Windows Vista

[bigchieftaco]

I pulled a HDD from a computer that was junk. The HDD is from a laptop. It has vista on it. Is there any possible way to get the OS onto my new computer I am building? I dont have any of the keys from the laptop. They were all worn off. Is there some way to go into the registry to get the code off? Any help would be great.

 

[TAandy]

 

[F1shF4t]

You can use everest to get the key. It will be under software > licences.
The trial version will probably do it.

 

[SimMike2]

If the Vista copy was pre-installed with the notebook, the install key will probably be worthless because that particular version of Vista was an OEM tied to the specific motherboard of the notebook manufacturer.

 

[bigchieftaco]

Okay, I figured this out. I hooked it up into a desktop. Downloaded a program called ProduKey and opened the hive located in "system32\config" called software I believe. It pulled the vista key and also pulled an Office 2003 Pro Edition key w00t. Thanks guys

 

[Doomer]

Don't celebrate just yet.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Make sure you have OEM installation disc.

 

[Arkaign]

This is a huge violation of Microsoft EULA for the software described, unless you're holding the original retail disc + licenses. OEM software is not transferrable officially, although in limited situations you can call Microsoft and have them re-activate it on replacement hardware (I have had to do this on a couple occasions where for example an HP or Emachines system would have multiple failures of PSU/Mobo/HDD, and I installed standard but not original replacement parts, and then reloaded their OS reflecting the OEM license sticker on the case).

FWIW, do what you want, but be aware that this is frowned upon by Microsoft as well as the standards of this forum. Personally I wouldn't say anything else about it here.

 

[bigchieftaco]

Well, I failed to mention the laptop was my brothers that he had given me. The laptop was destoryed and this was one of the few pieces able to salvage. Is this illegal or anything? I can get the retail disc.