I have a copy of windows vista just sitting around cus i got win 7 but since its OEM you can only install on the hd you bought it with. Can anyone tell me how its possible for microsoft to know what hard drive you are putting it on? I mean if your just reinstalling it how can they tell if you are doing it on the same or a different hard drive?
Searial numbers I think of the motherboard and harddrive. although, I think if you remove a oem version of a harddrive, you can install it somewhere else.
Green is half right and half wrong, I uninstalled Vista OEM from my harddrive. It didn't activate on a different one. Your going to have to keep that copy of Vista on that harddrive, then buy a new harddrive for a new OS.
i was wondering if there was an easy way around it cus my mom has an old small IDE hard drive but i guess i would have to trade hd's to give her vista
You could crack Vista so it doesn't have to activate. I don't know how off the top of my head, but I know there is a way.
but what would happen if your hard drive died then so would ur copy of windows
i mean couldnt u say u bought the os with the mobo not the hd?
Sorry, if the hdd is dead, your copy of Windows goes with it too, such a sad story to explain. This only applies to OEM versions though.
well its not dead but i was just wondering what would happen in that scenario
Yeah I called Microsoft, they said if your hard drive dies, so does your copy of Windows. Also when you buy an OEM copy, you are responsible for it's support, not Microsoft, they don't like to help people out over the phone who have OEM software.
In fact, OEMs are meant to go with pre-built machines or towards manufactures to install, hence, the price compared to proper-retailed copies.