Product Key changed

hello
I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
then I noticed,

the Product ID and Product Key have changed.

(that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
all seems to run fine

Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
or should I change it back to the original as first recorded

Fritz

Windows is installed with the manufacturer's key at the factory. If
reinstalling then you use the key supplied which is specific to you.

--
..
--
"silver hair" <birds@theborder> wrote in message
news:E88717C7-C265-4EB5-A6F3-...
> hello
> I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
> and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
> then I noticed,
>
> the Product ID and Product Key have changed.
>
> (that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
> windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
> all seems to run fine
>
> Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
> or should I change it back to the original as first recorded
>
> Fritz
>

silver hair wrote:
> hello
> I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
> and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
> then I noticed,
>
> the Product ID and Product Key have changed.
>
> (that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
> windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
> all seems to run fine
>
> Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
> or should I change it back to the original as first recorded
>
> Fritz
>


The Product *ID* is created algorithmically during the installation
process and is prominently displayed on the General Properties tab of
the My Computer icon. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical
support (limited though that may be) from Microsoft. It is also
partially date-dependent, so will vary every time you perform an
installation using the same Product Key.

If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation. The Product Key printed on your CoA Label will
definitely be different, and it what should be used for installation.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

thank you
I did change the key to whats on the label on the tower
and the 20 digit OEM number also change back
to what I had writing down at one time
same time I wrote down the 25 digit key

all is well
thanks
Fritz

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> silver hair wrote:
> > hello
> > I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
> > and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
> > then I noticed,
> >
> > the Product ID and Product Key have changed.
> >
> > (that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
> > windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
> > all seems to run fine
> >
> > Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
> > or should I change it back to the original as first recorded
> >
> > Fritz
> >
>
>
> The Product *ID* is created algorithmically during the installation
> process and is prominently displayed on the General Properties tab of
> the My Computer icon. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical
> support (limited though that may be) from Microsoft. It is also
> partially date-dependent, so will vary every time you perform an
> installation using the same Product Key.
>
> If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
> reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
> image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
> it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
> re-installation. The Product Key printed on your CoA Label will
> definitely be different, and it what should be used for installation.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot
> .
>