dead OS part 2

so ive decided to just make it easier on myself
and do a fresh install of Vista
i have a brand new hard drive, that i have already formatted for windows
this is the old thread
and how i have several questions
1.) if i use the same Vista key would i still have a legal product key? or would i have to get a new one?
2.) how would i get a new one? i dont want to buy another one since the OS died on me

i pulled out my old Hard drive and i will get all of my files back eventually
but i just have some concerns
thanks for all of the support

Hello Again,
Assuming that you had a legal copy of Vista on your old hard drive and your hard drive dies and you replace it. The Key that was legal for the old hard drive is valid now.
Worst case scenario, you bought the computer with the OS pre installed, you have what is called an OEM. The rules are that the OS can only be used on one computer. A new MotherBoard constitues a new computer and not a hard drive. Following the rules, as stiuplated my MS, you have the same computer and can use the same key.
If you have a problem with an OEM reinstall, MS will not help you. YOu must contact the company that made your computer eg DEll, HP, etc. Good luck

all hail rich!!!
awesome!!
its a frankenstine box
i made it myself
and the only thing im changeing is my hard drive
i was extremely worried that it would not be a legal install
i cant afford to get a new OS right now
awesome!
now i can put my old Hard drive in an external enclosure
and get all of my info back :P
thank a million!

Where did you buy the original OS?
Was it an OEM?

i bought it from newegg.com
it says OEM on the package
so yes

One word of warning. You were able to buy an OEM for less than a retail copy of Vista. One downside is this: if you have problems not one of the principles will help you, not MS, and not Newegg. That being said all the members of the Forum will always be here for you. You must have the OEM key number. The key number will have the letters OEM somewhere in the mix of letters and numbers.

disturbed13 said:

i bought it from newegg.com
it says OEM on the package
so yes

Click to expand...

You can use the key, since you didn't move the hard drive to a different computer. You might have to call Microsoft, but more likely than not, it will activate online just fine.

the product key on the box does not say OEM
but under System and Maintance > System it has OEM in the product key
its still legal right?

Thats still fine. An OEM is just more restrictive, because you paid less.
YOu are on your own with an OEM. If you have problems, come to the Forum and we will help.

so has there been any mention of the latest updates messing anything up in Vista?

Funny you should ask. Lately there have been more than the average problems. All with different updates. Take your time, and install a few at a time.

thats what i did
its running for now
now all i have to do is dig through my old hard drive to find what i dont have on my new hard drive
thanks for all of your help

This is what you do
Download the free Macrium Reflect and make a back up of the entire Drive and keep it in a safe place. If you ever have a problem, in the future you will not have to reinstall, just use the image back up. Better, yet, if you keep the image upadated.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
I am not ashamed to admit the Macrium saved me. Windows Seven updates screwed me big time. With the back up image I was back in no time; software, setting and activation just the way I left it.

will do
most definately
after i get my old hard drive cleaned off
thats what it will be used

Hey Rich, I take it that Macrium Reflect will need as much free space on a second drive as what is consumed on the current primary one, correct?

Gary,
Macrium is a tremedous piece of free software that has actually helped me avoid a reinstall due to problems caused by MS updates. In any event, the space used will be less. You can choose the compression size. I think that medium is suggested. High is used to put your OS on large CDs etc, but not really the way to go. An external hard drive is the best way.

Good to know. I take it that it'll assess how much free space is needed? I have an external drive, but I'm down to just 40Gb free. Should definitely be enough for a system back-up, if there's the option of not taking a complete snapshot.

it would work with another internal hard drive right?
it should........ i dont see why it wouldnt
but you never know
it can be just weird

^ It shouldn't make a difference where the drive is. When a storage device is attached, internal or external, to any programs running in your operating system it's just a place to read/write data.