Reinstall OEM version?

I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.

I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.

Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?

James

James Ivey wrote:
> I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>
> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.
>
> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?

On the same PC? Yes.
--
Tom Porterfield

Today, James Ivey made these interesting comments ...

> I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>
> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.

why on God's Green Earth do you do this???

> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?
>
> James
--
HP, aka Jerry

Thanks Tom,

What is the Activation tied to? harddrive Volume ID? Motherboard?

In other words, say I install a new harddrive and want to install Vista on
the new drive, will it let me?

I guess what I'm asking is, what constitutes a "new PC" in the OEM Vista
world?

James


"Tom Porterfield" <> wrote in message
news:...
> James Ivey wrote:
>> I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>>
>> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.
>>
>> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?
>
> On the same PC? Yes.
> --
> Tom Porterfield

I'm in Tech Support and like to keep my skills sharp. Plus I really like the
feeling of a nice, clean box. Kinda like detailing your car.

James

"HEMI-Powered" <> wrote in message
news:Xns990A602E6E65AReplyScoreID@216.168.3.30...
> why on God's Green Earth do you do this???

Everything I've heard said it's tied to the motherboard. But that's
fourth-hand info coming from me, so don't depend on that.
I think you can even change CPUs to the same motherboard without having an
activation problem.


"James Ivey" <> wrote in message
news:uLddc$...
> Thanks Tom,
>
> What is the Activation tied to? harddrive Volume ID? Motherboard?
>
> In other words, say I install a new harddrive and want to install Vista on
> the new drive, will it let me?
>
> I guess what I'm asking is, what constitutes a "new PC" in the OEM Vista
> world?
>
> James
>
>
> "Tom Porterfield" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> James Ivey wrote:
>>> I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>>>
>>> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.
>>>
>>> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?
>>
>> On the same PC? Yes.
>> --
>> Tom Porterfield
>
>

If you are using a "branded" OEM disk (such as Dell, Compaq, HP, etc.), you
can normally reinstall on the same PC as many times as you like with
automatic activation. However, if you are using a generic OEM disk, the
second and subsequent times you use the OEM license key, you will be
required to call MS to activate. You will be given the phone number during
the installation. No big deal, 15 minutes. As long as you always reinstall
on the same machine you'll be good.

-Frank

"James Ivey" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm in Tech Support and like to keep my skills sharp. Plus I really like
> the feeling of a nice, clean box. Kinda like detailing your car.
>
> James
>
> "HEMI-Powered" <> wrote in message
> news:Xns990A602E6E65AReplyScoreID@216.168.3.30...
>> why on God's Green Earth do you do this???
>
>

Thanks DP. Appreciate the response.

James

"DP" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Everything I've heard said it's tied to the motherboard. But that's
> fourth-hand info coming from me, so don't depend on that.
> I think you can even change CPUs to the same motherboard without having an
> activation problem.
>
>
> "James Ivey" <> wrote in message
> news:uLddc$...
>> Thanks Tom,
>>
>> What is the Activation tied to? harddrive Volume ID? Motherboard?
>>
>> In other words, say I install a new harddrive and want to install Vista
>> on the new drive, will it let me?
>>
>> I guess what I'm asking is, what constitutes a "new PC" in the OEM Vista
>> world?
>>
>> James
>>
>>
>> "Tom Porterfield" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> James Ivey wrote:
>>>> I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>>>>
>>>> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.
>>>>
>>>> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?
>>>
>>> On the same PC? Yes.
>>> --
>>> Tom Porterfield
>>
>>
>

Thank you Frank. Appreciate the info. Its a "retail" OEM version. I
bought it at Fry's Electronics (retail store). Guess I'll be doing the
15-minute Activation. No big deal.

Thanks again.

James

"Frankster" <> wrote in message
news:dJWdnSY5G4-...
> If you are using a "branded" OEM disk (such as Dell, Compaq, HP, etc.),
> you can normally reinstall on the same PC as many times as you like with
> automatic activation. However, if you are using a generic OEM disk, the
> second and subsequent times you use the OEM license key, you will be
> required to call MS to activate. You will be given the phone number during
> the installation. No big deal, 15 minutes. As long as you always reinstall
> on the same machine you'll be good.
>
> -Frank
>
> "James Ivey" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I'm in Tech Support and like to keep my skills sharp. Plus I really like
>> the feeling of a nice, clean box. Kinda like detailing your car.
>>
>> James
>>
>> "HEMI-Powered" <> wrote in message
>> news:Xns990A602E6E65AReplyScoreID@216.168.3.30...
>>> why on God's Green Earth do you do this???
>>
>>
>

"James Ivey" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I bought an OEM version of Home Premium.
>
> I like to format my harddrive every couple of months and reload.
>
> Will I be able to reinstall Vista multiple times?
>
> James
>

And why do you need to activate then? You know you can run Vista for 120
days without activating.