question about Vista and OEM key

[ranasrule]

i just bought a HP laptop that came with Vista Home Premium installed.....it also has a valid key which is printed on the bottom of the laptop....i was thinking about doing a clean install of Vista and was wondering if i can simply pop in any Vista installation dvd and simply enter the key from the bottom of my laptop ?? oe is there a special OEM vista disc that i have to use ?? if so where do i get the disc ? thanks in advance for any help.

[QuietStorm21A]

You should be able to use your Vista installation disc as i have done it tons of times for family and friends. You will have to activate Vista after install either by online or phone but it is real quick.

[McDave]

I don't think they give you a disk to fresh install vista but more like a factory reset disk. You could possibly use the vista anytime upgrade disk (if someone could confirm)?

If there ain't you could download a copy off the internet and use your key to activate it. You should note that if you have Vista32 you will require the 32bit install disk and if you have vista64 you will require the 64bit intsall disk.

Edited September 7, 2008 by McDave

[LJ50]

If there ain't you could download a copy off the internet and use your key to activate it. You should note that if you have Vista32 you will require the 32bit install disk and if you have vista64 you will require the 64bit intsall disk.

See, I'm yet to hear a definitive answer on this.

many places say you can use your 32-bit OEM license for a 64-bit install, so long as you can get hold of the disk, but then others say it's illegal, without really being able to cite anything that says it is. The only thing I've read fromt he OEM license is that "You may use only one version at one time.". It's not specific on prohibiting use of a OEM license that came with 32-bit media on a 64-bit installation, so far as I can see.

[devHead]

See, I'm yet to hear a definitive answer on this.

many places say you can use your 32-bit OEM license for a 64-bit install, so long as you can get hold of the disk, but then others say it's illegal, without really being able to cite anything that says it is. The only thing I've read fromt he OEM license is that "You may use only one version at one time.". It's not specific on prohibiting use of a OEM license that came with 32-bit media on a 64-bit installation, so far as I can see.

I'm not sure if it's the same with MSDN or Technet media, but there are not separate keys for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. They are the same.

[LJ50]

I'm not sure if it's the same with MSDN or Technet media, but there are not separate keys for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. They are the same.

So you think that anyone who can get hold of the 64-bit disk can use their 32-bit key?

I'm so tempted to try it out but don't want to cause myself any problems to be honest.

[chrispinto]

Yup works just fine.

The Key is a single license that permits the use of one copy of Vista at any one time, be it x86 or x64.

Basically, you can't have 32bit and 64bit vista running on different machines at the same time. Yes it'd work, and more than likely activate fine too you'd just be breaking the license and thus the law.

edit:

I should cite a source really before i get jumped on my the crazy flamers/baiters

Media Change

Edited September 9, 2008 by chrispinto

[LJ50]

Yup works just fine.

The Key is a single license that permits the use of one copy of Vista at any one time, be it x86 or x64.

Basically, you can't have 32bit and 64bit vista running on different machines at the same time. Yes it'd work, and more than likely activate fine too you'd just be breaking the license and thus the law.

edit:

I should cite a source really before i get jumped on my the crazy flamers/baiters

Media Change

Thing is that that source really only covers retail. Putting an OEM key in there gets you an "Offer not found" answer.

[Amodin]

I'm not sure if it's the same with MSDN or Technet media, but there are not separate keys for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. They are the same.

This is correct, and you can use the key for either version. I recently purchased OEM Vista Ultimate from my logistics vendor, and I specifically asked this question. Works perfectly fine, and you are allowed to do that, just not install it on multiple computers at the same time of course. One or the other.

[LJ50]

Well, I went for it. Used an x64 Vista disk to clean install Vista Home Premium x64, used my 32-bit OEM key and activated and validated my install with Microsoft online. No bother at all.