If I already used a Vista key and I use it on a new computer, what happens to the old one?

Question

I have an old computer that has Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit and XP Pro dual booting installed on it. I am planning on building a new computer, and I want to reuse the vista key from my old computer. What will happen to the older computer's Vista installation if I switch it over to my new one? I have the retail version, so I know it will allow me to use it on the new one.

Answer 1

it will be fine on the new pc as long as you dont try to go online using vista on the old pc , you are correct in saying it is only allowed on one pc at a time, if you go online using xp on the old pc you will be ok but if ms sees vista being online in two pcs they will bar them both. this is as far as i know but im sure i am correct

Answer 2

It won't work on the second computer.  Once you install and activate Vista on one PC, it connects to the MS servers and registers itself along with some hardware information, like the CPU serial number.  When you use that same key on the second machine, it connects to the MS servers, checks the hardware info of the machine you're trying to activate it on against the data in the database.  When it finds that this is different hardware, it refuses to activate.  At this point you have 30 days to purchase a new key and activate it before the system goes into reduced functionality mode - it removes all desktop icons and the start menu and won't let you do anything but connect to the MS store to buy a new key.  You run the risk of this happening if you make hardware changes to your computer.

Answer 3

As long as the product key is valid, all previously verified windows installations will work perfectly fine.