When OEM Vista is too slow

[notaroundhere.nigel]

A while back I put together a system from components that are a few
years from the most current. I verified that the machine was well
within Vista's requirements, then bought a copy of Vista Premium OEM
from Newegg, installed and activated it. But it runs too slow to be
usable. So I'll be replacing processor, thus have to replace
motherboard, memory and video card as well, by necessity. When I
install the Vista on that and try to reactivate, it's going to look to
Microsoft like an entirely new machine.

So, under those circumstances, will Microsoft let me reactivate? If I
can't, I'll be *really* pissed, because I'd be perfectly happy
sticking with the first setup if I could. I'll only be rebuilding
because Vista requires me to. Again, the current machine is *well*
within Vista requirements, and I had no reason to expect it would not
work (aside from Aero), yet for all practical purposes it will not run
Vista. This is Microsoft's fault--not mine-for not putting out more
accurate requirements.

I'm asking up front because I recently went through two hours total of
India Phone Hell to reactivate Office 2007 after making some minor
machine adjustments. I'm not happy with MS's attitude at the moment,
so if they're going to want me to buy a second Vista copy, no F-ing
way! I'll go back to XP, or possibly make the break and go Linux and
open source, and MS will never get another penny from me. Microsoft
has gotten *way* out of hand with its activation policies, but they
forget that we now have good alternatives. In my opinion their greedy
policies are a recipe for slow corporate suicide. But I digress.

Looking at other posts, I'm expecting the answer to be that MS will
indeed screw me on this. In that case, I'm going to scream as loud as
I possibly can, to *anyone* I can-bad review of Vista at vendors,
etc. (I've found, for example, that the BBB works surprisingly well,
even against companies the size of Sony.) From fighting stubborn
credit card companies following a bad case of identity theft I've
hardened and developed some nice, unconventional methods, but would
like others' ideas as well: People and addresses within MS to write,
places to complain, tactics, etc.

 

[Brett I. Holcomb]

MS doesn't have a problem with this - what you can't do is take an OEM
copy of Vista and put it on new machine since it is licensed for the OEM
machine. You should be able to install and reactivate - probably via
phone. My phone experiences have been good as have others but if you
get an idiot hang up and try again. You enter the info to an automated
system and then it figures out you need to speak to a person.

As for the requirements which set did you build to - one is Vista
capable and has reduced capabilities (no aero), the other is Vista ready
and can handle the full Vista?

 

[Paul Randall]

Hi, Brett
Exactly what part ofmakes you think that the OP is not proposing to take an OEM copy of Vista
that has been activated on one computer and intalling and activating on a
different computer?

-Paul Randall

 

[Guest]

Vista ready for Premium requires at least 128MB Graphics, 1 Gig RAM. And I
use 2Ghz CPU, on a 5yo Packard Bell with the above. Everything works fine.

 

[Mark]

I am amazed how often this question comes up!
OEM is not a new thing on the block. It's been around for years. (Decades?)

As a note to future purchasers of OEM:
OEM means Original Equipment.
If you suspect your system may be too slow once the product is installed,
do not activate.
Once activated, it's tied to the existing equipment configuration. You
typically have 3 to 30 days to activate. Use them.

Some people have to swap out motherboards and processors to "lose"
activation. Others may find that a BIOS update is all it takes.

It's cheaper for a reason. Don't buy pre-installed OEM or install OEM if you
think you'll upgrade the machine later. (On rare occassions, you can win
this battle, but it is far from being the rule.)

 

[Robert Moir]

Hi, Brett
Exactly what part of
makes you think that the OP is not proposing to take an OEM copy of Vista
that has been activated on one computer and intalling and activating on a
different computer?

Well at what point an upgraded computer becomes a "different" computer is a
philisophical point is it not? Microsoft might have defined it as a
particular point and you might well agree with them, but that is not the
only possible valid answer. I'd be quite interested in seeing that
definition tested legally to be honest.