Complicated move of Vista, need expert axvice.

[John Monahan]

OK after 3 months of trying without success to solve a problem where Office
2007 does not return properly from a Vista sleep state. I concluded that the
problem must be some hardware problem with my ASUS P5W-DH DeLuxe
motherboard. I conclude this because I installed Vista (business) from my
DVD on to a brand new HD with this motherboard using only a minimal system
along with Office.
Since nobody had suggestions (including Microsoft support folks), I have
decide to chuck the ASUS board.

OK I want to get one of the new Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6's just out which looks
great. I will switch my Intel Core Duo and memory. Since the hardware on
this motherboard is different to the ASUS board I was going to do a clean
install on my new HD (a 1TB drive!) from my Vista DVD.

My question is:-

Can I get it Activated. I don't mind de-activating the above old HD Vista
since I will never use it again anyway or use it as a drive D.

Is so, what is the process at Microsoft. I assume I will have to use the
phone support system. Will it accept my numbers etc or will I have to
wait/explain this whole process to a real person -- which based on my Office
2007 problem above -- can take hours.

Alternatively would it be easier/less hassle to image copy (with Acronis)
the old HD vista on to the new 1TB drive, boot that up on the ASUS
motherboard let Vista get comfortable with the new disk ID (only 1 of the
several magic things it looks at to detect copies) and then switch the new
1TB drive over on to the Gigabyte motherboard doing a "VISTA repair
install".

I really don't want to do a classical network/cable transfer since I have
only one power supply etc setup.

 

[Malke]

OK after 3 months of trying without success to solve a problem where
Office 2007 does not return properly from a Vista sleep state. I
concluded that the problem must be some hardware problem with my ASUS
P5W-DH DeLuxe motherboard. I conclude this because I installed Vista
(business) from my DVD on to a brand new HD with this motherboard using
only a minimal system along with Office.
Since nobody had suggestions (including Microsoft support folks), I have
decide to chuck the ASUS board.

OK I want to get one of the new Gigabyte GA-P35-DQ6's just out which
looks great. I will switch my Intel Core Duo and memory. Since the
hardware on this motherboard is different to the ASUS board I was going
to do a clean install on my new HD (a 1TB drive!) from my Vista DVD.

My question is:-

Can I get it Activated. I don't mind de-activating the above old HD
Vista since I will never use it again anyway or use it as a drive D.

Is so, what is the process at Microsoft. I assume I will have to use the
phone support system. Will it accept my numbers etc or will I have to
wait/explain this whole process to a real person -- which based on my
Office 2007 problem above -- can take hours.

Alternatively would it be easier/less hassle to image copy (with
Acronis) the old HD vista on to the new 1TB drive, boot that up on the
ASUS motherboard let Vista get comfortable with the new disk ID (only 1
of the several magic things it looks at to detect copies) and then
switch the new 1TB drive over on to the Gigabyte motherboard doing a
"VISTA repair install".

I really don't want to do a classical network/cable transfer since I
have only one power supply etc setup.

Before you go through all that - I've read at least 3 posts from people
with Asus laptops (presumably with Asus motherboards) and they said
there was a new BIOS patch for Asus machines that solved all the weird
blue screens and other problems they were having. So you might want to
first check if there is a BIOS update for your board and if there is,
give it a flash. After all, if you're planning on tossing the board, it
can't hurt.

I'm assuming that your Vista Business is a retail copy. If this is the
case, you won't have any problems activating AFAIK. You might not even
have to phone in but if you do, it's no big deal. Your motherboard died
and you replaced it. You aren't running Vista on more than one system.
End of story.

If you do switch out boards, I think I'd go for a clean install but
that's just me. If you have an Enterprise version of Acronis with
Universal Restore (and I don't know if the home version comes with it),
it might work to image it onto different hardware. Otherwise, who knows?
If you have your stuff backed up first you might try it.


Malke

 

[John Monahan]

Thanks for the info Mike.
Yes its a retail full install.
I have never actually used the phone activation system. if I have to talk to
a real person how long is the typical wait.
Second since I am changing BOTH my motherboard & Hard Disk (i.e. essentially
putting Vista on a new computer) is that acceptable by the activation
"system". How does it work. Would is simply flag the old system if somebody
used it at a later date by accessing the internet and not allow upgrades.

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the info Mike.
Yes its a retail full install.
I have never actually used the phone activation system. if I have to
talk to a real person how long is the typical wait.
Second since I am changing BOTH my motherboard & Hard Disk (i.e.
essentially putting Vista on a new computer) is that acceptable by the
activation "system". How does it work. Would is simply flag the old
system if somebody used it at a later date by accessing the internet and
not allow upgrades.

I've had to call in for activation numerous times for clients over the
years. The whole process takes roughly 7 minutes on average. It is no
big deal. I won't pretend to like activation but it hasn't been an
ordeal at all. Ever.

I don't quite understand your last question. Yes, you are putting Vista
on a new machine. Yes, you have a retail copy. Yes, you are only running
it on one machine. Yes, if you ran it on two machines activation would
fail on one of them. But you aren't doing that, so no worries.


Malke

 

[John Barnes]

If someone tried to use the other installation, which you said you weren't
going to do, it would have to be activated. Then the next time you tried to
use the later installation it would have to be activated, get the point. If
I recall each gave 3 days to activate or it just shuts down to a screen with
3 options, internet activation now, telephone activation and one other very
limited option.

 

[Paul Randall]

I've heard that you will spend about 5 minutes on the phone, most of it
punching in your license number. If this automated activation doesn't work,
don't hang up - before 5 minutes have elapsed a live person will likely have
taken over and they are pretty understanding on your reasons for
reactivating on a 'different' system.

After you have activated Vista on your new system, if someone uses your old
hard drive and has to activate, they can do the same thing using their
'reason', and get activated. But I've heard that Vista phones home pretty
often - it won't be long before your activation will be flagged as bad and
you can start the cycle again.

-Paul Randall