Reinstalling Windows on an OEM PC

[trm96]

I am planning to buy a new notebook with Vista Home Premium pre-installed on
it, but I really dont want to have all the software on the computer that the
factory installs on it. My question is I have a Vista Ultimate disk I bought
will I be able to use it to re-install vista on my notebook using the
product key located on the bottom of the computer?

I really hate the bloat-ware and trial-ware OEMs put on there computers...

 

[David B.]

The Home Premium license is likely OEM, if your Vista Ultimate is the retail
version and not the OEM then no, you won't be able to use it, if it's is OEM
as well, then it should work.

 

[trm96]

Thanks for the info! Yes my Ultimate is the retail ver.

 

[David B.]

In that case you cannot do what you want to do.

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

The new machine should come with an OEM installation DVD that you can use. I
had the same concern as you when I got a new laptop, so I blew away what it
came with and reinstalled the OEM OS.

I believe it is legal for you to go for a cheaper OEM OS on your new machine
and overwrite it with your retail OS, as long as you reactivate it and
remove it from the old machine.

Paul

 

[John Barnett MVP]

The copy of Vista on your laptop will be OEM. As your copy of Vista is a
retail copy then you can reformat the drive and install your retail copy of
Vista Ultimate. You 'cannot', however use the product key from the base of
the laptop to install your bought copy of Vista Ultimate. The product key
defines which version of Vista is installed. However, there is nothing
stopping you removing Vista Premium completely and installing your copy of
Vista Ultimate. It would be wise, though, to check with the PC manufacturer
first just in case it affects your warranty.

I have recently purchased an E-Machine desktop with Vista premium and a hell
of a lot of 'bloated' software. The user guide advised me that, if I wanted
to reformat the drive, I should create a recovery disk which would include
drivers etc. I made the recovery disk, and immediately installed Vista
Ultimate - the installation of the new operating system allowing me to
delete the relevant partitions, reformat and repartition prior to installing
Vista Ultimate.


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
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reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[trm96]

Well you see I already am using my retail copy of Ultimate on an other
computer. I dont care about using Home Premium I just want to start freash
with none of the bloat.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Then you need to buy a new copy of Vista Ultimate to run Ultimate on your
laptop too. As I explained The DVD does actually contain all versions of
Vista -From home right through to Ultimate. However, the product key number
decides which version is installed. The product key on the base of your
laptop will only ever install Vista Premium.


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[trm96]

I dont want to run Ultimate on it. I know that the CD Key deturmens the
edition you are installing and that all the retail disks have the same
contents. Basicly I just wanted to know if i could use a retail disk to
install an oem ver of Vista, and the answer is no. So i will have to contact
the manufacture of the notebook to get an oem disk for it (if it does not
already come with one).

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

I have never seen a new computer that comes with OEM Windows that does not
include the physical media. I don't even know if that is consistent with the
OEM agreement, but it's certainly not good customer service.

Paul

 

[trm96]

Well this will be only the 3rd OEM computer I have ever bought. I usaly build
my own. I have heard from a few people that their new OEM computer did not
come with physical media, but I dunno...

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have never seen a new computer that comes with OEM Windows that does not
include the physical media. I don't even know if that is consistent with the
OEM agreement, but it's certainly not good customer service.

Actually, the OEMs declining to provide an installation disk has
been a common practice for several years, now. Microsoft requires its
licensed OEM computer manufacturers to provide a means of returning the
computer to its original, ex-factory state. The particular method of
recovery, however, is left entirely to the discretion of each individual
computer manufacturer.

Legally, the OEM has met it's contractual obligation to Microsoft
by providing a means of returning the PC to its ex-factory state,
whether it's a Recovery disk or a Recovery Partition. They are not
legally obliged to provide a true installation DVD as part of the sale.
Reputable, customer-service aware OEMs, like Dell and Gateway, do
provide a full OEM installation DVD, that does permit custom
installations and repairs. However, many uncaring or lower-end OEMs,
such as eMachines, Compaq, HP, and Sony, in an effort to save pennies
and reduce their support costs by having to hire support people that
need only say "Boot from the Recovery Disk to return your PC to its
original condition," might provide only a DVD (or a hidden hard drive
partition) bearing a disk image of the hard drive as it left the factory.

Essentially, it boils down to "You get what you pay for."

The computer's manufacturer will have provided some means of
returning the computer to it's original, ex-factory state. This
information will be found in the documentation that came with the
computer, or on the manufacturer's support web site.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


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

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~ Denis Diderot

 

[giantlady]

I have an HP OEM - came without the media, but there is a tool for creating
a set of recovery disks, built into the system - you just have to search the
HP Advisor or order them from the vendor at a price. I suspect Dell is the
same. This gives you the ability to put your machine back to original if
you don't like the results of your upgrade attempts.
I called HP and asked about upgrading to Windows Vista Ultimate (it came
with Windows Vista Home Premium). They wanted $250 for it. I mentioned the
fact that Microsoft offered the Windows Anytime Upgrade to Ultimate for
$150. They told me if I did that, they would not support the system. I
failed to clarify if they meant they would not support the hardware, but my
understanding (language barrier) was that they would, but not the OS that I
installed - any issues and I was on my own. Then they tried to sell me an
extended warranty, of course. I went with the Microsoft upgrade. It comes
with its own Product ID in the
Digital Locker I made the set of DVDs to go back to the original
configuration, just in case I need to engage HP at some point in the future
and it turns out they won't support it with Ultimate on it. I have a lot of
experience with HP hardware and service and find it unlikely they will limit
hardware support. They just will be unwilling to help me troubleshoot the
OS part of it - I'll have to search a combination of Microsoft and HP for
solutions, myself. Microsoft Technet Online and this forum does that very
well, so I saved my $100 and have been happy with the decision. I have some
problems with Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer and Winmail - but those
existed before the upgrade. I feel the same, about Dell, however, you want
to
make that call to Dell and record the incident number
for tracking purposes, whatever the outcome.

While you are doing your upgrade, you will have an opportunity to wipe it
clean or upgrade in place.
When I launched the Windows Anytime Upgrade(I chose the Inplace upgrade)
it went through the entire
process, and then said it was unable to upgrade some system components
and backed off the whole thing. I did the uninstall Symantec thing - no
help so I put it back on. Here's something that I got from Rory on this
forum that resolved the problem for me. Hope it helps you, if you choose
this path.
Note: I disabled all four items he mentions. Katherine

 

[trm96]

(sigh) Thats what I might have to do

 

[David B.]

More come without the media now a days than with, they have a recovery
partition on the hard drive or require you to burn your own disk set, very
common practice.

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

David,

Thanks for the enlightenment (this is to everyone else who said the same
thing too).

Personally, if I knew that ahead of purchasing, I would refuse to buy it
from those companies. It's your computer, you have the right to set it up
how you want. I'm not saying that they need to continue to support it no
matter what you do, I'm saying you should have the choice to set it up how
you want. I wiped my hard drive within days of getting my new laptop!

Paul

 

[David B.]

Anything they can do to save a buck, I build my own boxes so it's not an
issue for me personally, my customers have been bitten by it more than once
though.

Hi mr customer, your hard drive died, we need to install a new one, can you
bring in your recovery disks?
It didn't come with any, it asked me to make them when I bought it but I
didn't think I needed to.

Sound of me banging my head on the desk.

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

Yeah...

I considered making my own at one point, but it's not for me.

At one time, I understood the hardware choices pretty well and I could have
done it, but I found it to be more expensive than buying from a company like
Dell.

Now, I have even less incentive to do it, as hardware is changing faster
than I can keep up, so I wouldn't know how to best choose the components.
The local PC stores can help me choose custom hardware, but they are all
more pricy than Dell too.

I know enough about hardware not to shell out a lot of money to an "expert"
whenever my computer goes wrong, no matter what the cause. And that's all I
need to know

Paul

 

[trm96]

What I want to know is if anyone has bought a toshiba in the last say 10
months and can confirm weather or not it comes with physical restore media or
not.

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

Even if you get an answer, that's no guarantee. Why don't you just ask
Toshiba?

Paul