Microsoft Makes Vista Licensing Tougher On Users

[imhotep]

Microsoft Makes Vista Licensing Tougher On Users

"Microsoft has released licenses for the Windows Vista operating system that
dramatically differ from those for Windows XP in that they limit the number
of times that retail editions can be transferred to another device.

The new licenses, which were highlighted by the Vista team on its official
blog Tuesday, add new restrictions to how and where Windows can be used.

"The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device
one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes
the "licensed device," reads the license for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home
Premium, Ultimate, and Business. In other words, once a retail copy of
Vista is installed on a PC, it can be moved to another system only once.

The new policy is narrower than Windows XP's. In the same section, the
license for Windows XP Home states: "You may move the Software to a
different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely
remove the Software from the former Workstation Computer." There is no
limit to the number of times users can make this move. Windows XP
Professional's license is identical."

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193300292&subSection=All+Stories

Im

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Enlighten us.

In what far stretch of imagination can this be seen as having
the slightest thing to do with security in Windows ?

Another OT post from the slash dot echo

 

[Leythos]

Follow-Up properly fixed for Thread Maintenance

Microsoft Makes Vista Licensing Tougher On Users

"Microsoft has released licenses for the Windows Vista operating system that
dramatically differ from those for Windows XP in that they limit the number
of times that retail editions can be transferred to another device.

The new licenses, which were highlighted by the Vista team on its official
blog Tuesday, add new restrictions to how and where Windows can be used.

"The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device
one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes
the "licensed device," reads the license for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home
Premium, Ultimate, and Business. In other words, once a retail copy of
Vista is installed on a PC, it can be moved to another system only once.

The new policy is narrower than Windows XP's. In the same section, the
license for Windows XP Home states: "You may move the Software to a
different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely
remove the Software from the former Workstation Computer." There is no
limit to the number of times users can make this move. Windows XP
Professional's license is identical."

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193300292&subSection=All+Stories

Im

 

[Guest]

Microsoft Makes Vista Licensing Tougher On Users

"Microsoft has released licenses for the Windows Vista operating system that
dramatically differ from those for Windows XP in that they limit the number
of times that retail editions can be transferred to another device.

The new licenses, which were highlighted by the Vista team on its official
blog Tuesday, add new restrictions to how and where Windows can be used.

"The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device
one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes
the "licensed device," reads the license for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home
Premium, Ultimate, and Business. In other words, once a retail copy of
Vista is installed on a PC, it can be moved to another system only once.

The new policy is narrower than Windows XP's. In the same section, the
license for Windows XP Home states: "You may move the Software to a
different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely
remove the Software from the former Workstation Computer." There is no
limit to the number of times users can make this move. Windows XP
Professional's license is identical."

Im

If the above is true , I'd better buy more than one Vista license for each
computer I own . Very stupid decision , in my opinion . Hackers/bad guys will
again find a way to use it illegally but we , the ones who pay , will suffer
from this !!!

 

[Gerry Hickman]

Hi Roger,

In what far stretch of imagination can this be seen as having
the slightest thing to do with security in Windows ?

Well it's effectively a DoS attack on the guy who's just spent $$$
buying Windows Vista! So it is kind-of related

I'm concerned that it applies to Windows Vista "Business". How can
Business be retail??

 

[Tom Willett]

Where did he spend $$$ buying Vista? It hasn't been released yet.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Hi Roger,


Well it's effectively a DoS attack on the guy who's just spent $$$ buying
Windows Vista! So it is kind-of related

I'm concerned that it applies to Windows Vista "Business". How can
Business be retail??

Perhaps DoS Gerry, but I can think of few people that actuallly do
move a license more than once during the life of an OS, perhaps
I am sheltered by the volume licensing agreements and do not see
how this would have much impact.

If abandoning an old machine move the license (one time capability)
but if buying a new machine and selling off the old buy the new with
license and sell the old with license so that one has two licenses to
cover the time needed to move data, etc. to the new machines.

Roger

 

[Michael D. Ober]

It makes you want to take a harder look at Linux. Gamers frequently replace
systems with faster and bigger systems, moving their OS with them.

Mike Ober.

 

[Gerry Hickman]

Hi Roger,

Perhaps DoS Gerry, but I can think of few people that actuallly do
move a license more than once during the life of an OS,

I agree; in the current climate of Dell/Windows being sold as an entity,
it's unlikely to affect many people. However, surely this wording is
ONLY aimed at guys who BUY Vista because they WANT to play with
different computers? e.g. a gamer who changes mainboards and processor
every few months, and builds their own PCs?

 

[Michael D. Ober]

The gamers and system upgraders are one of the main driving forces in the
advances in computer graphics. This licensing restriction will make them
(and the developers who write games) consider other OSs - not a good thing
for MS. It sounds to me like MS has hired the idiots away from RIAA who are
doing their damned best to force people to spend money multiple times to
transition their music from tape to CD to MP3. Also, this clause in the
Vista license may violate the electronic transfer laws in at least two
European countries. See the link about the Apple IPOD in Business Week. MS
may discover that Vista's licensing terms run afoul of these same laws.
http://www.businessweek.com/technol...ogy_technology+index+page_today's+top+stories

Mike Ober.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Will not quite a lot revolve around just what it is that makes a machine
a different device ? If I change the motherboard, is it a different
computer?
If I change the case and power supply but all else is just moved over?
If I do both at once ?

 

[Gerry Hickman]

Hi Roger,

As I understand it, modern "activation" procedures are based on things
like motherboard serial number, hard drive serial number and processor
ID, therefore if these are changed it will be considered a different device.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Hi Roger,

As I understand it, modern "activation" procedures are based on things
like motherboard serial number, hard drive serial number and processor ID,
therefore if these are changed it will be considered a different device.

I do not know the specifics for Vista, but for XP it is a basket of things
that are taken to represent a unique install, and multiple of them must be
changed within a short time (60 or? 90 days) for it to trigger
(re)activation.
So I am still at "Will not quite a lot revolve around just what it is that
makes
a machine a different device ?". It changed considerably during XP's early
months and then was again made more liberal later.
Anyway, this is not a security issue, and would be better discussed
elsewhere where interested parties might hang out.

Roger

 

[pjp]

If the above is true , I'd better buy more than one Vista license for each
computer I own . Very stupid decision , in my opinion . Hackers/bad guys will
again find a way to use it illegally but we , the ones who pay , will suffer
from this !!!

Only if you're idiotic enough to buy it in the first place. When I buy
something I expect to be able to use it any damn way I feel like for as long
and as often as I feel like. I don't give a shit what MS says, I bought it
and did NOT sign anything agreeing to any License. You want me to license it
then part and parcel is free tech support, fix problems etc. etc. etc. If
that's "not allowed" than go f**k yourself MS to put it bluntly. To my mind
they're just ruining themselves as it'll just drive all those young
"keeners" to another OS and in the end all they'll have left is their OEM's
continuing to screw each and every customer they have.

Same can also be said for new Office, like anyone ectually needs a new
version of Office.

I'm telling ya's, if Linux etc. ever have a library of decent games, Windows
is toast.