Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows Vista > Vista General Discussion > Buying Vista to replace an non-legit copy

Buying Vista to replace an non-legit copy

Forum Windows Vista : Vista General Discussion - Buying Vista to replace an non-legit copy

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
embowe   03-08-2008 at 03:21:11 PM

I have a slight problem that I am hoping can be resolved quickly. I was given a copy of vista from a collegue in work...apparently its not a legit copy...it installed but said my product key is not valid...If I go buy a System builders copy of Vista (my local Microcenter has them on sale) Can I just go into the control panel and change the product key and re-activate windows without having to reinstall/reformat

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
rlsuth   03-08-2008 at 07:10:51 PM
- 0 +

Better just to go back to your original Windows XP.

Reply to rlsuth
ohiou_grad_06   03-09-2008 at 06:13:16 AM
- 0 +

You may have to do a reinstall if you buy a new one. Just get your data off and either go back to windows xp, or get a legit vista copy.

Reply to ohiou_grad_06
Scotteq   03-10-2008 at 02:42:52 PM
- 0 +

....or call Microsoft, tell them that Vista isn't accepting the key you have and ask what you need to do to make sure your copy is legitimate.

------------------------------ Which Chip? Well, it depends on which set of thieving b@stardz you choose to support: The ones who use insider trading to enrich themselves while running their company into the ground, or the ones who illegally pay vendors to not support the first group.
 Reply to Scotteq
lilsage   03-14-2008 at 08:27:16 AM
- 0 +

It should work if the program has not been altered in any way. It really is the product key that is the issue. Most come up as non-legit because they get activated over and over... or because they have already been activated on another machine. Provided the program is the same type (32 bit, premium, etc) it really should just be a matter of entering the code. If that doesn't work, then you just reinstall it. That does mean will have to re-install the other programs... but can do that and still keep your files.

May also be a good time to back everything up and re-format the system. If you have to do all the other work anyways... might as well as the little extra and get the machine up to peak performance.

------------------------------ Acer AM5620 Intel Q6600 2.4 Ghz Quad Core with 4GB 6400 Ram, 4x500 GB Hard Drives, Thermalright IFX-14 Cooler, and Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Case. (Video Editing/Game Machine)
 Reply to lilsage
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows Vista > Vista General Discussion > Buying Vista to replace an non-legit copy
Go to:

There are 1085 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.244 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them