Windows Vista - What's the deal?

[Sentry11]

I take it that installing Windows Vista on a PC will register that PC's CPU to Microsoft and if you want to reinstall the same licensed Vista after the CPU is upgraded, the installation won't do, is that true or that's just a rumour?

 

[TheStu]

That is not just not a rumor, it is patently false.

First, it does not really 'register' anything.
Second, it is dependent upon the motherboard, not the CPU.
Finally, I have found that Vista is significantly more tolerant of changes like that as compared to older versions of Windows. I had Vista installed on my AMD system. When I replaced the motherboard, CPU and RAM to my current system Vista had no booting issues. I just had to get new drivers.

 

[Jeff7181]

When you install the OS, it creates a hash value based on your currently installed hardware. Small changes like upgrading the RAM, hard drive, CPU or video card won't change the hash value enough to trigger reactivation. Changing the motherboard will almost always change the hash value enough to require reactivation. Changing multiple components at once may also change the hash value enough to trigger reactivation.

In any event... if that does happen it's not a big deal. You simply call Microsoft's toll free number and tell them why you're reactivating and they'll walk you through it as long as you don't have an OEM license and say, "I bought a new computer." Even if you did, you tell them "my motherboard failed and I couldn't find an exact replacement, so I had to get a slightly different one." Takes 5-10 minutes.

 

[GaryJohnson]

You simply call Microsoft's toll free number and tell them why you're reactivating

It used to be that when you did this you did get an actual person on the line (in india) who wanted to know why you were reactivating (that person didn't really seem to care, you could probably have told them, "Because I changed the motherboard in my orphan killing-robot" and they'd say "OK, here's your reactivation code")

But the last few times I've had to do this for XP it was just an automated phone system; no explanation required.

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: GaryJohnson

You simply call Microsoft's toll free number and tell them why you're reactivating

It used to be that when you did this you did get an actual person on the line (in india) who wanted to know why you were reactivating (that person didn't really seem to care, you could probably have told them, "Because I changed the motherboard in my orphan killing-robot" and they'd say "OK, here's your reactivation code")

But the last few times I've had to do this for XP it was just an automated phone system; no explanation required.

Yup same for vista now. It just asks you two questions about whether you uninstaled it from a previous pc or instaling on the same pc.

In fact you can use even the vista oem licences from stickers which came on oem machines. The key will only work during install (or upgrade but you can't enter it after in windows). During online activation it'll say invalid code for activation but will be activated by calling up. Thats what I do on my laptop cause I wanted a fresh install (vista licence I use is the one that came with it so meh)

 

[pandaman1784]

Originally posted by: Dark Cupcake

Originally posted by: GaryJohnson

You simply call Microsoft's toll free number and tell them why you're reactivating

It used to be that when you did this you did get an actual person on the line (in india) who wanted to know why you were reactivating (that person didn't really seem to care, you could probably have told them, "Because I changed the motherboard in my orphan killing-robot" and they'd say "OK, here's your reactivation code")

But the last few times I've had to do this for XP it was just an automated phone system; no explanation required.

Yup same for vista now. It just asks you two questions about whether you uninstaled it from a previous pc or instaling on the same pc.

In fact you can use even the vista oem licences from stickers which came on oem machines. The key will only work during install (or upgrade but you can't enter it after in windows). During online activation it'll say invalid code for activation but will be activated by calling up. Thats what I do on my laptop cause I wanted a fresh install (vista licence I use is the one that came with it so meh)

quick question about this. do I just need the product key or do I need the values above the product key as well? i'm planning to do an install using my Dell OEM Vista key, but too worried it will fail or i will screw it up.

 

[Chapbass]

you just need the product key. when you go to activate it over the phone it will give you another mega long key to give to them...its like 60 some odd characters long i would guess.

 

[F1shF4t]

quick question about this. do I just need the product key or do I need the values above the product key as well? i'm planning to do an install using my Dell OEM Vista key, but too worried it will fail or i will screw it up.

Also if your doing a fresh install make sure you enter the key during the install. Otherwise you wont be able to enter it when windows is already installed, only retail or oem keys can be entered then. (Unless you do an upgrade, which is the same way how you do a fresh install with upgrade versions)

I've tested this with 2 asus and 1 hp keys, YMMV.