Member Avatar for deerslayer_1704

Hello All,
I recently purchased a used pc that has no installed os or software. However there is a licence key on the pc for windows vista home premium. A firend has a vista home premium disc, and I was wondering if I could use his disc and just put in my key at intallation? Anybody know if this would work?
thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by ilovelinux
rebecca.schoeldgen commented: 7Q96R-CM9RB-2J9R4-8MP4B-6HFMX +0

Dani AI

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Short summary and extra things to check beyond the thread: and already showed a borrowed Vista disc can install, so the immediate “will it run?” question is answered. The missing pieces people often hit are licensing type, OEM pre-activation behavior, media bitness, and what to do if activation is rejected — the bullets below cover those points and realistic next steps.

If the sticker on the case is an OEM/COA key, that license is generally tied to the original machine and may behave differently from a retail key; manufacturers frequently used OEM “SLP” activation that checks the BIOS rather than the printed COA key, so a clean install with generic retail media can still require phone/agent steps to activate. See Microsoft’s activation overview and Microsoft community guidance on license types. Microsoft: Description of Microsoft Product Activation for legacy products. (support.microsoft.com)

Practical checklist before you install: confirm the 25‑character key on the COA and which edition it names; check whether the machine shipped with 32‑bit or 64‑bit Vista (retail keys often work for either architecture but some OEM preloads were limited); look for a manufacturer recovery partition or recovery media first — manufacturers can supply the correct image for that model. Avoid random ISO sites unless you absolutely trust the source. Microsoft community answers recommend borrowing official media or using the vendor recovery media when possible. Microsoft Answers on recovery/media options. (learn.microsoft.com)

If activation fails after install, use the activation wizard’s phone option (run slui.exe 4 on Vista to get the regional automated/phone activation number) and be prepared to speak with the automated system or an agent; Microsoft documents phone/online activation paths for legacy products. If the seller moved the license to another PC or the key is OEM-SLP for a different motherboard, activation will be refused and you’ll need recovery media or a new retail license. How to get phone activation / guidance. (learn.microsoft.com)

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All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for majestic0110

I would be surprised if it did work. I think that each key might be unique to each disc (for home users at least) - to prevent piracy. I might be wrong here though

commented: How did you get so many posts so fast? Pass me, and I'll rep you down on the forums :P. Consider this a warning +3
Member Avatar for scru

I would be surprised if it did work. I think that each key might be unique to each disc (for home users at least) - to prevent piracy. I might be wrong here though

WRONG!

I would be surprised if it DIDN'T work! So long as your key is, in fact, legit, it will install and activate. Remember Vista's protection scheme checks product keys, and not byte code.

EDIT: I re-read your post, so my last EDIT was moot. Yes, so long as you dont change too much of the hardware on it, and so long as the seller hasn't transfered the license to a different computer.

You can also install Vista without a license and use it for 30 days.

commented: Good answer!Thanks for the warning lol +2
Member Avatar for Infarction

You can use the key with any Home Premium disc. You're even allowed to buy another copy and change your key after it's been installed (don't know why they have this feature, but it can be useful if you need a quick install but don't have a new key handy).

commented: Thanks for your help Infarction +1
Member Avatar for deerslayer_1704

Thanks to All who replied to my question. Unfortunatley when I double checked, the disk I have access to is NOT the home premium version as I thought, but vista ultimate. So I guess I'll have to try to find a home premium disc somewhere to use. But at least I have confidence that if I do find one it will work.

Member Avatar for Laser

The ultimate disk will work fine. The product key is what determines which version of vista is installed. I know this for a fact as the notebooks we received for work have vista business license stickers on them but our corporate it group installed win xp on them. I bought a notebook drive and swapped it with the company's drive; installed vista business with my vista ultimate disk I have for my home desktop. Worked perfectly.

commented: You are right. +3
commented: Thanks Laser, problem solved! +1
Member Avatar for holmes008

I think You should contact with the Microsoft Global Technical Deparment
(1800111100) From BSNL & MTNL !

Member Avatar for deerslayer_1704

Thanks or the tip Laser, I'll give it a try.

commented: Yes, Laser is right. +3
Member Avatar for deerslayer_1704

The Vista Ultimate disc did seem to work with my home premium key, just as Laser predicted. Thanks for the help.

Member Avatar for ilovelinux

Me too.
I installed Fedora on my ASUS laptop and it's lovely. But I plan to sell it now and I know it will sell much faster with Windoooooooooos.
Blew away the RP. Now I need a Vista Premium (I have the license) disk. It came with 32-bit which was stupid being that it's a 64-bit system.
I thought you could download Windows versions from Microsoft and make your own CD/DVD. I have a Microsoft professional account (not technet), but it does open more areas. But nagivating the site is making me rip my hair out.
Anyone have the link to downloading full ver Vista Premium 64-bit??????
I will be forever grateful and install any Linux version on your computer for free in return to replace Windooooos. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
If I have to call the Microsoft robot I will slit my wrists.....

Member Avatar for Eumenio

I recently purchased a used pc that has no installed os or software. However there is a licence key on the pc for windows vista home premium. A firend has a vista home premium disc, and I was wondering if I could use his disc and just put in my key at intallation? Anybody know if this would work?

Member Avatar for crunchie

Should work fine :).

Member Avatar for ilovelinux

Well the heck with it, I got the iso from my favorite RS site. Hopefully virus free. I won't pay a cent for licensed software I already own.
BTW, yes any disk will work for the version you have a license for.

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