Windows Vista Reinstall w/New HDD

[Go Vols Go]

I have a question about the WGA feature in Windows Vista. My hard drive broke
the other day, and I'm gonna have to get a new hard drive, and possibly
another motherboard or power supply. Dell will replace it because it's under
warranty. I'll have to reinstall Windows XP, and then Windows Vista on top of
that. I am wondering whether I will be able to reinstall Windows Vista
considering how picky WGA is...

 

[Malke]

I have a question about the WGA feature in Windows Vista. My hard drive
broke the other day, and I'm gonna have to get a new hard drive, and
possibly another motherboard or power supply. Dell will replace it because
it's under warranty. I'll have to reinstall Windows XP, and then Windows
Vista on top of that. I am wondering whether I will be able to reinstall
Windows Vista considering how picky WGA is...

Since you have a Dell, you'll be using Dell's installation media. No
activation will be necessary since Dell already did that for you. If the
Dell technician doesn't install Windows for you when s/he installs the new
hardware, all you'll need to do is use the Dell Vista DVD and possibly a
drivers disk. Refer to your Dell computer's manual as to how to restore
your computer to factory condition since it varies from model to model.

Malke

 

[C.B.]

I have a question about the WGA feature in Windows Vista. My hard drive
broke
the other day, and I'm gonna have to get a new hard drive, and possibly
another motherboard or power supply. Dell will replace it because it's
under
warranty. I'll have to reinstall Windows XP, and then Windows Vista on top
of
that. I am wondering whether I will be able to reinstall Windows Vista
considering how picky WGA is...

If Dell replaces the motherboard it will be of the same make and model
as the original. The hard drive will come with Windows already imaged on it.
If you bought the computer with Windows XP and no free Vista upgrade the
hard drive will come with an XP image. If it came with a free Vista upgrade
option it may or may not have a Vista OS already on it.
Call Dell Technical support. If you had the free Vista option they will
probably send you a hard drive with the Vista image on it but you'll have to
request it. I've got four Dell computers and I've dealt with this issue a
number of times.
As Malke stated, you should not have to worry about activation.

C.B.