question on Vista installed in Thinkpad

[ronan_zj]

hmmm, maybe my question is stupid, but i still want to know it.
I just got my Vista Business (not OEM) from powertogether today, but I dont know one product key can be used on how many computers?
Let say, I install Vista into my laptop, and I accidently need to get my motherboard replaced. Does this replacement will be void which means I can no longer install vista into my laptop anymore? So far as I know, I have heared that one product key can be only used on one computer. If I change a new motherboard, I will no longer activate vista again?

[DAH]

Well it's unlikely that you are going to go down to the local Computer-R-Us and buy a new motherboard for your laptop, so you should be find, your laptop maker can program the motherboard for your laptop to appear the same.

On the other hand someone who's planning on buying one copy and installing it on multiple computers is going to have problems. A lot depends on how honest you are. I wouldn't be planning on buying my next laptop out of someone's trunk, on the corner.

[rvacha]

I guess it depends on what you bought from Powertogether. Perhaps it is a volume license key? If so, it covers more than one machine. I purchsed a VLK that allows me to install on five machines at once and can switch the VLK to one other machine, for a total of 10 machines (but only five at a time)

Regardless of the offical usage rights you have, I have found that if you personally call MS and explain why you are trying to put it on another machine (or a rebuilt machine), they will generally allow it (as long as the old machine no longer runs it) if the story is reasonable. For example, I dumped one PC for another, transfered the license, then the new machine's mobo died an ugly death, so I essentially totally rebuilt it. MS had no problem with this and gave me a new license over the phone. Took a grand total of 15 minutes.