Vista license restrictions

[Devils-Blood]

Just read this on the inqiurer that the vista license restricts customers from installing vista more than twice. It doesn't say if its OEM or retail versions. If people want to be able to upgrade and have no restrictions they to buy one of the two top versions of vista.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35057


How do people feel about buying vista with microsoft confirming the restrictions. Change your more than twice and then you will have to buy and copy of vista.

[Gregoroth]

Well I don't re install and my computer runs nice and smoothly. It probably won't affect me.

[Barley]

In that case I'd probably wait for the price of the Ultimate version to come down.

[Belso]

That kinda does annoy me.

I would however like to know whether the same applies for a Vista repair?

As when you run a repair with Windows XP you have to input the CD Key.

[Devils-Blood]

I believe once somebody pays for a retail license they should be able to install it as many times they want to on their pc. If upgrading or cleaning the hard drive to re-install every 6 months.

Gregoroth

You never buy a new mainboard, your pc hard never needs cleaning to keep your pc working properly.

Barley will the price come down, I doubt it. This is another ploy by microsoft to boost profits by making consumers buy the more expensive versions of vista. How many people will buy home users premium versions and find out after a second mainboard upgrade they have wasted £150.

What does annoy me is the fact microsoft has tried to keep this secret. They should be made to put across the product in large letters only 1 install allowed when upgrading major components or re-installing.

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[Belso]

Its hard for me to see it from most people eyes, as i get unlimited free licenses of Vista for myself and family from work.

So example:

I buy a new computer, i install all the hardware, and install Windows Vista.

I register Vista, 3 days later Vista becomes corrupt from a dodgy hard drive.

I reinstall Vista on a new hard drive, 2 weeks later, hard drives goes Kaput!

I have to buy a new copy?

[Barley]

Exactly

[Belso]

I think,

The Vista license can be moved to a completely different computer once.

But if just changing one piece of hardware, then it doesn't matter if you let Microsoft know.

_ _ _ _

As much as i defend Microsoft, i was quite shocked after reading this:

1) failure of a validation check results in the loss of access to specific features

So they force you to do a Microsoft Update, if you dont then your seen as having a Illegal copy of Windows?

[Devils-Blood]

Microsoft see's a new computer as a mainboard change. So what that means is if you upgrade your mainboard more than once you are stuffed. Since having XP I have changed my mainboard at 6 times.

A new build will be costing consumers a fortune with having to upgrade to a higher copy of vista.

I think the license will have to be tested in court as unfair contract. I read legal article about software licenses being so restrictive most of them would be ruled as unfair if challenge in court.

Will the EU allow consumers to be treated so badly by microsoft. I believe microsoft has gone to far this time.

[Belso]

But you can charge your motherboard without doing a fresh install of Windows.

Its easy.

But sometimes you need the reapir function. (Unsure of whether Vista asks for a Key to repair) :?

[Barley]

If I upgrade something such as a motherboard, I'm ALWAYS going to do a fresh install of Windows. And there's no way on the planet I'm going to let Microsoft dicate what I can and cannot do, ever.

I think there's will be several hundred thousand people out there with exactly the same view. They always take the attitude that they're doing us a favour with all the crap they put in their software, but they forget that the customer is always right

[Belso]

Well you dont have a choice really, if you decide to buy Vista!

Unless you do thing's illegaly.

[Devils-Blood]

But vista will see the mainboard as a new computer and make you re-activate or buy a new copy of vista

[Belso]

Nope you just do the same trick you do with Windows XP.

Delete the IDE controller from device manager, pop in the new board.

8/10 it works.