How many times can I use my Vista key?

M

melodyzok

New member
If I install Vista on my current PC, then build a new one in a couple of months, will I be able to use my key on that system as well or will I be screwed?
 
I've heard of people getting a valid key off a computer at Circuit City and then using the same key to load and activate Vista on a dozen computers
 
Only if you buy an OEM version of Vista do you need to do that, and even then only if you change motherboards. If you change motherboards, it means you've changed computers, and the OEM Vista license is meant to be only for 1 computer.

If you have the Retail (Full or Upgrade, Upgrade merely requiring an activated Windows XP install on your harddrive but allows a clean reformat install of Vista if you choose and costs less) then you have 5 computers, but only 1 computer at a time. That means it will activate on 5 different motherboards, assuming you stopped using the previous one. For people who upgrade their computers every year, retail is better than OEM, but in reality they will almost always just OK you if you have an OEM and call in to say your computer broke and you replaced the motherboard. If they don't let you, just call again, the next guy will let you.

XP had the same rules except the retail version had unlimited motherboards, as long as you only use 1 at a time. Vista caps it at 5 I think, but honestly who has gone through 5 motherboards for their home PC from the day they got XP until now? Maybe a handful at best.
 
Thanks for the info HamTard. Regarding the BIOS activation, this was just released (for people who like to go this route): OEM_BIOS_Emulation_Toolkit_For_Microsoft_Windows_V ista_X86.v1.0-PARADOX

5 motherboards should be more than enough though. As long as I can install it as many times as i'd like to on the same system, just like XP. I like to format often
 
Ya it should be unlimited on the same motherboard, so you're okay. I'm getting a free copy for submitting a bug and I know a lot of campuses are selling it for really cheap or giving it free to IT students due to deals with Microsoft.
 
What about the upgrade. I have a vista ultimate upgrade DVD and key here that im about to install over XP. After i've done the clean install, say in 6 months when I want to format and go again, do I have to reload XP again first? Seems a bit backwards.
 
Ya that's kinda stupid, but right now the only way to use your Upgrade disc is to install XP again, activate XP, then use the Upgrade on top of it. The Upgrade will let you do a clean install if you find it in the advanced options, so you can format and install Vista fresh, but having to install and activate XP first will be a bit of a hassle and waste about an hour.

The way to get around it right now is to install the trial version of Vista by not entering a key when installing on a freshly formatted harddrive, then stick the disc in again and "Upgrade" to Vista. It thinks the trial version of Vista qualifies you for the upgrade. They haven't fixed this yet and it doesn't seem like they'll fix this workaround for a while, if ever.
 
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