Question on OEM version activation

[cpthk]

My friend asked me to reinstall vista for him. Due to his laptop did not come with the original vista DVD, only has the restore disk. But he would like to have a fresh windows installed. So I use my OEM vista DVD, which came from my laptop too, to install for him. They are the same version, home premium. At the cd-key part, I typed in the cd-key at the back of his laptop on the Windows vista sticker. But after installation, it does not activate itself. I checked the my computer -> properties, it says I have 3 days left to activate. I clicked on activate link, it pop-up and says my key cannot be activated and ask me to use the phone activation way.

What is the problem here? I am a legal paid user, why Microsoft gives me a hard time on this?

I am so sure I typed in the right cd-key, which installation could recognized it's home premium.

 

[tremmor]

The restore disk might be a requirement for the laptop.
I myself would use the restore disk because of the drivers that might be needed for the laptop. Why would you not use the restore disk for a clean install?

i have a laptop but if i needed i would use the restore disk. i think its because its a oem requirement. i would also do a low level format so it does not detect nothing and pick up on it.

 

[OvenMaster]

The restore disk might be a requirement for the laptop.
I myself would use the restore disk because of the drivers that might be needed for the laptop. Why would you not use the restore disk for a clean install?

i have a laptop but if i needed i would use the restore disk. i think its because its a oem requirement. i would also do a low level format so it does not detect nothing and pick up on it.

There should be nothing stopping anyone from putting a full version of Windows on any PC, be it desktop or laptop. One huge advantage of not using restore discs is that there's no crapware preinstalled.

CPTHK, you've already used your Vista disk on your own computer. That means it has been activated and it now cannot be used on another computer without purchasing a new license. That means that the CD key from the back of your friend's computer cannot be used to activate an install made from that disk unless he buys a new license from Microsoft.

If someone knows more than this, please speak up.