Random "technical" question...

[albert71292]

Okay, ever since first getting into computers, I've always relied on the factory "restore discs" when reformatting a computer. When I bought this computer early last year, I went ahead and bought a full version of Vista Home Premium to install over the version pre-loaded on it, to eliminate all the HP "crapware", using the product key on the Vista

Comments

[uksweetguy]

I *think* it depends on what type of product key it is and what type of disc it is. Check the sticker. If it's a retail key it will say "Windows Vista Home Premium" and if it's an OEM key it will say "Windows Vista Home Premium OEM". An OEM key will only work with an OEM disc, and a retail key will only work with a retail disc.

[kuzanagi_]

This.

You will however be able to use the key from your full version of Vista Home Premium if you have that to hand and aren't using it on any other machines.

[albert71292]

Used the full version and key on this machine, so guess back to the restore discs for the format, then uninstall all the trialware... :-(

[kuzanagi_]

You could try using your standalone Vista disc. IIRC the Vista installer requests a CD key early, so it'll fail early if it doesn't work. In that case you'd revert to your restore discs.

[albert71292]

Thanks... was afraid of that. Was hoping to bypass the crapware, but guess I'll have to use the restore discs after all. :-(