Win7 install limits?

edilee012 said:

I currently have Vista64 and have pre-ordered Win7 pro upgrade now I also am planning a new PC build either around the Win7 release time OR I might see what the hardware industry has up it's sleeve for the beginning of next year. After lots of reading I am hearing about 32nm CPU's and vid cards in that range also and of course the Intel i9 series and so on...big changes coming soon and it might be best for me to wait a little bit before sinking $$ into a build in 2-3 months.

With that being said and here is my real question...will I be able to upgrade my current Vista machine when W7 arrives in the mail and then use the same copy/key/license to install on my new build when I eventually do it? Basically how many times can I install W7 on a totally different PC? I think 3 has been the limit with XP and Vista and that would actually be great and I would not have any issues. If there is a limit of just 1 machine then I won't upgrade my current machine to it and I will just hold onto it till my new build is up and ready. Thanks in advance.

You can install as many times as you like, but only ONE computer may be activated at a time per license. If it rejects your activation when installing on the new build, call the 1-800 number it gives you and speak to a Microsoft rep. Tell them you built a new computer and have removed your copy of 7 from the old one. They will ask if you have Windows 7 installed on any other machines. Be sure to tell them NO. They will give you a new activation key if it comes to this.

Remember, you cannot have the same license on multiple PCs!!!

Brian

How do they know when I have more PCs activated I mean what keeps me from lying to them? Of course I would tell them "no, I have not installed it anywhere else". But do they physically check it with update function or so?

that whole activation thing just pisses the honest costumer off. When one uses a pirated version there is no hassle, you only have hassle if you pay for it. If they in addition to not hassling honest costumers would reduce the price for consumers to the levels the PC manufacturers pay there would be much less piracy.

As a student I pay $ 77 for vista ulimate (and expect a similar price for W7 ultimate). that is fair and I rather pay than hassling through pirating. I also think MS this time delivers a good product for the $. But would I pay $300 for the regular version? Hell no... Especially when I know Dell only pays $ 50 or so.

HerrKaLeun said:

How do they know when I have more PCs activated I mean what keeps me from lying to them? Of course I would tell them "no, I have not installed it anywhere else". But do they physically check it with update function or so?

It is Microsoft's policy to take your word for it and not call you a liar. Take that how you will.