Vista installation and "System Builder"

[baertracks]

I am purchasing a T60 87445BU laptop from Lenovo. It comes with XP on a 120GB 5400 HD. I want to install and try Windows Vista on a second HD that I already have on hand (60GB 7200). If I like it, then I'll use the 60GB as my primary drive and the 120Gb as a backup "ultrabay" drive.

I am, BTW, not looking for a dual boot option. I had a bad experience trying that a couple of years ago.

Anyway, I was about to purchase a full version of Vista Home Premium from Newegg when I noticed that it specified "This OEM software is intended for system builders only and cannot be transferred to another PC once it is installed."

So, here are my questions:

1) Does that mean if I decide I don't like Vista on my laptop that I would not be able to un-install it from the laptop and install in on my desktop instead?

2) Will I run into any problem in moving the HD from the ultrabay to primary and then booting Vista? I can't see why that wouldn't work, but I'd appreciate a confirmation from another Thinkpader before proceeding.

Thanks,
FRANK
Baertracks

[warder]

Providing you don't activate Vista when you install it then you can try before you use.

Basically during the install Vista asks for the product key. You don't have to enter it. If you do not enter it, it asks what version you want to install. Select the one you bought.

You can then trial Vista for so many days before it forces you to activate it.

That way you can do a clean install on a PC you want to try it on and see how it performs. Only activate when happy.

[baertracks]

Providing you don't activate Vista when you install it then you can try before you use.

Thanks! That's very helpful to know.

Do you happen to know if the procedure would be any different with a single user "non-system builder" version of Vista?

FRANK

[kf_man]

Basically, until you put in the key, the disc has no idea whether you bought the "System Builder" version or not...

Also, for your previous questions:

1) Technically doing this is not possible since the version ties itself into the computer. Microsoft has said that the two major components are motherboard and hard drive. The only valid reason for reactivation, according to them, is a "Catastrophic failure." The definition of that is not well-defined and a number of people have had success calling Microsoft to reactivate. Although this is most likely against the EULA, the usual question is "Is you copy of Vista installed on only one PC?"

2) Although I haven't tried it, that should work without issue. As I said above, the activation is based mainly on the hard drive and motherboard. Switching the location of the drive within the same physical computer should not cause a problem. I have read about people having two drives installed and selecting one using the ThinkPad BIOS boot drive selection without issue.

[baertracks]

Basically, until you put in the key, the disc has no idea whether you bought the "System Builder" version or not...

Also, for your previous questions:

Thanks!
That's very helpful.
FRANK

[WilsonF]

If you buy the "full retail" version of Vista you can "move" it from one system to another if you uninstall if from the first system, according to M$.