Question about Windows Vista and Product Key

[crucibelle]

Hi everyone... My daughter has an Acer laptop that I want to put Windows back on (it currently has Ubuntu on it). The problem is, the laptop did not come with restore disks. The restore was in a hidden partition on the hard-drive, and since the hard-drive has been reformatted, it's not on there anymore. I have a Window's Vista product key that is on the back of the laptop. My question is, if I buy Windows Vista from Ebay (one of those that says 'needs a key'), will I be able to use the key on the back of the laptop? Thanks.

Edit: Forgot to mention that Windows Vista Basic was originally on the laptop.

Also, here is the one I'm looking at: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...39391&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

Is there any reason I should not consider buying this... as in, is this legit software? I don't want to be buying pirated stuff.

 

[corkyg]

As long as the version matches the key you should be OK. You can do it from Microsoft's "Anytime Upgrade" DVD. The key is normally tied to the machine if it is OEM. If it is for Vista Home, then that will work if the selected OS is Vista Home.

 

[crucibelle]

corkyg - the version that I want to buy on Ebay is the same that was on the laptop originally, so I guess it's safe to buy it. One more thing... I'm not quite understanding what you are saying about the "Anytime Upgrade" DVD. Thanks for the info!!

edit: Ok, I'm pretty sure I understand now what you were talking about with the "Anytime Upgrade" DVD. Thanks again!

 

[crucibelle]

ps-- sorry I posted this in the wrong forum.. I just noticed that.. oops! :/

 

[gitano]

i "think" its perfectly legal even if u use a torrented ISO of vista home, and use your key. You don't need to buy the media on ebay at all.

in fact what you payed for, its that key for a license to use Vista Home on that oem machine.

the media doesn't matter where come from as far you use the key u already payed.

 

[bruceb]

Correct, it does not matter where you get the media from, as long as you have a legit, paid for key. But downloading from torrents, may sometimes result in items not wanted in the software (virus, etc) Better to buy a physical cd/dvd or copy one from a friend.

 

[ecom]

The problem is foresee is that the key on the sticker might not even work. OEMs use BIOS activation.

the disc on that eBay page is a Dell disc. Hardware manufactures often put manufacture specific content on the discs so it can cause unintended effects on your Acer machine.


If you are going to spend money, I would look at some other options first:
1. Contact Acer, if your machine is covered unde rwarranty, they may give you a free disc with the appropriate OS. Dell has always done this free when I asked. Or they may give you an option of buying a disc.

2. Microsoft will sell you replacement disc, so you don't have to resort to eBay. See here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246 Scroll down until you see Media replacement for users of system builders' computers

 

[crucibelle]

Thank you so much, everyone, for all the info.

Ecom - that is exactly what I was worried about, because I read something like that on another site. I have already contacted Acer, and they basically said I was SOL (laptop is out of warranty). I did not know about that second option, however. I will definitely try that! I also have a family member who has a Vista Home Basic disk, so I'm gonna see if the key I have will work. I suspect it will not, but I'm going to try. What I'm not going to do is spend any money on Ebay, because I'm too worried it will not work.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[ecom]

There is a 3rd option, a little more involved

Get a MS Vista DVD of any kind version; it doesn't matter home, pro, ult, etc. No Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc discs. I guess Acer would be ok though.

If you relative's Vista Basic disc is not branded by a system builder, such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc, you could use it and then follow the procedures below also. Just skip the next paragraph about editing teh DVD. Get the certificate and Acer serial number as described below. Do not put a serial number during installation.

Use an ISO editor to open the DVD. PowerISO and UltraISO are the only ones I know and they are not free. Remove the file \sources\ei.cfg and recreate the ISO and burn it. The ei.cfg file is what locks the disc to a specific edition, home, pro, ult, etc. Use this new disc to install the OS, but do not install any key at this point.

Download the 7Z file at the bottom of the first post here: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/5900-Vista-OEMSLP-Certificate-amp-Bin-Collection and extract the file with xrm-ms extension inside on to your new Vista install. This is the license certificate that Windows uses to activate against some code in the BIOS.

Now, open a command prompt with elevated privileges and run the command below to import the certificate into your Windows:
slmgr -ilc absolute_path_to_xrm-ms_file

Now go to this page: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/2581-Vista-OEM-SLP-keys and find your Acer Vista Basic key. In the same command prompt, run the following to import the key:
slmgr -ipk your-acer-vista-basic-key

Then to activate, run the following and reboot:
slmgr -ato

This makes the OS activate against your BIOS. No online activation against MS required. You are only permitted to install the edition for which you are licensed.

 

[Vic Vega]

I would get genuine replacement media from Microsoft. I've done this before with Windows XP without a problem.

 

[Emulex]

yeah you have the legal right to restore the oem SLIC copy by any means possible. use that means. don't get greedy.

 

[crucibelle]

Hey again, everyone... just a little update. I just decided to go ahead and get a replacement from Microsoft. I used the link that ecom provided (thanks again, ecom!). It was really easy and only cost me $30. The only thing that I don't like is that they say it could take up to a MONTH to receive it... I really hope it doesn't take that long.. lol! Thanks again, everyone, for all your help!!

Also, ecom: Thank you for that third option. I should have checked the thread before I ordered.. oops! I'm going to copy that to a txt file, however, in case I ever need it in the future.

 

[crucibelle]

Well, it looks like I'll be trying ecom's 3rd option sooner than I had expected. Microsoft CANCELLED my order. Told me to "contact Acer". Acer tells me "contact Microsoft". Geeze!!

Microsoft has informed me that the only way that one can receive a replacement from them is if the original company (Acer, in this case) has gone out of business.

In any case, the DVD I have available is an HP recovery disk, so hopefully I can follow ecom's directions without screwing up too badly.. lol.

 

[crucibelle]

So, I replied to Microsoft and told them that Acer would not replace the DVD, and their answer to me was "just buy it" (at regular price, of course). *sigh*

 

[bruceb]

Acer will not provide the OS DVD per se. But you can BUY from them a Restore CD/DVD set which will restore to the computer to the way it was when it was first obtained.

Acer Recovery Media Purchase Program This site is used for purchasing recovery media for your Acer product.
To get started, please enter the serial number or SNID located on your Acer product and click "Next"
See link below:

https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Just so you know for the future:

First things you do after getting a new computer are:
Make the OS DVD from the Recovery Partition
Order the Recovery or OS DVD from the vendor (you may need to pay small fee
and some vendors do not want to sell them)
Make a Ghost or Acronis Image of the system after it is all set up initially.
Keep a copy of your License and Activation / Product codes in a safe place.

 

[crucibelle]

Bruce - thank you so much for the link/info, I will check it out! As for the other stuff.. it is too complicated to get in to and explain, but I did not have any control over what was being done in regards to this laptop, for some time. Otherwise, I most likely would have done the things you listed. I keep up with everything for my own computers, but as I said, I had little control over this laptop.. until now, that is.. now that there is a problem, I'm expected to fix it. I'm that one in the family that everyone comes to when they have computer troubles... lol.

 

[crucibelle]

Bruce -- I have actually visited that link before, but when I entered my SNID # it wouldn't work, so I gave up on it. I think maybe the site was just messing up, or something (hopefully). I will definitely try it a few more times. Thanks again!

 

[Emulex]

dude ebay sells "CLONED" or "FAKE" or sometimes real restore dvd's/cd's cheap for everything. they aren't pirated per se since they check the certificate in the bios (SLIC2.0/2.1) and the oem key (public information mydigitallife forum - the key)

if you spend 10 minutes reading the my digital life forum you'll figure out how easy it is to get the digital river technet verison of the o/s - stuff it on there without a key and activate it against the slic using OPATOOL.exe - this is all legal as long as you restore the same os as your COA lists.

you ever notice how vista machines came with vista home basic stickers but vista business (or home premium) coa's? i saw alot of that. made you go hmmmmmmm.

 

[Steltek]

Bruce -- I have actually visited that link before, but when I entered my SNID # it wouldn't work, so I gave up on it. I think maybe the site was just messing up, or something (hopefully). I will definitely try it a few more times. Thanks again!

If you can't get it to work through the website, call Acer support. They should be able to send you the proper CDs once you provide them with the serial number and/or SNID#.