OEM product key restrictions ?

Can someone tell me what sort of restrictions having OEM product key causes , and what is the best way of resolving of it ? ( even if your manufacture warranty has expired )


thanks

snoko

Hi snoko,

You can use an OEM product key only on the computer on which the product was originally installed. It cannot be transferred to another computer. Also, if you make too many hardware changes to the computer (like updating the motherboard especially), then it will view the computer as a different computer and you may not be able to use the OEM product key to re-install the system (or if you do, it may not be possible to activate it). Otherwise, the OEM product key is pretty much the same as a retail product key and doesn't "restrict" Vista in any way that I'm aware of.

It would help if you would simply describe the problem you are having. What exactly are you trying to do and why are you trying to do it? Is the computer not working at all, does it have a virus, are you getting error messages (if so, what exactly word-for-word), is the computer partially functional but having troubles (if so, what troubles)? There's no way to suggest a "fix" unless we know what is going wrong. Please include your version of Vista (e.g., 32-bit Vista Business SP2) and the manufacturer, make, and model of your computer (a link to the website showing the precise computer would be very helpful). What does the warranty have to do with the problem (other than that they possibly won't help you without charging you for it)?

Thanks and good luck!

Lorien said:

Hi snoko,

You can use an OEM product key only on the computer on which the product was originally installed. It cannot be transferred to another computer. Also, if you make too many hardware changes to the computer (like updating the motherboard especially), then it will view the computer as a different computer and you may not be able to use the OEM product key to re-install the system (or if you do, it may not be possible to activate it). Otherwise, the OEM product key is pretty much the same as a retail product key and doesn't "restrict" Vista in any way that I'm aware of.

It would help if you would simply describe the problem you are having. What exactly are you trying to do and why are you trying to do it? Is the computer not working at all, does it have a virus, are you getting error messages (if so, what exactly word-for-word), is the computer partially functional but having troubles (if so, what troubles)? There's no way to suggest a "fix" unless we know what is going wrong. Please include your version of Vista (e.g., 32-bit Vista Business SP2) and the manufacturer, make, and model of your computer (a link to the website showing the precise computer would be very helpful). What does the warranty have to do with the problem (other than that they possibly won't help you without charging you for it)?

Thanks and good luck!

Click to expand...

Hi,

I actually posted about this problem before ( see link below )

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/285590-windows-home-premium-installation-issue.html

my pc details ( as it wont let me in ) are below

http://www.vistax64.com/general-dis...t-750gb-just-died-suggestions-welcomed-2.html

I didnt want to upgrade this because every time ive installed new service packs they have slowed my pc down considerably - i dont know why - but in the end i just gave up a lont time ago because it happened time and time again i.e. so id end up doing systems restores ( though at the point my pc issues started this wasnt even an option )

I will come clean and admit that i used another product key when using the installation disk but not because I didnt have one , but because the one I had didnt work then either , as doesnt now .

In hindsight i should of mentioned this but you can thank 3 months of being housebound by ill health (in im disabled ) plus the fact compaq , pc world and microsoft seemed to playing piggy in the middle with me , that caused me to get feed up . ( continually getting dead lines or someone hanging up after going through 5 ,6,8 automated machines )

My warranty has expired but still I can prove this is legit and im even staring at the damm product key on my desktop , so why it didnt work or is not working is beyond me.

It cantbedisk installation software I downloaded either or else the key I used wouldntf worked at all for the 4 wks it did.

When i tried to contact someone at microsoft of course they just refer me to their own crappy forum ( where no one replies ) unless I phone and wait on their phone line which is always busy night / day , and i still cant get through.

so what am i supposed to do ??

No one is going to discuss my product key details on a forum so it pretty much leaves me with O and picture of Bill Gates laughing to himself while he pretends to be HUMANITRIAN by setting up PR stunt charities ( sic )

The bottom line is that i bought this, I have the code so as you say it should work,
I shouldnt have to pay or go through forums just to find out why , and be made to feel like criminal because of their stupid key wont work.

And if it doensnt work then isnt the seller or someone regardless of warranty time obliged to help for free - esp when you consider that NO ONE told me about the issues with these stupid keys to start with ,because apparently Im not alone .

ps. excuse the typos , my hands are not esp great


snoko

I finally managed to get somewhere here https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?st=1&as=1&as=1&tzone=0&gprid=11732&timestmp=634298047101690420&ps=1&acty=ProductList&ctl=productlist&wf=PID&trl=PID%7eProductList&sd=gn&c=SMC&ln=en-gb&prid=10296&gsaid=436922

but neither of the codes on the Vista microsoft label on my desktop are being recognised.

and if i dont enter a valid one ( because it wont work ) I to have to pay £46 just to get help , because they dont seem factor faulty OEM codes as being something that could happen.

Hi snoko,

Chances are that it worked for 4 weeks because it doesn't need a key for the first 4 weeks (or will accept the wrong one but won't activate properly) and after that it will continue to work only if activated and it seems that has not happened. It could easily be the disk and/or the product key you used.

Remember, whatever you used to install the program (I don't want to know how you did it), it must be a genuine Vista Installation Disk of the same bit-size or a Recovery Disk from the Manufacturer. If you downloaded some torrent or used a non-genuine disk (like one from a different OEM manufacturer), there's no telling what you got and it may have been only applicable to a specific version of Vista (or only good for upgrades) and thus the product key would not work (plus the disk or download may also be defective and that may also be preventing activation). Start by making sure you're using the correct disk to install and, if not, get one the proper way to do the installation.

If it was installed by you, the product key on the PC is the same as the one you entered - it does not have the "original" stored anywhere after you re-installed. If it is the same program installed by the manufacturer, then the key on the label on the side of the machine is the right one to use. It should be a 25-digit alphanumeric code of 5 sets of 5 digits separated by dashes. Sometimes automatic activation doesn't work. The only real solution is to contact Microsoft and activate the product manually (I realize it's time-consuming, but it's the only way to resolve the problem assuming you used a legal, valid, and proper disk to do the installation).

To manually activate, go to start, search box and type in slui 4 and enter. Enter your country and press next. You'll be on a screen with a phone number and a bunch of codes at the bottom. Call the number and wade through the automated prompts until you reach a human. Yes, it may take a while, but you'll evenutally get there - be patient. Have your product code handy as it will be requested. Explain the situation and it's only installed on that one PC. You may need to re-install if the incorrect version is installed right now as the product key on the PC will only work with the correct version of Vista - so you would need to install the proper version. If it is correct, they should give you a code to enter on that screen to activate Vista.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Lorien said:

Hi snoko,

Chances are that it worked for 4 weeks because it doesn't need a key for the first 4 weeks (or will accept the wrong one but won't activate properly) and after that it will continue to work only if activated and it seems that has not happened. It could easily be the disk and/or the product key you used.

Remember, whatever you used to install the program (I don't want to know how you did it), it must be a genuine Vista Installation Disk of the same bit-size or a Recovery Disk from the Manufacturer. If you downloaded some torrent or used a non-genuine disk (like one from a different OEM manufacturer), there's no telling what you got and it may have been only applicable to a specific version of Vista (or only good for upgrades) and thus the product key would not work (plus the disk or download may also be defective and that may also be preventing activation). Start by making sure you're using the correct disk to install and, if not, get one the proper way to do the installation.

If it was installed by you, the product key on the PC is the same as the one you entered - it does not have the "original" stored anywhere after you re-installed. If it is the same program installed by the manufacturer, then the key on the label on the side of the machine is the right one to use. It should be a 25-digit alphanumeric code of 5 sets of 5 digits separated by dashes. Sometimes automatic activation doesn't work. The only real solution is to contact Microsoft and activate the product manually (I realize it's time-consuming, but it's the only way to resolve the problem assuming you used a legal, valid, and proper disk to do the installation).

To manually activate, go to start, search box and type in slui 4 and enter. Enter your country and press next. You'll be on a screen with a phone number and a bunch of codes at the bottom. Call the number and wade through the automated prompts until you reach a human. Yes, it may take a while, but you'll evenutally get there - be patient. Have your product code handy as it will be requested. Explain the situation and it's only installed on that one PC. You may need to re-install if the incorrect version is installed right now as the product key on the PC will only work with the correct version of Vista - so you would need to install the proper version. If it is correct, they should give you a code to enter on that screen to activate Vista.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

Hi Lorien,

I spoke to Pcworld and it seems I specifically need to order the recovery disk from compaq as this wont accept installation disks ( although I did wipe the hard drive with it)

As you say maybe its just worked for short time , as I seem to remember it asking me to validate but thinking it might cause more problems i.e. if it detected my key was faulty

The product key I have on the label is 25 characters so it sounds more like I have the wrong installation disk rather than key, I will buy the recovery then and see.

thanks again - sorry for my little rant there

snoko

Hi snoko,

No problem - I'm glad you've found a proper path and are going to take it. I'm sure it will resolve your problem (or the procedures I listed above will work this time with the proper disk and installed program).

Thanks for the feedback - it is appreciated and will help others who have the same problem.

Good luck and best wishes.

P.S. Just in case it's true, PLEASE stay away from those torrent and other file sharing sites (unless specifically directed to one by a truly reliable source which is exceedingly rare) as they are filled with bad programs, loaded with malware and hacking programs, and can cause terrible harm to your system well beyond just the program you think you are downloading and installing. Even the best security software and firewall settings in the world won't protect you from everything - especially if you grant permission to do the installations. This is just some sage advice to hopefully keep you from returning here with an even greater problem (serious infections, identity theft, damages to the system, programs, and/or registry beyond repair, and so on). I hope you heed it (if applicable).