Windows Vista Home Premium product key is invalid

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:57:40 Z

Hi all!

Maybe I'm missing something but let me explain what happened...

I bought a Toshiba laptop in April. It crashed. Today I go to reinstall Windows Vista Home Premium using the product key that is on the bottom of the laptop. The product key says very clearly that it is Home Premium. When I enter the key, it says the key is invalid. The Windows disk I am using is not the disk that came with the laptop, it is a seperate Home Premium disk that I purchased for my desktop. So basically, I'm using one disk but I have two legitimate product keys for two seperate computers. As far as I can tell, the fact that I have two legitimate keys means I'm liscenced properly.

So what I want to know is the following: is the product key linked to the disk? I asked the guy at Best Buy and that seems to be what he implied, but that doesn't make any sense to me. Can someone clarify this for me?

Thanks for your help!

Windows Vista Home Premium product key is invalid

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:10:48 Z

Hello Pottymonster,

Your issue appears to be outside the scope of the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program forum. Windows Operating Systems are available in: OEM-SLP, OEM (System builder/COA), Retail User, and Volume Licensing Key (VLK) versions. In turn each version will have their own End User Licensing Agreements (EULA’s). Depending on what version you currently have would dictate the transferability and license terms. In order to read your EULA, click Start>Run, type winver and click OK, then click on the link for the license terms or EULA. Below are brief descriptions to help you understand more.

OEM-SLP: Computers built by large commercial manufacturers that come with Vista Pre-installed come with two (2) Product Keys; SLP and COA Key. SLP stands for System Locked Pre-install. OEM manufacturer’s add an OEM identifier string to the system BIOS during manufacturing. Windows verifies this identifier during the boot process. In this way the end user will not be required to activate Windows. The OEM SLP Key is geared to work with the special instructions found on that Manufacturer’s computer hardware. The Product Key is available on the COA sticker and not installed in the computer. For example all DELL OEM SLP Windows Vista systems use a single product key but the COA sticker on the machine contains the unique COA. The key located on the COA sticker should only be used in limited situations and requires telephone activation. Example should you require to reformate the computer the key from the COA sticker would be used.

PID format: XXXXX-OEM-XX119XX-XXXXX

OEM (System builder/COA): OEM license for XP comes with certain restrictions that make it less flexible, and therefore less expensive, than the retail license for Vista. A major limitation is that the license is "married" to the computer onto which it is first installed, and the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) states it is not permitted to be moved to any another computer. One does not "lose their license" for XP if the motherboard becomes defective and has to be replaced. If the computer owner chooses to use, or because of availability is forced to use, a board that is not a direct or identical replacement, there has to be a mechanism to accommodate these circumstances, and that is why a telephonic activation is authorized. To read your EULA, click Start>Run, type winver and click OK, then click on the link for the license terms or EULA.

Systems must be activated within 30 days of installation. After a 30 day grace period, the user will be not able to login to system without activation.

PID format: XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX

Single Retail User License: Retail licenses may be moved from one computer to another, as long as the license is activated on one computer at a time and as long as the previous installation of the license is removed from the previously licensed computer. Each Windows Vista installation has a unique product key associated with it. System must be activated within 30 days of installation. After a 30 day grace period, the user will not be able to login to system without activation.

Volume License Key (VLK): The Volume license is type of license, where each VLK customer will be given a single product key and they can use this key to install Windows Vista on multiple computers. No Activation is required. Hardware requirements are not verified.

PID format: XXXXX-XXX-XXXXXXX-23XXX and XXXXX-XXX-XXXXXXX-45XXX

As a rule, VLK editions of an Operating System should not be sold to individual consumers. Businesses, schools and governments normally use VLK editions for flexibility in installing many computers. Also, Volume Licenses for Vista are Upgrade Licenses ONLY and cannot be used as the original or base license for a new computer.

For further assistance, contact your manufacturer and request them to send you the Recovery Media specific to your paticular model. Since the telephone number and websites are not maintained by Microsoft we cannot make any warranty as to their validity.

I have included their contact information here for your convenience. Thank you again for contacting us here in the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program forum.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su/su_sc_home.jsp

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su/su_sc_home.jsp

Take care,

Stephen Holm, MS
WGA Forum Manager

Stephen Holm

Windows Vista Home Premium product key is invalid

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:19:52 Z

Thanks for your help!