Vista Activation/Key

mealmond

Could somebody confirm if I can use my brothers key or not, as some people are saying I can others say I can't.

I don't want to ruin my system or do something illegal.



Thanks


Martin

alanrowell

My understanding is that MS Vista isn't very accommodating of people reinstalling Vista on the machine the licence was originally used on, let alone another machine.

I would think you have a good chance of finding that you can't install Ultimate at all - and have knackered your Business installation in the process.

Good luck trying it - you'll need it

GoToGal

mealmond wrote: »

Could somebody confirm if I can use my brothers key or not, as some people are saying I can others say I can't.

I don't want to ruin my system or do something illegal.



Thanks


Martin

Try going straight to the source?

Telephone numbers for licensing

0870 6010100 +353 14502113

espresso

GoToGal wrote: »

Try going straight to the source?

Telephone numbers for licensing

0870 6010100 +353 14502113

If you are going to give a number to ring, at least give a freephone number:

0800 0188354

alderney1965dk

Do what I did, as my laptop had a vista activation on the bottom as it was pre-installed, & activated. I bought an OEM copy of vista basic, when it asked me to put in the product key I said no, continued with install and chose premium and used the key on laptop case and it activated.

mealmond

Thanks for all the replies.

I could not get through on th ephone sop I sent an email, which I suppose I should have done at the start.

As I thought, Microsoft are saying as the Ultimate came installed on my brothers laptop it cannot be used on any other computer, which is a shame and seems a waste.

Just checked the Microsoft upgrade, which is just under £100, so I don't think it's really worth me doing now, nerver mind.

It does seem a waste however, but I will just keep Vista Business.

Thanks


Martin

Cat695

swap computers then?

Conor_3

mealmond wrote: »

Could somebody confirm if I can use my brothers key or not, as some people are saying I can others say I can't.

I don't want to ruin my system or do something illegal.

Thanks

Martin

Yes it will work but no it's not legal. The CD Key for his machine is solely for his machine and is not transferrable and cannot be installed on anything but a new computer if he didn't accept the licence when he turned it on the first time - that's the limitations of an OEM licence and why they're cheap. When his computer dies, the licence dies with that machine.

GoToGal

espresso wrote: »

If you are going to give a number to ring, at least give a freephone number:

0800 0188354

I was under the impression that number was only for MSDN technet. No need to be rude espresso, it's possible to be helpful AND polite.

Conor_3

No, it's the number you're given in the Activation Wizard.