Windows 7 OEM install on Dell Laptop

I have a user that has a Dell E6400 laptop with Vista on it (downgraded to XP). He wanted me to upgrade the memory (which I did) and install Windows 7 on it so it matched his other laptop.
I ordered Windows 7 Professional 32 bit and what I got was the System Builders OEM disk. Not sure that is what I ordered.......but I digress..

Can I install the Win 7 OEM on the Dell laptop and activate the software or is the OEM code from Vista going to cause me problems??

If it's going to be a problem, I can return the Win 7 disk as I haven't opened it yet. I just don't want to eat the cost of this disk and have to build a new computer just so I can use it....
Your assistance in this is greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

No, it won't be a problem.

The OEM license you purchased will be tied to the original hardware (typically the motherboard) in the computer you install it upon and can't be transferred to another computer. It's essentially the same agreement that big PC manufacturers give with their products. The OS will work the same regardless of the licensing agreement.

 

This is the way I understood it as well, but what I wasn't sure about is whether or not that original Vista OEM license was Hard-coded on the motherboard and if the new install would essentially write over it........thus having a WIN 7 OEM code from that point on. I didn't want to install WIN 7 and then get to the licensing part and have the original OEM license tell me the install can't register with MS.

 

the OEM disk comes with a Pre Installation kit, so you must be able to write over that original license file on the MB. Then this Win 7 license is associated to this machine from here on out........

Am I correct with this?

 

I don't believe so. I've never seen anything from MS that actually edited a machine's BIOS during the installation.