fine. At most, you’d have to call an automated phone service to verify and activate the license. Takes less than 5 minutes.

I just did some more searching on the interwebs, and apparently you’re in the clear provided you don’t change motherboard.

Which is the case since I’m going from my PC to my parents’ laptop :frowning:

Apparently you’ll have to call Microsoft and make some excuse that your MOBO died or some such nonsense and they should give you a new key.

Is there anyone who has done this for the OEM version of Vista/7 and can confirm this?

Yes

that bullshit, i have every single windows operating system and have never had to do that, including vista, i am currently running 7 ultimate and its awsome

if i were you id just install 7 on ur parents laptop

So you’ve actually installed/activated Vista OEM on one PC, and then on another PC, and all you had to do was call Microsoft?

Did you have to speak to a real person or is it like activating XP over the phone in that you simply have to enter the activation key and they give you a confirmation key?

I’ve done it myself with XP, but I read that Vista/7 place more restrictions on reinstalling them.

Ahem…

To elaborate, I’ve only had to talk with a Microsoft representative once about Vista activation. And that one time was with a retail copy. All other times, including with OEMs, were automated.

Strange… Once I bought an OS (directly off of Microsoft), and then e-mailed them saying I’d like to put it on my laptop, and they gave me FOUR extra keys. It was a bit of a WTF moment, but I then proceeded to give those extra three keys out to my room-mate and family.

The OS was 7 Ultimate x64.

Maybe the sales rep I got or customer service guy was just dedicated to ruining Microsoft, one person at a time, or something…

I don’t buy operating systems, I don’t have that kind of money.

I’ve already installed my windows 7 dvd on 12 computers.

Um… Get a job?

I thought I ruined my Windows 7 activation by messing around with bcdedit last night. Luckily I managed to find an activator that worked :3

But did you also install the same Vista OEM on two different PCs (ie, different mainboards)? Or was it all on the same PC?

I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of it. Just download it. Simple and easy.

Download? You mean torrent it? I don’t mind torrenting some old games but when it comes to my OS I’d rather buy the damn thing. Besides, I already have the OEM versions of Vista/7 so there’s no point downloading.

I just want to be sure that I can reinstall/activate my old OEM copy of Vista on my parents’ laptop. Because otherwise they’ll have to buy a new OS since preinstalled OSs don’t come with the installation disk to reinstall.

Dude, I have a torrented version my Windows 7 64-bit and it works like a charm. It acts just like the legal version and I even get updates for it too.

Yes, but I already have a legitimate version so why would I download a cracked version?

All I want to know is if I can reinstall/activate my OEM Vista on another mainboard. I’ve had it installed and activated on my own PC before and now I want to install it on my parents’ laptop, I need to be certain that it’ll work.

Not sure quite how OEM operating systems work, but i do remember trying to install an HP copy of XP on a Sony and it didn’t work.

At the same time though i can install a Dell copy of XP on another Dell no problem.

So i believe the main question is, are the 2 computers by the same manufacture.

Also don’t torrent operating systems, that’s just asking for trouble.

No, it has nothing to with the manufacturer. OEM means that it’s the same as retail (but cheaper) with the exception that you have to chose between 32bit and 64bit (retail has both), and you can’t reinstall on another PC.

“Another PC” is defined by the mainboard, so you can upgrade your computer without trouble as long as you don’t change the MOBO.

But even so, it should be possible to install it on another PC, you apparently have to call Microsoft and say your MOBO died and you’ve changed it.

Still, anyone else who has tried this?

What about free(as in beer and speech) Operating Systems?

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer, or System Builder. Specifically, in the case of Windows, System Builder Software. Windows Vista OEM is tied to the motherboard and after a certain amount of core components are changed it asks for a new license.
You should be able to install and activate it on the laptop if you call MS for a re-activation. I know one or two people who tried it, they all got a Microsoft Representative and had to make up some crap about their computer/motherboard dying.

You mean Linux? I’m a gamer so I need Windows, warts and all :stuck_out_tongue:

I guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet then.

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