Moving Vista License to New PC?

[RobDMB]

Currently I have vista ultimate installed on my desktop pc. However, I would like to move the ultimate license to my laptop pc and then install home premium on my desktop. I was wondering what the proper procedure would be to move the license? Would I have to contact microsoft. ALso, these are non oem versions so they are not tied to the machine. Thanks, Rob

 

[montag451]

You would have to reactivate both machines at the very least, and I am sure MS would tell you if they were not happy with your choices.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: RobDMB
Currently I have vista ultimate installed on my desktop pc. However, I would like to move the ultimate license to my laptop pc and then install home premium on my desktop. I was wondering what the proper procedure would be to move the license? Would I have to contact microsoft. ALso, these are non oem versions so they are not tied to the machine. Thanks, Rob

There is no procedure to move the license, what you want to do is perfectly valid. Simply install the new versions on the respetive machines. There is a chance (based on how long its been) the existing ultimate license may require you to call to get a new key (however if its been more than 3 months it *should* just activate online).

 

[RebateMonger]

Yep. As long as your license isn't OEM and it's not installed on more than one PC at the same time, you can do what you want with your Vista license. Worst case might be a five-minute phone call to MS. If you have Upgrade licenses, then you'll need to make sure you are still in compliance with the upgrade licensing terms.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Yep. As long as your license isn't OEM and it's not installed on more than one PC at the same time, you can do what you want with your Vista license. Worst case might be a five-minute phone call to MS. If you have Upgrade licenses, then you'll need to make sure you are still in compliance with the upgrade licensing terms.

if you have an OEM license tied to a Dell machine, and want to swith the OS to a different machine, do they let you?

I have VHP on my Dell and want to put that on my HTPC and Put Xp Pro (school license) on my Dell.

Is that possible?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: ric1287

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Yep. As long as your license isn't OEM and it's not installed on more than one PC at the same time, you can do what you want with your Vista license. Worst case might be a five-minute phone call to MS. If you have Upgrade licenses, then you'll need to make sure you are still in compliance with the upgrade licensing terms.

if you have an OEM license tied to a Dell machine, and want to swith the OS to a different machine, do they let you?

I have VHP on my Dell and want to put that on my HTPC and Put Xp Pro (school license) on my Dell.

Is that possible?

With the OEM versions it's not allowed (the Dell license is technically just for that Dell machine).

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: ric1287

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Yep. As long as your license isn't OEM and it's not installed on more than one PC at the same time, you can do what you want with your Vista license. Worst case might be a five-minute phone call to MS. If you have Upgrade licenses, then you'll need to make sure you are still in compliance with the upgrade licensing terms.

if you have an OEM license tied to a Dell machine, and want to swith the OS to a different machine, do they let you?

I have VHP on my Dell and want to put that on my HTPC and Put Xp Pro (school license) on my Dell.

Is that possible?

That's against the EULA. The OEM license is tied to the motherboard and thus cannot be transferred, per OEM regulations.

 

[ric1287]

thats pretty stupid. i paid for the license, i should get to use it. terrible

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: ric1287
thats pretty stupid. i paid for the license, i should get to use it. terrible

You paid a discount for the license in exchange for the restrictions, that is the primary difference between OEM and retail. The retail version doesn't have the same transfer restriction (that and you get support directly from MS not from the OEM you bought it from).

 

[ric1287]

so if i begged enough, could dell let me switch the licence?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: ric1287
so if i begged enough, could dell let me switch the licence?

Dell can't allow you to switch the license. Now bluntly if you do your issue will be getting it activated as you'll probably need to call in to MS since it will no longer be a bios activation. Dell certain won't assist you (they just aren't in any position to), but MS has show reasonable flexibility above and beyond the letter of the law.

(IMHO this follows the spirit of the law since you have valid licenses for both boxes, but thats a personal opinion, not a legal statement )

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: ric1287
so if i begged enough, could dell let me switch the licence?

Dell can't allow you to switch the license. Now bluntly if you do your issue will be getting it activated as you'll probably need to call in to MS since it will no longer be a bios activation. Dell certain won't assist you (they just aren't in any position to), but MS has show reasonable flexibility above and beyond the letter of the law.

(IMHO this follows the spirit of the law since you have valid licenses for both boxes, but thats a personal opinion, not a legal statement )

yeah i got MS to let me use MCE from my laptop on my main rig, took about an hour, but they eventually gave me a new code. I just thought that vista had a simpler activation, where you could "deactivate" one machine and use it on another. Too bad

 

[bsobel]

yeah i got MS to let me use MCE from my laptop on my main rig, took about an hour, but they eventually gave me a new code. I just thought that vista had a simpler activation, where you could "deactivate" one machine and use it on another. Too bad

That would be true if it was a retail version (well, there is no deactivaton step, just dont use it on the old machine again...)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: ric1287
thats pretty stupid. i paid for the license, i should get to use it. terrible

The discussion: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2072087&enterthread=y