Can I Use Vista Key for Different System

OK, I ordered a 1520 with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Edition. I have a extra copy of Vista Premium I plan on useing on my 1520. In the future I plan on building my daughter a computer. Will I be able to use the Key from the vista basic that came with my 1520 that I will not activate or use on the system I plan on building for her? I have a Full Vista install disk.

thanks

 

why not just save yourself the trouble and leave basic on the 1520 and use the premium on your daughter's?

 

I know with XP that an OEM copy of Windows could be used only on the hardware it came with. Meaning, the copy of XP that came with the computer was only licensed for use on that computer. The reasoning behind this restriction is that Dell pays Microsoft very little for each copy of Windows it sells, so Microsoft has to be assured that if people buy/build a different computer, that the windows tax still be paid, or else they'd have to charge Dell more for each copy, which means the computer would cost everybody more, rather than only costing those who move to a new machine.

I believe it's the same with Vista, though I could be wrong.

 

Well she is 8 and the only thing she will most likliy be doing is web surfing and watching xvid's.

 

dell oem windows only verify DELL from BIOS regardless model number.

 

no not totally true... ^^^ you can call microsoft and simply tell them you had to do a mboard change or hd change and they can give you a new key based on the old one and the number issued while on the phone if you call them

 

usually oem version needs no activation. if your version do need activation, it's another story.

 

Dell OEM specific install/reinstall disks work based off the BIOS. if the installation process recognizes the Dell BIOS then activation wont be needed because it has already been "activated" in a sense (that is what the BIOS check is for). if the process does not validate the BIOS as being Dell, then it will install normally but will then give the prompt that you are running an OS that has 30 days to input a serial to fully activate.

 

Can you name a feature that Basic doesn't have that you will need?

 

If you never activate it on your current Dell I would think it would work on another system in the future.

 

they are already activated when you get them on your dell

 

No that cannot be done legally... You might be able to find some way of conning the system, but then you'd be using an unlicensed version of Vista. People who used large OEM keys on XP were eventually locked out of Windows Genuine Advantage due to it becoming a love affair for usages like this.

Keep this in mind... If you use an unlicensed (as in not complying with the EULA) copy of Vista it might work today, but MS can stop it at ANYTIME. Vista does regular WGA checks and if they find out your using DELL Vista OEM on a non Dell and you fail WGA you will have the following senerio...

You will have NO ACCESS to your documents, programs, etc. on the computer. You will only be able to open Internet Explorer for 1 HOUR per session. There will be NO DESKTOP, NO START MENU, NOTHING. You will need to format to a license copy of Vista to get access to you system and possibly loose all of your files.

So in short... GO LEGAL and STAY LEGAL... Else you might pay pretty hard...

Just like the large OEM versions of XP... People should be familiar with this setup by now...

No you can't... You should read the EULA when you're installing stuff and stop just blindly clicking... Life is so much better when you make informed decisions in it

 

Seriously...if all she does is websurfing and watch xvids: install ubuntu linux. It is free, and once you install the codecs, it will work perfectly for what she needs.