Vista - HELP Please!

Kind of new to the PC world and I need help...I have a problem on my motherboard suddenly on which I had my Vista Home Premium 32-bit for ages, and I have to go to a new motherboard. I want to use my current OS, but do not have an install disc. I will be using all my current peripherals, HD, memory Graphics.

Will be going from a:
*Compaq Presario KQ513AA-ABA SR5510F X86
*AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+,
2600 Mhz, 2 core(s), 2 Logical Processors
to
*ASUS M3A79-T Deluxe AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX
AMD Motherboard
*AMD Phenom 9950 Agena 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache
2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black
Edition Processor.

I would hate to lose my carefully nursed system. Thank You

Can somebody please recommend a way to overcome this. I can already see
problems if I switch the new PC on

Brandon

You will have to face the facts that the preinstalled copy of Vista will be remaining on the Compaq Presario KQ513AA-ABA SR5510F X86 in use there. To see Windows installed on a brand new custom build you will need to buy a full install disk OEM or Retail for a totall new installation of Vista there.

Well shouldn't I be able to reinstall it on a different computer? considering that I payed for it an own it, What would be the difference if I payed for a disc or if I bought it included with my previous tower. Either way it's a copy I own and I payed for . So why would I have to buy a new OS? How come I can not just transfer or swap?

Thank you for your assistance.

Hi bmiller450 and welcome to Vista Forums

I take it that your Compaq Presario came with Vista pre-installed. If this is the case, then it was an OEM version. These versions live and die on the first system that they are installed on, and cannot be transferred to other systems. There are exceptions to this, the main one being if your replace your motherboard with an identical model, including the same BIOS revision. In those cases, it is possible to use the same copy, although it is not guaranteed.

To further confuse matters, it is possible to install OEM versions on multiple systems, although if you try to activate them you will fail and could possibly cause the system that has been legitimately activated with this copy to subsequently fail the periodic genuine validation checks.

It is much safer to obtain a copy of the retail version and use that - these can be installed on multiple machines (providing that you buy separate licences for each machine, as a single licence - indicated by the unique product key - can only be installed on a single system). Should one of these systems die, then with the retail version it is possible to install it on a completely new system without any problems. You will have to ensure that you remove it completely from the original system, and will probably have to activate it (at least for the first time) via the phone and by speaking to an activation operative.

Some additional information that may help you understand this better bmiller450 is explained on the MS pages on the EULA and volume licensing like Dwarf is explaining to you there.

How many different computers can I install Windows Vista on using the same product key?

The number of computers on which you can install Windows Vista depends on the software license. For example:

• If you acquire Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product), it may only be installed on one computer at a time. You may choose to uninstall Windows Vista from the initial computer and install it on another computer. You will then be required to re-activate that copy of Windows on the new computer.
• If you acquire Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer, it may only be used on that computer.
• If you acquire Windows Vista via a volume license, visit the Windows Vista Volume Activation page.
• http://www.microsoft.com/india/windo...vationfaq.mspx