Hey,

I just had a question about windows activation, I bought a Vista Home Premium license about 1.5 years ago, I installed it on my laptop and after 3 weeks I installed xp again.

Now a few months ago, I tried to install vista on my macbook pro (bootcamp offc) and I was surprised that, even tho I already activated it on my older laptop, I had no problems activating vista at all...

Now is there anyone who knows if there is just a delay wich "resets" your activation thing on vista? Cause I would like to activate vista in my Parallels Desktop (running windows while working on mac) but I think I now might get problems activating again in such a short time..

Regards,
Glenn

Yh there is a certain number of activations then after a set time they get reset if you aren't using it.

No - but the "official" number of activations seems to up to the person you speak to - i.e. the automated system may well tell you to go away but the dude on the phone may just wave it through...

I always thought that with XP, the product key was tied to the install disk itself, but it isnt. I borrowed XP home from a mate when i formatted mine and tried the product key on the disk case, it didnt work, so i found the sticker on the back of the pc, which was also for XP home, gave that key a go and it worked.

Vista must work differently, plus some OS allow you to run it on more than one machine depending which version you have.

Vista isn't tied to the disk.

The OEM copy *should* only install on once PC - ever, and never re-activate - but i've gone through different mobo's, gfx cards, network cards etc without it ever not re-activating.

The retail copies of Vista *should* activate fine on 3 PC's then refer you to the phone line - but they will do many more.

Quote from Jakg :

Vista isn't tied to the disk.

The OEM copy *should* only install on once PC - ever, and never re-activate - but i've gone through different mobo's, gfx cards, network cards etc without it ever not re-activating.

The retail copies of Vista *should* activate fine on 3 PC's then refer you to the phone line - but they will do many more.

Well I have a OEM version... Installed it on my acer and a year later on my macbook... Never had problems activating... I had expected more from microsoft!