Product Key changed

[silver hair]

hello
I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
then I noticed,

the Product ID and Product Key have changed.

(that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
all seems to run fine

Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
or should I change it back to the original as first recorded

Fritz

 

[Guest]

Windows is installed with the manufacturer's key at the factory. If
reinstalling then you use the key supplied which is specific to you.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

hello
I did a clean Reinstall on my Vista Basic 32 bit
and removed Windows Old with disc cleanup
then I noticed,

the Product ID and Product Key have changed.

(that OEM, 20 digit and that Key, 25 digit number )
windows is activated and its genuine, checked it
all seems to run fine

Is it normal for the key to automatically change when you Reinstall ?
or should I change it back to the original as first recorded

Fritz

The Product *ID* is created algorithmically during the installation
process and is prominently displayed on the General Properties tab of
the My Computer icon. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical
support (limited though that may be) from Microsoft. It is also
partially date-dependent, so will vary every time you perform an
installation using the same Product Key.

If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and haven't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably of the drive
image used at the factory and not your specific Product Key; therefore,
it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation. The Product Key printed on your CoA Label will
definitely be different, and it what should be used for installation.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[silver hair]

thank you
I did change the key to whats on the label on the tower
and the 20 digit OEM number also change back
to what I had writing down at one time
same time I wrote down the 25 digit key

all is well
thanks
Fritz