Reinstalling Vista and keeping my MSO licence

i have genuine vista (home basic 32) but no CD(it came with my desktop).
i have genuine microsoft office 2007 but i dont want to lose my licence after i reinstall.

what should i do?:eek:

Hi aimpacc,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

When you re-install Vista and then re-install Office 2007, you will need to re-activate both products, but of particular interest to you is you will need to re-activate Office 2007. Here is information about the activation process: Activate Office 2007 programs - SharePoint Designer - Microsoft Office. You will need the Office product key to re-activate (I assume you have it). If you have the key, you should not lose your license as the original product key (or the one you got when you purchased the product) should remain valid (though you may need to do it manually instead of automated if the system thinks you're trying to install too many copies - but the system will guide you through the process). If you have a multi-installation license and are afraid of losing one of the installations, then do the activation manually. Either follow the prompts in the activation wizard to get instructions or first contact them by chat below to make sure it is done correctly and everything works as you want it to work.

If not, before you uninstall Vista or do anything, install Belarc Advisor Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit and the report should provide you with the product key that is installed on the system. This will only work if you purchased the product. You may still need to do so manually rather than automated - it seems to vary from case to case.

If you have further questions about activation, the best thing to do is chat online with Microsoft Activation Chat which can be located at: Microsoft Contact Us (but they are only open certain hours - not 24/7 - and don't list the hours so you'll need to wait until they're available). They'll be happy to answer any and all of your activation questions.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

the MSO i got in my vista computer is the first copy i used. I have already used up 3 copies.

If i reinstall vista first, will microsoft treat my MSO as the 4th copy (and reject)?

Chances are good that the automated activation process will do that; however, if you use the manual process and speak with a Microsoft activation center human and explain the situation, they will fix the problem and allow the activation (as this happens all the time). It may be more work for you to do it, but in the end you will not lose your license or your ability to re-install MSO on the same computer it was installed on before. The extra steps are to prevent software piracy, but though a bit more time-consuming, you will not lose your license as it is perfectly valid and what you are doing is perfectly legitimate. If you don't believe me, chat with the link I provided above and they will confirm what I just said.

Good luck!

To confirm what Lorien has already told you. I have seen situations like yours many times. The results are always the same. I am told that the rep was professional and helpful. In all situations, assuming the End Users Lixcense Agreement (EULA) have been met the situation has resulted in the fashion that was hoped for.

You need not worry about the Office reactivation. If you reinstall to the same PC, there is no problem anyhow. And I found that they do not check the number of copies you install. They just assume you stick to the EULA rules.

what if im upgrading to windows 7 then reinstall MSO, will it remember?

As WHS has said, you can install on the same computer as many times as you like. In the event of a problem you can just call MS. The software remembers the computer, not the Operating System. You can go to Seven and not have any more problems than if you stay with Vista
Having been a Vista and Seven user, I like Seven and know that you will too.
If you do go to Seven, buy the cheaper upgrade DVD and do a clean install, It would be a pleasure to show you how.
Good Luck

thx guys for ur info

You are very welcome
For your information, I have reinstalled Office several times, once when I went from Vista to Seven, no problem

You worry too much. Just install office. You will see that there is no problem at all.