Updating from Home Premium to Ultimate and moving Home Premium

I have a computer that runs Home Premium and another one that runs XP. The
Home Premium came as a OEM disc with the new system. Now I want to upgrade
the Home Premium computer to Vista Ultimate and move the Home Premium to the
XP computer. I have a new (non OEM) version of Vista Ultimate on a separate
disc.

The Question:

How do I update the Home Premium computer to Ultimate without losing what's
already on it? And after doing so, can I install the Home Premium package on
another computer or do I have to do something to move the license to the
other computer like you do with Adobe software?

I have two licenses - just need to swap them without losing all my data and
software.

thanks

Hi,

To start with, and OEM license is not transferable. It is only valid for the
hardware it is first activated on. In the case of a preinstalled OEM
version, this means that the license to use Vista is permanently tied to the
computer it comes with.

So, to your situation:

a) You cannot use the OEM Home Premium on a different machine than it came
with.

b) You can upgrade the Home Premium to Ultimate using a retail full version
or upgrade and it should preserve user accounts, data, programs, and
settings.

c) For the XP system, you'll need a separate upgrade license.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"mor10" <> wrote in message
news:5292D106-6034-4339-98D2-...
>I have a computer that runs Home Premium and another one that runs XP. The
> Home Premium came as a OEM disc with the new system. Now I want to upgrade
> the Home Premium computer to Vista Ultimate and move the Home Premium to
> the
> XP computer. I have a new (non OEM) version of Vista Ultimate on a
> separate
> disc.
>
> The Question:
>
> How do I update the Home Premium computer to Ultimate without losing
> what's
> already on it? And after doing so, can I install the Home Premium package
> on
> another computer or do I have to do something to move the license to the
> other computer like you do with Adobe software?
>
> I have two licenses - just need to swap them without losing all my data
> and
> software.
>
> thanks

ummm... the computer that came with the OEM disc was custom built and came
preinstalled with absolutely nothing. I installed Vista myself on the blank
system. are you saying the program somehow notifies Microsoft of the stats of
the system AFTER it is installed and that way ties the OS to that computer?
In that case, what happens when I rip out the motherboard or switch
processors or something like that? I'm sorry but it doesn't really make sense

mor10

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> To start with, and OEM license is not transferable. It is only valid for the
> hardware it is first activated on. In the case of a preinstalled OEM
> version, this means that the license to use Vista is permanently tied to the
> computer it comes with.
>
> So, to your situation:
>
> a) You cannot use the OEM Home Premium on a different machine than it came
> with.
>
> b) You can upgrade the Home Premium to Ultimate using a retail full version
> or upgrade and it should preserve user accounts, data, programs, and
> settings.
>
> c) For the XP system, you'll need a separate upgrade license.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "mor10" <> wrote in message
> news:5292D106-6034-4339-98D2-...
> >I have a computer that runs Home Premium and another one that runs XP. The
> > Home Premium came as a OEM disc with the new system. Now I want to upgrade
> > the Home Premium computer to Vista Ultimate and move the Home Premium to
> > the
> > XP computer. I have a new (non OEM) version of Vista Ultimate on a
> > separate
> > disc.
> >
> > The Question:
> >
> > How do I update the Home Premium computer to Ultimate without losing
> > what's
> > already on it? And after doing so, can I install the Home Premium package
> > on
> > another computer or do I have to do something to move the license to the
> > other computer like you do with Adobe software?
> >
> > I have two licenses - just need to swap them without losing all my data
> > and
> > software.
> >
> > thanks
>
>

Hi,

An OEM version is permanently tied to the first system it is activated on
and is not transferable to a different system. This is a well-established
limitation of the OEM license, and one reason why it is cheaper than a
retail version. While you can make some upgrades or replacements to the
system, major changes are not allowed, nor can you remove it from the system
entirely and then install and activate it on another system. An OEM license
lives and dies on the system it is first activated on.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"mor10" <> wrote in message
newsABF3376-2AA7-4A65-8334-...
> ummm... the computer that came with the OEM disc was custom built and came
> preinstalled with absolutely nothing. I installed Vista myself on the
> blank
> system. are you saying the program somehow notifies Microsoft of the stats
> of
> the system AFTER it is installed and that way ties the OS to that
> computer?
> In that case, what happens when I rip out the motherboard or switch
> processors or something like that? I'm sorry but it doesn't really make
> sense
>
> mor10
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> To start with, and OEM license is not transferable. It is only valid for
>> the
>> hardware it is first activated on. In the case of a preinstalled OEM
>> version, this means that the license to use Vista is permanently tied to
>> the
>> computer it comes with.
>>
>> So, to your situation:
>>
>> a) You cannot use the OEM Home Premium on a different machine than it
>> came
>> with.
>>
>> b) You can upgrade the Home Premium to Ultimate using a retail full
>> version
>> or upgrade and it should preserve user accounts, data, programs, and
>> settings.
>>
>> c) For the XP system, you'll need a separate upgrade license.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "mor10" <> wrote in message
>> news:5292D106-6034-4339-98D2-...
>> >I have a computer that runs Home Premium and another one that runs XP.
>> >The
>> > Home Premium came as a OEM disc with the new system. Now I want to
>> > upgrade
>> > the Home Premium computer to Vista Ultimate and move the Home Premium
>> > to
>> > the
>> > XP computer. I have a new (non OEM) version of Vista Ultimate on a
>> > separate
>> > disc.
>> >
>> > The Question:
>> >
>> > How do I update the Home Premium computer to Ultimate without losing
>> > what's
>> > already on it? And after doing so, can I install the Home Premium
>> > package
>> > on
>> > another computer or do I have to do something to move the license to
>> > the
>> > other computer like you do with Adobe software?
>> >
>> > I have two licenses - just need to swap them without losing all my data
>> > and
>> > software.
>> >
>> > thanks
>>
>>

Are you sure that the Home Premium disc is OEM? Did you purchase it from a
system builder? Since you installed Home Premium to the custom built PC, I
suppose you could install it to the other computer, but you may need to call for
activation.
Rick is correct. An OEM install of Windows is tied to the PC as it is only meant
to be supplied with the PC by the system builder. It is therefore not
transferable. Assuming that you bought the OEM copy of Vista and had the PC
built for you (or built it yourself) as long as that copy of Vista only exists
on a single PC, you will be okay - assuming that it can be activated on the
other PC.
-steve


mor10 <> wrote:

>ummm... the computer that came with the OEM disc was custom built and came
>preinstalled with absolutely nothing. I installed Vista myself on the blank
>system. are you saying the program somehow notifies Microsoft of the stats of
>the system AFTER it is installed and that way ties the OS to that computer?
>In that case, what happens when I rip out the motherboard or switch
>processors or something like that? I'm sorry but it doesn't really make sense
>
>mor10
>
>"Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> To start with, and OEM license is not transferable. It is only valid for the
>> hardware it is first activated on. In the case of a preinstalled OEM
>> version, this means that the license to use Vista is permanently tied to the
>> computer it comes with.
>>
>> So, to your situation:
>>
>> a) You cannot use the OEM Home Premium on a different machine than it came
>> with.
>>
>> b) You can upgrade the Home Premium to Ultimate using a retail full version
>> or upgrade and it should preserve user accounts, data, programs, and
>> settings.
>>
>> c) For the XP system, you'll need a separate upgrade license.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "mor10" <> wrote in message
>> news:5292D106-6034-4339-98D2-...
>> >I have a computer that runs Home Premium and another one that runs XP. The
>> > Home Premium came as a OEM disc with the new system. Now I want to upgrade
>> > the Home Premium computer to Vista Ultimate and move the Home Premium to
>> > the
>> > XP computer. I have a new (non OEM) version of Vista Ultimate on a
>> > separate
>> > disc.
>> >
>> > The Question:
>> >
>> > How do I update the Home Premium computer to Ultimate without losing
>> > what's
>> > already on it? And after doing so, can I install the Home Premium package
>> > on
>> > another computer or do I have to do something to move the license to the
>> > other computer like you do with Adobe software?
>> >
>> > I have two licenses - just need to swap them without losing all my data
>> > and
>> > software.
>> >
>> > thanks
>>
>>

--
Stephen Boots
MVP Windows Live
Windows Live OneCare Forum Moderator

The Home Premium disc is definitely OEM - it came with a white paper wrapping
that states "OEM System Builder Pack".

Sounds like I have to reevaluate my plan and install the Ultimate package on
my other computer instead. That leads to one final question.

The computer I would install it on (which currently runs XP) will be
replaced with a new one within 6 months and I'd want to transfer Ultimate to
the new one. The Ultimate disc is not OEM but a full version. Based on what
you guys are saying I'm assuming I won't have the same transfer problem with
the Ultimate disc, correct? I can just install it on a new PC as long as I
remove it from the old one?

"StephenB" wrote:

> Are you sure that the Home Premium disc is OEM? Did you purchase it from a
> system builder? Since you installed Home Premium to the custom built PC, I
> suppose you could install it to the other computer, but you may need to call for
> activation.
> Rick is correct. An OEM install of Windows is tied to the PC as it is only meant
> to be supplied with the PC by the system builder. It is therefore not
> transferable. Assuming that you bought the OEM copy of Vista and had the PC
> built for you (or built it yourself) as long as that copy of Vista only exists
> on a single PC, you will be okay - assuming that it can be activated on the
> other PC.
> -steve
>
>
>

Hi,

If it is a retail version of Ultimate, you can move it from one system to a
new one as you see fit. This is one benefit of retail over OEM. Activation
will merely require a phone call.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"mor10" <> wrote in message
news:01885FFE-BF76-474C-8261-...
> The Home Premium disc is definitely OEM - it came with a white paper
> wrapping
> that states "OEM System Builder Pack".
>
> Sounds like I have to reevaluate my plan and install the Ultimate package
> on
> my other computer instead. That leads to one final question.
>
> The computer I would install it on (which currently runs XP) will be
> replaced with a new one within 6 months and I'd want to transfer Ultimate
> to
> the new one. The Ultimate disc is not OEM but a full version. Based on
> what
> you guys are saying I'm assuming I won't have the same transfer problem
> with
> the Ultimate disc, correct? I can just install it on a new PC as long as I
> remove it from the old one?
>
> "StephenB" wrote:
>
>> Are you sure that the Home Premium disc is OEM? Did you purchase it from
>> a
>> system builder? Since you installed Home Premium to the custom built PC,
>> I
>> suppose you could install it to the other computer, but you may need to
>> call for
>> activation.
>> Rick is correct. An OEM install of Windows is tied to the PC as it is
>> only meant
>> to be supplied with the PC by the system builder. It is therefore not
>> transferable. Assuming that you bought the OEM copy of Vista and had the
>> PC
>> built for you (or built it yourself) as long as that copy of Vista only
>> exists
>> on a single PC, you will be okay - assuming that it can be activated on
>> the
>> other PC.
>> -steve
>>
>>
>>