Transfering Vista OS from One HP Laptop to Another

I just had a chat session with HP Tech Spt to determine how to transfer my Vista 64 OS from one laptop, which was stolen, to another HP laptop that came with Windows XP on it. TS said it was IMPOSSIBLE. The chat session is posted at the bottom of this msg.

When I first bought the laptop that was stolen, I copied the Vista product key from the bottom of it. Since I am installing the same OS, I am hoping it will work using an MS phone activation.

Can anyone here validate or refute what HP Tech Spt said? It doesn't seem legal or correct since I purchased the OS and hold a product key for it. Thanks.
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CHAT SESSION 16Mar09
HP (Rayna): Hello. How may I assist you today?
Me: Hi, Rayna. How do I activate Vista 64 Home Premium after I have transfered it from an HP tx2000z laptop to an HP Special Edition L2000 that also has an AMD Turion 64 Mobile ML-37 processor? I have a separate generic Windows Vista 64 Home Premium installation disk that is strictly to be used for backup installation so it did not come with a product key. I only have the Vista 64 Home Premium product key that came with the tx2000z.
HP (Rayna): I am afraid, the product key that came with HP tx2000z Notebook will not work on the HP SE L2000 Notebook.
Me: It is against the law for Microsoft or HP to cancel my ownership and use of the Vista 64 Home Premium operating system just because I wish to move it to a different computer. When I bought the tx2000z and Vista 64 Home Premium operating system, I bought the right to use the Vista 64 OS on any comuter that could handle the OS, so long as it was not installed on two computers at the same time.
HP (Rayna): As windows Vista is a product of microsoft they would have the product key for the vista retail version disc. Microsoft activation queue 24hr 1-866-530-6599.
Me: Microsoft says we must deal with the computer manufacturers.
HP (Rayna): Please contact Microsoft phone support and mention the same as you need a product key for vista retail version operating disc( as the key was not given along with the disc at time of purchase)
HP (Rayna): I had rechecked for the information, we will not be able to use a product key given for one Notebook on another.
HP (Rayna): However, we could use the product key given by retail version operating system on any Notebook.
Me: Let's drop this issue as the conversion is going nowhwere.
Me: NEXT PROBLEM: How do I list the Pavilion tx2000z product# KX531AV, serial# xxxxxxxx, as stolen so no one else can contact HP to open it or get support?
HP (Rayna): We do not have any option as such, however I could update the information and save the update in records.
Me: HP has my phone number, 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx, and my email, [email protected], on the record for that laptop. Put on a note that if anyone calls for support, HP Customer service should call that phone number or send an email to validate it is me. Of course, it won't be unless the police recover the tx2000z.
HP (Rayna): I will make a note of the same.
Me: OK. Thank you.
HP (Rayna): The Activity Id of this chat is xxxxxxx. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Me: No. Thank you.
HP (Rayna): Thank you for contacting HP Total Care Real-Time chat support. If you need further assistance, please contact us again at: http://www.hp.com/support/chat. Chat support is available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.
HP (Rayna): It was pleasure assisting a co-operative customer like you. Bye and Take care.
END CHAT

 

I believe that the version of Windows that comes with the notebook is an OEM edition. I'n not sure if that is transferable to another piece of hardware.

 

Thanks. That is the 64K question. I know from reading posts by Olev and others that you can change the OS you purchased btw 36-bit and 64 bit using the same product key that is on the bottom of the laptop. However in my case, I want to exact OS I bought. I just want to put it on a different machine. May not find out until I try it...

I'm one who has XP 32 on one latop and Vista 64 on the other. I find Vista far superior. Fortunatly Windows 7 embraces a lot of it.

 

OEM are usually bind to the system they were installed on. For example, if you were to change a lot of hardware on the same system, you may have to re-register that version of Windows. Microsoft (and likewise, other software manufacturers) provide OEM manufacturers their software at greatly reduced costs. From what I read, for example, Microsoft gets only $17 per copy of Windows XP Home they license to OEM. But if you were to buy it retail, the cost would be closer to $100. For that reason, you get more mobility for retail versions you purchased.

But good luck in talking with Microsoft. You might get a generous TS person who will make an exception for you.

Cheers,
Gnimble

 

All of you are wrong. Type in the key to activate it. It will come back as invalid because the key is in use. Call microsoft and use the automatied phone system. Skip the stupid lady who dosent help you by pressing lots of buttons untill it transfers you to a real person. Tell that real person your reinstalling it and its only on one computer they will give you the confirmation ID number you type it in and its activated. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong i have reused my windows vista key on my dv6500t so many times i have to go through many steps for microsoft to activate that key anymore because i have used it on many diffrent computers/

 

Tippey, just to clarify, are you saying that you havebeen able to take the Vista key from the bottom of one type of HP laptop and use it to move and activate Vista on a different type of HP laptop by simply getting MS to give you a confirmation code? That is what I have been trying to clarify.

 

Yes that is exactly what I am saying. I have used the same cd key to activate multiple laptops at once with this. This is because the cd key generates a confirmation ID that is always diffrent so it's not really the sAme cd key I just used it to generate another confiirmation ID number thing.

 

Great news, Tippey. That issue has needed to be clarified in this forum for some time. Thank you.

 

He's right !!!
And if you use the disk came with the computer, you can put it on any HP laptop, cause it is pre-activated for HP notebooks.