Hi
i have a windows Vista disk, which aimcant remember installing. Don’t have a PC to install on, bit want to check if it’s not been activated and this ok to pass on.
i used Ultimate PID Checker and it reported a sVALID, I know it’s genuine, but does this mean it’s unused and not been activated ?
Many thanks in advance
Most likely. But do be aware that it can't be used for the free Upgrade to Win10 [needs to be Win7 or Win8.x]. Also finding a computer or motherboard it can be used on may be problematic along with needing the drivers for. Support for Vista has been stopped. I just stripped a Vista of parts that may be usable and threw the remainder in the trash [no e-recycle here now due to cost].but does this mean it’s unused and not been activated ?
One can't tell the activation status of a key without querying the activation server - MS has not made that API available to us.
We can only confirm the validity of a key in terms of it's PID structure using the installed licensing files - so, it may pass Windows validation but not necessarily activate.
Thank you, is there any way to remove the acrobatic ?, as if it was installed previously, the PC has long since been destroyed.
thanks for the information, very clear.
Actually meant can a product key be used once activated, if the original PC is destroyed ? I assume this would require a phone call to re activate, as the hardware would have significantly changed ....
Vista is a bit before my time but I can't see that it will be any different to the current process where a Retail key can be installed on a different PC (per transfer rights)
The Activation server does not require the original licence to be decommissioned - only the EULA stipulates that.
Phone activation will only be necessary after the key has exhausted it's online activation count. I have transferred retail licences at least 5 times to different hardware's that I can recall before have to resort to phoning.
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