The problem I am having is trying to figure out if I want to re-format my hard drive after installing vista, I know you can only use your key once, and transfer once. I want to be able to reformat my computer regularly, hence using windows disk imaging. I want to know if that plan will work to reformat my computer regularly without having to buy more licenses of windows vista.
2007-02-03 12:39:26 · 6 answers · asked by None N 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Ok, so when you install vista on your computer with the key it comes with, then it will be specific for that system, and allow you to install it on that same computer as many times as you want to is what I understand, no need for disk imaging then?
2007-02-03 12:51:28 · update #1
You can install vista on your PC as many times as you want over and over. Microsoft remembers you machines ID and allows this. However, it will not register if you install try and install it on another PC after installing it on your own machine.
2007-02-03 12:45:57 · answer #1 · answered by Timothy L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The short, and most accurate answer to this is nobody knows anything about Vista, including Microsoft. That being said, I will give you my professional guess. It might be a good idea to remove your hard drive with Vista on it, and buy yourself a new hard drive. Keep it, it will work as a backup in any case later.
1. Go ahead and try to install Vista on the new hard drive. It is my belief that it will install again on the new hard drive (or the old hard drive, for that matter) with the old numbers. The reason for this is, when you buy Vista, you are buying a license to use that software on that computer, just like XP, W2000, W98, and W95. With all of the old versions of Windows, as long as you had the original CD, and the correct numbers (key), you could reinstall the operating system on that computer as many times as you liked! This includes XP which has to be activated. You see, you PAID for the right to use Vista on that computer. If the hard drive fails, you do not have to buy a new Vista to put it back on that computer. You really should be ok to reformat and put Vista on your old hard drive, but the new hard drive you bought will be a good backup anyway!
2007-02-03 12:54:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, you can reinstall it on the same machine as many times as you want. However, what is not clear is the following...
Installing a new primary boot drive will require you to reinstall Vista, this may require revalidation, since it is VERY early in Vista's life cycle no one has really confirmed or not confirmed that.
That being said the thing that WILL require you to get a new license key is a new motherboard, replace your motherboard and you will have to be hoping and praying that Microsoft will be generous and issue you a new key for free.
Also, the retail version of Vista can be installed on two computers, ONE TIME but CAN NOT be used for the sake of sharing the license key with two computers.
So, you have the old computer, take Vista off of it and you have the new computer, you can install Vista on it. But that's it, your done, you can't transfer the license any more than that. You would still be able to install it as many times as you like on that second system.
Shawn, I've had it with you. I've just had it. NO ONE cares about all your fancy degrees. You haven't proved you actually have them, if you do, then fine but prove it first. You don't see me going around posting my accomplishments, do you? The answer is no. I hope you see this. Next time, I'm going to email you.
Yes, that's right. You can install Vista on the same system as many times as you want, though I've heard the limit might be 10 times but who installs an operating system 10 times over the life of a computer, even if you did it once a year, that'd be 10 years... who has the same OS for 10 years (or computer for that matter), not me...
Remember, you can transfer the license one time and one time only to a new system IF you remove Vista from the old system first.
2007-02-03 12:50:58 · answer #3 · answered by conradj213 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way Vista licensing works is you need to activate the product through the Internet each time you reinstall the OS. If you are doing disk imaging, essentially the OS has the same SID (Security Identifier) and therefore should not have to be reactivated. But you should check on Microsoft's site just to be on the safe side.
I have not tried disk imaging Vista at work yet on my test bed.
2007-02-03 12:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by Shawn H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it is a home edition you can only activate it one time and you can only make one migration (hardware change) after that Microsoft will tell you that you need to purchase another license.
If it is the $400 business edition you can re-install and activate it as many times as you want as long it remains on the same machine.
Steve Ballmer has taken Microsoft down the path of self destruction with his acute paranoia and he is doing it with the blessing Bill Gates.
Just wait until more people wind up having to purchase replacement licenses, you just think that Vista is unpopular now.
People who purchased OEM versions are already being told that their activation keys are no good.
2007-02-06 08:29:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As far as I am aware, if you've bought Vista (have a CD and Liscense), then you can reinstall it on the same computer however many times you like.
2007-02-03 12:44:00 · answer #6 · answered by Retribution28 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋