Vista - Reusing The Activation Key

I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and install
the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do I
reuse the activation key on the second computer?

If you remove Vista from one computer you can install it onto another, but
you will likely have to telephone Microsoft to activate it since it's
already been installed and activated once.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
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"Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
> install
> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do
> I
> reuse the activation key on the second computer?

I activated the same key 5 times online in the same computer last week with
no problem
"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
news:uWj7cZvVHHA.4384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> If you remove Vista from one computer you can install it onto another, but
> you will likely have to telephone Microsoft to activate it since it's
> already been installed and activated once.
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
>> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
>> install
>> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do
>> I
>> reuse the activation key on the second computer?
>
>

Yes but you installed it on the same computer & they are moving it to
another computer.


"canixs" <canixs@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:A50A1C33-A19E-424F-BF63-E659A8C9FA59@microsoft.com...
>I activated the same key 5 times online in the same computer last week with
>no problem
> "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
> news:uWj7cZvVHHA.4384@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> If you remove Vista from one computer you can install it onto another,
>> but you will likely have to telephone Microsoft to activate it since it's
>> already been installed and activated once.
>>
>> --
>> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@gmail.com
>> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
>> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
>> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>>>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the
>>>full
>>> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
>>> install
>>> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how
>>> do I
>>> reuse the activation key on the second computer?
>>
>>
>

I remember during the "across america" launch event the guy from microsoft
said during the presentation that the automated activation (internet
activation) would work 5 times before you have to start calling in to
activate the OS. I don't believe it matters if you are just changing
motherboards or moving the os to a whole new computer. As long as you
haven't tried activating it 5 times yet you shouldn't have to call to
activate it. yet...


Jeff



"Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
> install
> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do
> I
> reuse the activation key on the second computer?

Several people in this newsgroup have reported that changing out
a failed hard drive and reinstalling Vista will cause automatic
reactivation to fail.

--

Gary VanderMolen


"Jeffrey S. Sparks" <jssparks@bccinfo.com> wrote in message news:9C8F072F-DF2D-407E-839A-3CD6A77EB0E2@microsoft.com...
>I remember during the "across america" launch event the guy from microsoft
> said during the presentation that the automated activation (internet
> activation) would work 5 times before you have to start calling in to
> activate the OS. I don't believe it matters if you are just changing
> motherboards or moving the os to a whole new computer. As long as you
> haven't tried activating it 5 times yet you shouldn't have to call to
> activate it. yet...
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> "Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
>> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
>> install
>> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do
>> I
>> reuse the activation key on the second computer?
>

That's using a Retail Key, not an OEM key.

Also with an OEM key you can do the install 5 times on the same hardware
before you possibly run into issues.

However with an OEM key, if you install it on a new PC then boom. You have
to call the activation center.

"Jeffrey S. Sparks" <jssparks@bccinfo.com> wrote in message
news:9C8F072F-DF2D-407E-839A-3CD6A77EB0E2@microsoft.com...
>I remember during the "across america" launch event the guy from microsoft
>said during the presentation that the automated activation (internet
>activation) would work 5 times before you have to start calling in to
>activate the OS. I don't believe it matters if you are just changing
>motherboards or moving the os to a whole new computer. As long as you
>haven't tried activating it 5 times yet you shouldn't have to call to
>activate it. yet...
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> "Robert" <Robert@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6EC8A0C2-A213-492A-BC60-E2260A279C46@microsoft.com...
>>I purchased online Vista home for my laptop. I have now purchased the full
>> version of Vista Ultimate. I want to use Ultimate on the laptop and
>> install
>> the Home Version on a different computer. Can I do this? And if so how do
>> I
>> reuse the activation key on the second computer?
>