Vista - OEM serial with a retail DVD

I have a new laptop that I got from Dell and want to do a 100% clean Vista install on it.

I have the DVD that came with it to restore vista, which I don't want to use because of all the extra crapola that it installs.

I also have an x32 Vista DVD that came with my VIsta Upgrade retail package.

My question is - since I have the serial number that came with the laptop, will it work with the retail DVD even though it's an OEM serial?

Thanks!

No, The Serial that came with the OEM, will only work with that version of Vista. You Can't interchange Serial's between Versions.

Hello JWhipple,

If you are not using the product key number for the 32 bit retail Upgrade Vista installation DVD, then you could use it to do a clean install with the upgrade DVD instead if you like. This tutorial will help show you how to if needed.

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista


Since the other one is a retail version, you could order the 64 bit DVD version of it for around $9.99 S&H directly from Microsoft and use it instead with the 32 bit retail upgrade product key number to install.

Windows Vista Alternate Media

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Perhaps a little clarification is neccessary.

The laptop came with OEM Vista Ultimate.

The DVD that came with it is their "special" Vista Ultimate OEM load with all the other proloaded garbage.

The DVD that I have is the Vista Ultimate upgrade, which I know how to do a full-blown install out of.

So, with that having been said, since I have a Vista Ultimate OEM serial number, and a Vista Ultimate upgrade DVD, will that OEM serial number work with the upgrade?

From all the tests I have done it should work fine