Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall.

dmccaulley · 07-12-2008, 09:11 PM

Ok, so i bought an OEM copy of vista for a customer. I built their system, installed it, then they said they spent too much on it and had all the parts returned. I picked up this copy of vista on my own at a store, and I cant return it.

From what I have heard about the OEM versions of vista they tie themselves to the motherboard of the system they are installed on. Apparently there is a loop hole, if you call microsoft and say that your MB died they will re-activate the key for you.

I called microsoft the other day about this and the guy said no, they dont tie to the motherboard, and as long as the key is not currently in use I can install it on any system.

I just decided to use this copy of vista for myself, but when I boot from the CD I get the vista loading bar, then it gets to the vista login screen, but its only the background image... nothing else happens. Does anyone have some first hand experience with OEM copies of vista? Was the tech support guy at microsoft just an idiot, or was he right... and perhaps there is just an issue on my end.

thanks in advance.

-dan

**sobeit** · 07-13-2008, 02:43 AM

oem software is tied to the motherboard it was originally installed on. The loophole is only good if replaced with the very same motherboard.

All we have to go by is what is in microsfts eula that we must agree to when installing. IMO, if any microsoft employee says anything different - get it in writing.

**Placehold** · 07-13-2008, 06:10 AM

I think to be honest it all depends on which Microsoft advisor you speak to,
I have fixed an broken motherboard on someone's PC in the past 3 weeks, They also had OEM and i ripped the partition onto an external hard drive

I then reinstalled it back into the PC and it worked, This was after re installation, i had however replaced it with the exact motherboard that i took out.

My advice would be to call Microsoft again and get a second opinion from the tech team and see if they tell you any differently

As Sobeit advised it normally is tied to the motherboard

Regards

Craig

dmccaulley · 07-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Ugh... right now microsoft has me running around in circles.

I call one number, they give me another one to call. I call that one, they transfer me to anoher, then I am told to call the first number back... what a freakin nightmare.

Microsoft has about a million different support phone numbers. Can anyone help me find the right one to call about this?

thanks.

-dan

**Placehold** · 07-14-2008, 12:43 PM

You can locate details of how to contact Microsoft at this link

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...6&gprid=436922

Regards

Craig

07-12-2008, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
dmccaulley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14 OS: XP w sp2	Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall. Ok, so i bought an OEM copy of vista for a customer. I built their system, installed it, then they said they spent too much on it and had all the parts returned. I picked up this copy of vista on my own at a store, and I cant return it. From what I have heard about the OEM versions of vista they tie themselves to the motherboard of the system they are installed on. Apparently there is a loop hole, if you call microsoft and say that your MB died they will re-activate the key for you. I called microsoft the other day about this and the guy said no, they dont tie to the motherboard, and as long as the key is not currently in use I can install it on any system. I just decided to use this copy of vista for myself, but when I boot from the CD I get the vista loading bar, then it gets to the vista login screen, but its only the background image... nothing else happens. Does anyone have some first hand experience with OEM copies of vista? Was the tech support guy at microsoft just an idiot, or was he right... and perhaps there is just an issue on my end. thanks in advance. -dan

07-13-2008, 02:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,387 OS: windows/linux	Re: Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall. oem software is tied to the motherboard it was originally installed on. The loophole is only good if replaced with the very same motherboard. All we have to go by is what is in microsfts eula that we must agree to when installing. IMO, if any microsoft employee says anything different - get it in writing. __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

07-13-2008, 06:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Placehold Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 847 OS: Vista home Premium My System	Re: Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall. I think to be honest it all depends on which Microsoft advisor you speak to, I have fixed an broken motherboard on someone's PC in the past 3 weeks, They also had OEM and i ripped the partition onto an external hard drive I then reinstalled it back into the PC and it worked, This was after re installation, i had however replaced it with the exact motherboard that i took out. My advice would be to call Microsoft again and get a second opinion from the tech team and see if they tell you any differently As Sobeit advised it normally is tied to the motherboard Regards Craig __________________ Last edited by Placehold : 07-13-2008 at 06:11 AM.

07-14-2008, 12:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
dmccaulley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14 OS: XP w sp2	Re: Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall. Ugh... right now microsoft has me running around in circles. I call one number, they give me another one to call. I call that one, they transfer me to anoher, then I am told to call the first number back... what a freakin nightmare. Microsoft has about a million different support phone numbers. Can anyone help me find the right one to call about this? thanks. -dan

07-14-2008, 12:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Placehold Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 847 OS: Vista home Premium My System	Re: Vista Home Premium 64bit - OEM reinstall. You can locate details of how to contact Microsoft at this link http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...6&gprid=436922 Regards Craig __________________