Can I install Vista Home Premium from a Vista Ultimate DVD?

[fixmarky]

I've purchased two Toshiba laptops for work and need to quickly remove all the bloatware from them. Both laptops came with Vista Home Premium, and I have my own personal DVD of Vista Ultimate at home. Can I use the Ultimate DVD to (re)install Home Premium as long as I have the legimate CD keys from the laptops? I read somewhere something like this could be done.

Also, the laptops came with System Restore disks- is this vanilla Vista or will the image come with all the Toshiba bloat?

Thanks!

 

[soonerproud]

The answer is simply yes.

Just make certain you chose the version you will be installing if you do not enter the key code right away.

 

[RebateMonger]

First, consider simply using the "Add and Remove Programs" control panel to remove the "bloatware". It'll save you time in this case.

If you are set on re-installing Vista, then print out all the information on the Device Manager screens. You'll want to know what devices are installed so you can get the correct drivers for them.

You'll have to look at the "System Restore" disks to see what they contain. If they look like standard Windows Vista disks, then they are "bare OS" install DVDs. Normally, though, anything called a "System Restore" will include additional software beyond the bare OS. Toshiba USED to provide bare XP install CDs with their laptops, but I don't know Toshiba's current practice.

If your "personal" Vista DVD is "Retail version (NOT OEM)", then, at a minimum, you'll have to talk to Microsoft about Activating the new Vista install with your Toshiba OEM keys. Vista won't Activate online with a Retail disk and an OEM Key. I don't even believe it'll even ACCEPT an OEM Key, but I could be wrong. I haven't yet tried it.

 

[fixmarky]

Thanks for the reply guys.

RebateMonger: My Vista Ultimate DVD is an OEM System Builders disc. Would this DVD work with the laptop OEM keys without any issues? Thanks!