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    Windows Vista DELL OEM

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Zee19, Aug 18, 2007.

  1. Zee19

    Zee19 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a question, i have the Dell OEM version of Windows Vista, how many times do they allow you to reinstall Windows Vista?

    I know the full version allowes unlimited, but i've read OEM versions are limited to the amount of clean installs you can do.
     
    Zee19, Aug 18, 2007
    #1
  2. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    It is not the # of times, it is the # of computers. You can clean install on the same computer over and over just not different.
     
    powerpack, Aug 18, 2007
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  3. Zee19

    Zee19 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ohhhhh ok

    thank you!

    so i can install it on my Dell Vostro 5,000 times and activate it without any problems?
     
    Zee19, Aug 18, 2007
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  4. coolsax98

    coolsax98 Notebook Enthusiast

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    unless you make "significant" hardware changes :p
     
    coolsax98, Aug 18, 2007
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  5. Zee19

    Zee19 Notebook Enthusiast

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    woo! :D

    thanks yalll...

    *goes to reinstall windows vista coz i've screwed so many things up*

    i was just worried that they limited the amount of times.
     
    Zee19, Aug 18, 2007
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  6. peter740

    peter740 Notebook Consultant

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    you can also install on other dell computers too. I have it on my poweredge sc400.
     
    peter740, Aug 18, 2007
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  7. orion54

    orion54 Notebook Enthusiast

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    You can install Vista on more than one Dell machine? Is this with your re-install disk?
     
    orion54, Aug 18, 2007
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  8. Sredni Vashtar

    Sredni Vashtar Notebook Evangelist

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    AFAIK you don't even have to activate it. (I have never reinstalled it but I've read that activation is implicit since the installation disk recognize the BIOS, or something like that).
    Someone who did reinstall it can confirm this?
     
    Sredni Vashtar, Aug 18, 2007
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  9. caveman017

    caveman017 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, I used the same Home Premium from my Dad's 1520 on my Vostro 1400
     
    caveman017, Aug 18, 2007
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  10. brianj320

    brianj320 Notebook Evangelist

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    the version of BIOS has to be supported by Dell to allow the installation of Vista. my i700m would not allow the installation of Vista using the Dell OEM disk because the BIOS was too old.
     
    brianj320, Aug 18, 2007
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  11. chelet

    chelet Notebook Deity

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    Does that mean you could use the XP disc from a Vostro that came with XP on one of the newer Inspirons that didn't have XP as an option? Do they have the same BIOS?
     
    chelet, Aug 18, 2007
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  12. brianj320

    brianj320 Notebook Evangelist

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    XP will work on all revisions and dates of BIOS's due to XP having been around for so many years now. there should be no problems with having it run; however, there may be driver issues as reported by 1*20 Inspiron users who have put XP on their's.
     
    brianj320, Aug 18, 2007
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  13. chelet

    chelet Notebook Deity

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    That's why I was wondering whether the restore CD that came with a Vostro might be better than a retail version if someone wanted to put XP on one of the newer Inspirons. The retail version of XP is older than the Inspiron and wouldn't have the drivers for the newer hardware. But the customized version of XP that came with a Vostro might. (I'm assuming that if you order XP on your Vostro, the computer comes with a restore CD that has XP on it and not Vista).
     
    chelet, Aug 18, 2007
    #13