My laptop came pre-installed with Windows Vista and naturally no Windows disc. Is it legal to borrow a friend's retail Vista disc and install Windows using the serial number from the sticker on my laptop? Will this even work?
Windows – re-install Windows using someone else’s disc
installationwindows-vista
Best Answer
It depends on if you still have a registration available for the license, and if the install media type matches your serial type. You can't use an OEM key on a Retail install for example, but if they match, using someone else's media is fine if you're using your purchased key to install. Microsoft even allows you to purchase their alternate or replacement media, if you provide a product key.