Confused about which Vista disc to use for a clean install.

Hello everyone, long time reader and first time poster here. I have a question.

My HP DV5T just shipped this morning (yay!), and I'm planning to perform a clean install of Vista once it arrives. I read orev's guide on how to do it, and it looks like it should be pretty easy, especially with the Activation Backup & Restore program. Here's my question though, my laptop is shipped with Vista Home Premium SP1... and as far as I know, the Anytime Upgrade Disc that should come with it won't have SP1 included.

A friend of mine has both the OEM version of Vista Home Premium and the Retail version, both with SP1 included. I figured I'd just use one of those since that way I won't have to worry about installing SP1 later. It'd save me the trouble.

My question is... which disc should I use? He said I should use the OEM version, cause that's what HP provides for you originally. At the same time, I read online that the retail version is better... although I'm not sure why. I would use the Retail disc, but I'm worried that I'll run into trouble backing up and restoring my activation. Should I do a clean install with the OEM one instead, just to be safe? Or just suck it up and use the Anytime Upgrade Disc, and install SP1 myself later on?

Thanks for all your help.

 

OEM version should only be use with the laptop that originally came with it so its illegal to use your friend's OEM

 

well, couldnt he use his friend's OEM disk as long as he uses his own Product Key at the bottom of his laptop?

 

Yes, I agree, or even the Retail disk for that matter.

 

I'm pretty sure that OEM key will NOT work on a retail product...OEM to OEM *might* work

 

the retail wont accept the OEM key, judging by my past experiences with XP

but as far as i know and understand the EULA/Microsoft, he is allowed to use any OEM disk as long as he uses his own OEM key.

same with retail... he's allowed to use any retail disk, as long as he uses his own retail key (if he had one)

 

So are you also saying the Product Key on the bottom of the notebook (which is different than the OEM key, that ABR finds) won't work on a retail version of Vista?

 

I know that the retail disc won't accept my OEM key (the one below my laptop), but that's not the key I was going to use.

Assuming the retail disc allows me to install without entering a product key (like the Anytime Upgrade disc does), I was going to use ABR to backup my activation and key, then restore it after the clean install.

To my understanding, the OEM key below my laptop, and the key that ABR finds and saves, are two completely different keys. So I'm wondering... will the restored key and activation work with the retail disc?

Sorry... This is still unclear to me.

 

You can use any disc you want. There's nothing inherrently illegal about using an OEM disc. You paid for a license which allows you to install only the version you bought. Using ABR, you're in the clear to install home premium w/ sp1.

I installed OEM Home premium 64 SP1 on my HDX using ABR that I bought from newegg. I used the product key to install the same OEM disc on the TX2500. Now that product key is tied to my TX2500. If I need to reinstall Vista on my HDX using the OEM disc, I simply install it then use ABR to validate it. I can't use the product code on the disc as it won't activate being that it's tied to the TX2500.

Simple as that. Any other questions, feel free to ask.

 

What is still not clear to me is with regards to a RETAIL Disk.

Can either the Product Key on the bottom of the laptop or the key that ABR locates be used to install and activate windows from a Retail Disk install?

 

Okay cool.

So I should be able to use ABR to backup my Home Premium SP1 OEM activation and key, and restore it on the same laptop, after a clean install using a Retail Home Premium SP1 disc, not the OEM disc.

Correct?

 

Either disc, you're choice. So long as you use ABR to backup your key, use either disc to install the same version of vista (say, home premium 32 if that is what your computer came with), then use ABR to restore your original key back onto the notebook you did a clean install on, you're all good.

 

Sounds good! Thanks!

 

whats ABR?

the key that is installed by hp is different than the key at the bottom of the laptop because hp uses the same image for all similarly spec'd laptop harddrives, but they slap on a different key for each computer. as an OEM, they are allowed to do that. (its easier to do so)

 

Activation Backup and Restore. It's a program which extracts the key used to install Vista on your machine and allows you to install a clean version of Vista without the need of another key to activate.

You can find out all about it in the sticky thread "Clean install of Vista with no activation."

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

 

kool thanks