Is this both do-able and legal Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Is this both do-able and legal in the Windows Vista forums; Good day I just purchased a new laptop with Windows Vista Home. Its for my daughter at school and we decided that win-xp would be better so I took ...

[trickyrick]

Good day
I just purchased a new laptop with Windows Vista Home. Its for my daughter at school and we decided that win-xp would be better so I took an image of the drive in case I wanted to go back and then installed Win-xp. Now since Im not using vista on the laptop, can I download windows vista off one of the torrent sits on the net and install this on my desktop using the key code that was given to me for the laptop
Thanks
Rick

[Snuffy]

1. Read the EULA which came with the NEW LAPTOP.

2. Over 75% of the Torrent versions downloads for VISTA are known to be
grossly modified, laden with spyware, malware, trojans.
3. Over 90% of the Torrents versions have had major problems while installing.

[JoshW02@hotmail.co.uk]

Why was Xp better mate?

[Znod]

Originally Posted by trickyrick

Good day
I just purchased a new laptop with Windows Vista Home. Its for my daughter at school and we decided that win-xp would be better so I took an image of the drive in case I wanted to go back and then installed Win-xp. Now since Im not using vista on the laptop, can I download windows vista off one of the torrent sits on the net and install this on my desktop using the key code that was given to me for the laptop
Thanks
Rick

Hi Rick:

Using torrents to obtain and use software one is not entitled to is pirating. We do not allow discussions of specific pirating activities here. In this regard, we do not advise on pirating activities. So, for all, I am assuming there will be no discussion here about specific pirating activities other than that initiated by Rick. Thank you.

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by trickyrick

Good day
I just purchased a new laptop with Windows Vista Home. Its for my daughter at school and we decided that win-xp would be better so I took an image of the drive in case I wanted to go back and then installed Win-xp. Now since I'm not using vista on the laptop, can I download windows vista off one of the torrent sits on the net and install this on my desktop using the key code that was given to me for the laptop
Thanks
Rick

You should keep Vista just in case you'd want to go back. Why make an image and then get rid of Vista? If you ever decide to use that image you'll be out of luck.

[crabby]

Your answer is no

The reason for this is that the EULA that will have come with the pre-installed Vista is OEM. OEM licenses do not allow transfers of the operating system.

If you ever used Vista on the laptop (and activated) you wont be able to activate on any other machine.

crabby

[Snuffy]

Also many not all but MOST OEM preinstalled have emulation built in to the image, and will not install unless it sees a LIKE Bios in the other computer.. it is also called proprietary control..my Uncle messed up both computers, trying that...one was Gateway and the other was a Dell...

[trickyrick]

Thanks guy
Let me clarify a few things
First of all my intent is not to steel anything as I have always purchased the newest version of windows

Felix8406 says that taking an image of the Laptop and then formatting the drive and installing XP I will not be able to go back. I’m hoping that he is wrong because I have already done this. I’m assuming that I can format the drive and then just write the image or back up that I took with Acronis True Image and then the Laptop will be just like when I purchased it with Vista.

Now about OEM versions of Vista If OEM versions of Vista look at the hardware settings. Then why can I not use my friends copy of Home Premium (because I didn’t get a copy of Vista with the Laptop) and use my serial No. to install I am assuming that when I purchased the Laptop the price for Windows Vista was built into the price for the Laptop. So why wouldn’t this be ok

Crabby says that the OEM version of Vista is only good for that Laptop. Does this mean that if the Laptop dies in a year or 14 months (outside of the warranty) then my so-called copy of Vista died with it?

Rick

[Znod]

I am not sure why felix said that you could not restore from the image, but he may be right. Maybe you have to retore back to the system/drive you made the image from--even when using True Image. My impression is that keys and disks, whether OEM or not, are not so tightly linked that one cannot use the Vista DVD of another along with his or her key. Also, just in case, are you aware that you can get student upgrade versions of Home Premium for about $70--for example, here: http://www.academicsuperstore.com/. So, whatever happens, you are out no more than $70. Be aware that if you upgrade XP, then its license is no longer valid.

[crabby]

Originally Posted by trickyrick

Crabby says that the OEM version of Vista is only good for that Laptop. Does this mean that if the Laptop dies in a year or 14 months (outside of the warranty) then my so-called copy of Vista died with it?

Rick

Yes, yes yes! It means exactly that! OEM is a single use license that is linked to the system it comes with. You can reinstall as often as you like on that system... but not on any other (legally).

Basically... it isnt YOUR copy of vista... it is the laptops

You can restore a system from an image (as you have in the past).

With regards to using someone elses disk if your OEM is BIOS linked... it would probably be installed, but you still wont be able to activate as the product key (if activated on the laptop) is now linked to the laptop.

crabby