Vista to my Laptop

[slid_away]

Hi All
About 2 years ago I bought a Laptop on Ebay, all was fine until recently.
It was not starting up at all, not even getting as far as the logon screen. The laptop was not sent with a XP disc so I could not reinstall the XP system.
My question is, I bought a new PC and it came with Vista, I have now upgraded to Windows 7, could I use the Vista disc to load onto my old Laptop? It does say on the Vista disc "For Distribution with a new Medion PC only"
If I can't, why can't I? I have paid to use the system and the disc is mine.
Thanks in advance

[ChuckFickens]

Try it.

You will probably find it won't work though, it will probably only install on a medion computer.

And yes you have paid to use vista, on the computer it was purchased on and no other computer (it's called an OEM license and means the license is tied to the actual computer)

that said, try it, some OEM cd's will let you install on any computer, you will need to use the code on the side of the computer the CD came with (and if it works nobody will know!)

[slid_away]

Thanks a lot Chuck 'IT God & Lord of the Cyber Wave' Fickens.
I suppose it wont hurt to try.
But don't you have to register with Microsoft before you can use it or at least once it is installed?
To be hones Microsoft are a right rip off!! Why should I only be able to use a disc I have paid for on one computer? I have hardly used the Vista as I upgraded to Windows 7 as soon as it came out.

[ChuckFickens]

I agree MS is a rip off!

if the CD will let you install on another brand of computer don't worry about the validation afterward, it will validate no problems.

if it's not going to work it will tell you as soon as you try and boot from the CD

[slid_away]

Thanks again Chuck 'IT God & Lord of the Cyber Wave' Fickens.
Top answer and a lot of help. I'll give it ago.

[slid_away]

I can't do it!!!! This Vista disc is a back up only and does not have the 25 character product key on the disc or package!!!

[ChuckFickens]

there should be a sticker with the code on the computer it came with.

[slid_away]

I've only gone and done it!!!
Thanks for your help Chuck 'IT God & Lord of the Cyber Wave' Fickens

[ChuckFickens]

LOL

have you checked the device manager to see if anything isn't working?

Also I would, at the very least, try and find and install the proper drivers for the graphics card rather than using the built in windows ones (ideally install all the proper drivers you can find)