OEM Operating System questions

[Ianski]

I own a Thinkpad T60 for which I have two operating systems - Windows XP Pro which came with it (and has the COA sticker on the bottom of the unit), and Windows Vista which I purchased the disc and key for through the "upgrade" program through Microsoft/Digital River. When I installed the Windows Vista, I did so on a fresh hard drive, but retained the old XP system on the original drive, as well as the restore discs for it.

The T60 subsequently died, and I purchased a used T61, which has had its hard drive destroyed, to replace it. The T61 has a valid COA sticker but it is for Vista, not XP. It didn't come with any restore discs or a hard drive. So my three choices for O/S for the T61 would be:

install XP from the recovery discs (probably won't work, and possibly not legal, because the license died with the T60)
install Vista using the Vista disc and its key (which might not work because it was previously installed on that T60.)
install Vista using the Vista disc and the key on the T61 (which might not work because of the disc not being the OEM disc...)

Both Vista keys are the 32-bit Business Edition.

My question for the forum is which way I can install the Vista O/S successfully without running afoul of product activation issues - and keeping it legal. I have, essentially, purchased two Vista licenses, so it seems only fair I should be able to use at least one of them.

[ArtShapiro]

It seems pretty clear that you can install Vista on the machine using the disk you purchased. It's not tied to any machine and the original computer is no longer operational.

I don't know if Vista has the same policy as XP, for which Microsoft seemed to clear any knowledge of the key after 120 days. I'd simply try an install, and if it rejected the key as being in-use (as per the preceding sentence) I'd call the activation number, explain the demise of the original machine, and request a new key.

Art

[Terrahawk]

According to the OEM Vista licence, you are allowed to downgrade to Windows XP if you want to or can't find any Vista install discs. You just need to install XP on it using any copy of XP (doesn't matter if it is OEM or retail) and then call Microsoft when the activation fails, if it does.

I think that Vista CDs determine which version to install based on the product key that you type in.