Licensing

[SO]

I am contemplating upgrading to Windows XP. But before
I do, I want to know what the Win XP licensing is as far
as renewal after the first year. Will I be forced to
update it at Microsofts will and my cost? Can anyone tell
me what finally happened with the licensing?

Thanks.

 

[Len]

no......

 

[Tim Slattery]

I am contemplating upgrading to Windows XP. But before
I do, I want to know what the Win XP licensing is as far
as renewal after the first year. Will I be forced to
update it at Microsofts will and my cost? Can anyone tell
me what finally happened with the licensing?

There no renewals. Once you activate it, it keeps running.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I am contemplating upgrading to Windows XP. But before
I do, I want to know what the Win XP licensing is as far
as renewal after the first year.

You've undoubtedly been reading FUD someplace. There is no
"renewal after first year." There is no renewal at all. You
install XP, you activate it, and you're done. Unless your
hardware changes substantially, or you reinstall it, you never
have to do anything else, and your right to use it is permanent.

Even if your hardware changes substantially or you reinstall it,
all you have to is reactivate it, which is quick, easy, and free.

Will I be forced to
update it at Microsofts will and my cost?

No and no. There are no issues here at all.

 

[myself]

In SO



You've undoubtedly been reading FUD someplace. There is no "renewal
after first year." There is no renewal at all. You install XP, you
activate it, and you're done. Unless your hardware changes
substantially, or you reinstall it, you never have to do anything else,
and your right to use it is permanent.

Even if your hardware changes substantially or you reinstall it, all you
have to is reactivate it, which is quick, easy, and free.




No and no. There are no issues here at all.

Just be careful to buy the right version. The OEM version is locked to the
very first system you install it on. Microsoft uses their Product
Activation to keep you from moving it to another system should you upgrade
to a whole new computer later on.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am contemplating upgrading to Windows XP. But before
I do, I want to know what the Win XP licensing is as far
as renewal after the first year. Will I be forced to
update it at Microsofts will and my cost? Can anyone tell
me what finally happened with the licensing?

Windows XP is licensed in perpetuity for installation on the same
hardware; and a retail copy can be removed from one machine and then
reinstalled on another on the same license. There is *no* annual fee.