How many Reinstalls before Phone Call Required

[Guest]

How many reinstalls of Vista Ultimate are allowed before I'll have to call in
for re-authorization? If a disabled veteran without a lot of money is trying
to learn how to lay out a basic network with Active Directory on Server 2003
with Vista Ultimate Client(s), and use Virtualization technology in the
process, what would be the best thing for them to do. I'm interested in
trying both OS's as Hosts for Virtual Networking. Unfortunately, I don't
qualify for Vista Enterprise. What would your recommendation be as to how to
do this as cost-effectively as possible without rapidly hitting the reinstall
limitations begun with Windows XP?

 

[Tiberius]

you cannot install the same vista product key *license* on more than one
machine physical or virtual.

however if you want, there is a free virtual machine download *VHD* that is
actually Vista that will last for 30 days...

do you want that?

 

[Tiberius]

Microsoft Windows Vista 30-Day Eval VHD

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...37-d4d1-4b9b-926d-86493c7da1aa&displaylang=en

you can download virtual pc that is free to load this on...

hope this helps

 

[Guest]

How many reinstalls to the same machine will Vista Ultimate allow before it
requires phone calls for activation? Please do not repeat the same answer to
this question. We are not talking about installing Vista Ultimate to more
than one machine. From your reply I understand now that there is absolutely
no difference between an OEM and a Retail version.....if your computer burns
down your Retail copy of Ultimate is absolutely useless, just like the OEM
version would be. You can't build yourself a new computer with better parts
and put the retail version on it because it was already installed once on a
machine that no longer exists. This is certainly going to make the news!

--
Help Disabled American Veterans reclaim the future they sacrificed in
service to our nation and world security in general. Put someone in a
wheelchair in front of a computer with the right software!

you cannot install the same vista product key *license* on more than one
machine physical or virtual.

however if you want, there is a free virtual machine download *VHD* that is
actually Vista that will last for 30 days...

do you want that?

 

[Dave]

I'm not positive about the answer to your first question, but I think in
theory, it's infinite.

You can install the retail version on another computer that you build, if
you have the DVD... you just have to telephone to activate it.

You cannot legally install a OEM version on a new computer.

How many reinstalls to the same machine will Vista Ultimate allow before
it
requires phone calls for activation? Please do not repeat the same answer
to
this question. We are not talking about installing Vista Ultimate to more
than one machine. From your reply I understand now that there is
absolutely
no difference between an OEM and a Retail version.....if your computer
burns
down your Retail copy of Ultimate is absolutely useless, just like the OEM
version would be. You can't build yourself a new computer with better
parts
and put the retail version on it because it was already installed once on
a
machine that no longer exists. This is certainly going to make the news!

 

[KristleBawl]

He doesn't know, he gave up on Vista too soon.

I don't think anyone has counted them yet, but I read that you can
reactivate online a certain number of times 'within' some number of days
before needing to call, so I think that implies that after 90 or 120 days,
or whatever the number is, then you get to reactivate online again for a
while longer.

If that's true, then it would depend on how often you needed to reinstall
and reactivate, too.

However, people have posted that the phone reactivation is toll-free and
takes less than 5 minutes.

I wish I could give you a more specific answer.

KB

in message

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

From your reply I understand now that there is absolutely
no difference between an OEM and a Retail version.....if your computer burns
down your Retail copy of Ultimate is absolutely useless, just like the OEM
version would be. You can't build yourself a new computer with better parts
and put the retail version on it because it was already installed once on a
machine that no longer exists.

You understand incorrectly. That's not at all true. Like previous
versions, you can move a retail copy (not an OEM copy) of Vista from
computer to computer as often as you need or want to.

 

[Rock]

How many reinstalls to the same machine will Vista Ultimate allow before
it
requires phone calls for activation?

The activation database is reset after a time, I believe it's 120 days, so
if it's been longer than that between installations it will go through on
the internet.

Please do not repeat the same answer to
this question. We are not talking about installing Vista Ultimate to more
than one machine. From your reply I understand now that there is
absolutely
no difference between an OEM and a Retail version.....if your computer
burns
down your Retail copy of Ultimate is absolutely useless, just like the OEM
version would be.

That's not so. A retail version can be reinstalled on the same computer, or
moved to a different computer if first uininstalled from the one it's on, as
many times as you want.

<snip>

 

[Stephan Rose]

The activation database is reset after a time, I believe it's 120 days, so
if it's been longer than that between installations it will go through on
the internet.


That's not so. A retail version can be reinstalled on the same computer, or
moved to a different computer if first uininstalled from the one it's on, as
many times as you want.

So what if someone has an OEM version and their motherboard and a few
other component die due to say a lightning strike and they need to replace
them?

It's not a new computer....still the same computer just with new
replacement parts.

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

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å›ã®ã“ã¨å¿˜ã‚ŒãŸã¨ããŒãªã„ã‹ã‚‰

 

[Larry Maturo]

Hi Stephan,

If you get a lightening strike, call MS to reactivate, and tell them
of your woes. It's not in their best interest to make customers mad,
so I imagine if you haven't done anything suspecious in the past that they
would be happy to help.

-- Larry Maturo

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

So what if someone has an OEM version and their motherboard and a few
other component die due to say a lightning strike and they need to replace
them?

It's not a new computer....still the same computer just with new
replacement parts.

It's a can of worms, as far as I'm concerned. The OEM EULA states that
the license is valid only for the original computer it's installed on,
and it may never be moved to another.

The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.

Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
court.

So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
not clear-cut, and we have heard in these newsgroups from people who
have had both experiences--some were reactivated and others were not.
If they refuse to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might
win, but who of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and
expense to find out?

So the answer is that there is no real answer.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ken, That was most helpful. In trying to decide which clients to run
on servers, shelling out $500 for a premium client that would then be
unmovable to a new computer is quite a concern. This helps me pick which OS
to get as the oem version on the original machine....MS just got a second OS
sold as I'll take the cheapest oem version and buy Ultimate in the box
instead of just settling for Ultimate as the only client I buy.

 

[Stephan Rose]

It's a can of worms, as far as I'm concerned. The OEM EULA states that
the license is valid only for the original computer it's installed on,
and it may never be moved to another.

The problem is that the Microsoft OEM EULA does not precisely define
exactly what constitutes the "computer." Some people claim that the
motherboard constitutes the computer. However logical that might seem,
the EULA does not state that, and the EULA is the document that
defines the rights of both parties to the agreement.

Some of those people point to a web site for System Builders, where
Microsoft defines the computer as the motherboard. However it's not
what it says on some web site that defines the customer's rights, it's
the EULA; besides, that web site is not even available to the general
public. I'm not a lawyer, but my guess is that if it ever came to a
court case and someone cited that web site, he'd be laughed out of
court.

So, can you replace a motherboard, consider the result the same
computer, and reuse your OEM copy of Windows? Regardless of what I
think, you think, or anyone else thinks, or even what a court might
rule if it came to that, the real issue is whether Microsoft will
permit you to reactivate if you do. Unfortunately the answer is again
not clear-cut, and we have heard in these newsgroups from people who
have had both experiences--some were reactivated and others were not.
If they refuse to reactivate you and you take them to court, you might
win, but who of us would be willing to undergo that trouble and
expense to find out?

So the answer is that there is no real answer.

Thanks for the answer, I expected something along those lines.

Now here is another thought. Ultimate (and I guess whatever the highest
business edition is called) can be used on a virtual machine right? I
wonder how those two versions, when it comes to OEM, deal with being run
on a VM. Unless of course they make a special mention in the OEM license
that even those two editions can't be run on a VM if it's OEM.

That is actually something that might be a concern to me, as likely by the
time I will actually need to get Vista for some reason, VMWare is going to
be in a state where it can run it with DirectX support. So if / when I get
it, I will get Ultimate for software testing purposes and throw it on a
Virtual Machine.


--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

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å›ã®ã“ã¨å¿˜ã‚ŒãŸã¨ããŒãªã„ã‹ã‚‰

 

[Guest]

From what I understand from the Dell folks, it's determined by a special BIOS
code. I've heard all sorts of stuff about changing hard drives etc, but at
least Dell was willing to work with that. If that's the case, I wonder if my
antique OEM OS's from the last Dell will install on a new Dell. Experimenting
with an new OS is the first thing I like to do when I get it, so thanks to
everyone for their input on what sets the limit. I really can't think of a
better way to learn how to install and configure an OS than to experiment to
the point where you wipe it out and learn how to install and configure
everything from the ground up. But the phone calls aren't always 5
minutes......and it is annoying to have to do it at all. Sometimes that 5
minutes costs thousands in lost sales or productivity. I wish MS would just
fingerprint your machine, write a utility that notifies it when you uninstall
it from that machine and allows unlimited reinstalls to exactly the same
fingerprint, and then save the calls for when you start a clean slate with
the new computer you transplant it to. Repeat the fingerprint and it's now
useless on any other box. I don't care if MS knows every detail about my
machine. I enable plenty of self reporting programs and betas when I test
drive. I write in all sorts of stuff. What do I care if the OS phones home
every time it's fired up? Might even help me recover stolen computers. At
least they could take the joy out of the thief's day when the message comes
back down the wire to disable an OS with a product key that has been reported
as stolen. That's just a short step from their oem technology as it presently
exists with Lojack features built into it.

 

[huwyngr]

The OEM EULA states that
the license is valid only for the original computer it's installed on,
and it may never be moved to another. 

The OEM Activation FAQs on the Microsoft website, so not as might be
posted here, make it quite clear that this only applies to an OEM pre-
installed copy and not to an OEM copy you might buy and install
yourself.

And it specifically says that if you change a motherboard (or any other
combination of hardware that may trigger a call for reactivation) that
you can (may have to) re-activate -- it does not say buy a new licence
and it does say that you can do this with an OEM preinstalled copy of
VISTA.

See my post earlier to Tiberius.

 

[huwyngr]

You cannot legally install a OEM version on a new computer.

Please see my answer just posted to Tiberius in a thread about changing
motherboards.

It is quite clear that you cannot move an OEM copy preinstalled on a PC
(by the manufacturer)to another computer but it is quite clear that you
can if it is a copy of the OEM version that MS freely allows to be sold
-- I guess they count it as Retail but without the same support <g>

And it is also expressly stated that you can change the motherboard on
a pre-installed OEM machine -- just to get the word around >g>

 

[huwyngr]

Like previous
versions, you can move a retail copy (not an OEM copy)

See my post to Tiberius on this -- you can move an OEM copy provided it
was not preinstalled by the manufacturer. Note "pre-" -- I make then I
install. It is not preinstalled when I get the PC.

 

[Rock]

See my post to Tiberius on this -- you can move an OEM copy provided it
was not preinstalled by the manufacturer. Note "pre-" -- I make then I
install. It is not preinstalled when I get the PC.

Where are you getting this info? AFAIK, it doesn't matter if it came
preinstalled by the OEM or if it's a generic OEM copy bought through a
retail channel. The OEM license ties it to the first computer on which it's
installed and can't be moved to a new computer.

Can you quote some text from the source where you draw this conclusion?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

See my post to Tiberius on this -- you can move an OEM copy provided it
was not preinstalled by the manufacturer. Note "pre-" -- I make then I
install. It is not preinstalled when I get the PC.

That is *not* correct (unless you are trying to different between the
words "can" and "may"). The EULA for *any* OEM version does not permit
this.

Yes you can physically do it, but you will be in violation of the
EULA, and are likely to have problems activating it.

And by the way, even if it's preinstalled by the manufacturer,
depending on whether it's BIOS-locked (not all preinstalled versions
are) and depending on what CDs the manufacturer provides, you may
physically be able to move it--although it's still a license
violation.

 

[huwyngr]

Where are you getting this info?

I cited the Microsoft web site sources in my message to Tiberius. I
have no way of finding and giving a link to this at present (and I may
have put the Subject on my Kill list since the thread was full of
stupidities and rudeness (surprised?)

But I tracked down exactly the words I quoted on the Microsoft website
but it took some digging beyond simple searching.

However here is part of the source:

Activating Windows Vista

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/act
ivationfaq.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------

X How many times can I install Windows on my computer before I have to
activate Windows again?

You can reinstall Windows on the same computer as many times as you
want because activation pairs the Windows product key with information
about your computer's hardware. If you make a significant hardware
change, you might have to activate Windows again.

X What hardware changes may require re-activation?

The Windows Vista re-activation process may vary based on how you
acquired Windows Vista. For example:

If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product) or
pre-installed on a computer from a local computer vendor, Windows Vista
will require re-activation if you, for example:

Replace the hard disk drive and memory at the same time.

Replace the motherboard.

If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a
major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment
Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you
replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM.

If you acquired Windows Vista via a volume license upgrade visit the
Windows Vista Volume Activation page.

X What hardware changes can be made without re-activating?

Hardware changes that do not invoke the Windows Vista re-activation
process may vary based on how you acquired Windows Vista. For example:

If you acquired Windows Vista via retail purchase (boxed product) or
pre-installed on a computer from a local computer vendor, Windows Vista
will not require re-activation if you, for example:

Replace the hard disk drive only.

Replace the video card and add system memory at the same time.

If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a
major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment
Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you
replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM.

If you acquired Windows Vista via a volume license upgrade visit the
Windows Vista Volume Activation page.

-------------------------------------------------

If I were not using Text Only I would be able to highlight better but
the Questions I've marked with an X and the two replies about pre-
installed and changing motherboard I've indented the first line.

Note that it says "re-activation" and NOT a new licence.