Activations

[Ramzy]

Hi,

I just bought Windows 7 Ultimate today, and i should also be getting a free copy on the 22nd of October under a retail e-learning program.

I am interested in the amount of times that i can activate Windows 7 Ultimate.

I have 3 computers in my house.

- Main desktop for gaming and internet usage
- Secondary desktop connected to TV as media PC
- Laptop

I have installed Windows 7 on my main computer, however i would like to install it on my secondary desktop and laptop. How many times can Windows 7 be activated before it locks / refuses to activate?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ramzy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can install the retail Windows 7 as many times as you like on as many computers as you like from the same installation disc. However, you can only use the same product key number to activate Windows 7 on one computer. If you want to use the same product key number to activate another Windows 7 on another computer with the same edition (ex: Ultimate), then you will need to uninstall the previous Windows 7 activated by that same key number before you do. You will then most likely still need to do a phone activation to activate it.

In other words, you will need to have a separate product key number for each Windows 7 installation, or they will all lock up on you the first time Windows 7 checks in at Microsoft.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[rpmstl]

Exactly 1 activation per license

 

[nate42nd]

If you want to use the same product key number to activate another Windows 7 on another computer with the same edition (ex: Ultimate), then you will need to uninstall the previous Windows 7 activated by that same key number before you do.

How would you "un-install" Windows 7? I have struggled with this for a while. I don't mind following the rules but how would they ever know. Is there a way to de-activate Windows 7?

I cannot decide between retail and OEM. I have been going to order but just cannot decide.:huh:

 

[Brink]

Hi Nate,

Windows will check in with Microsoft every so often to verify that it is genuine, and that the key number is not being used on another computer.

Uninstall = format. You could also change the product key number in Windows 7 to be used to activate it with.

A retail Windows 7 can be installed on any computer after uninstalling from the previous computer that it was installed on.

A OEM Windows 7 can only be reinstalled on the original computer that it was first installed and activated on. It cannot be installed on another computer.

 

[nate42nd]

I just had to RMA a motherboard after 2 weeks of use. I this case I would have gone through a lot of trouble if I would have had an OEM copy of Windows. I could have installed it on my back-up board and not activated it but then when the replacement got here, I would have had to activate my copy on another board. It was not my fault my board had a problem. I hear MS is good about these situations but I know 90% of these calls they get are fake. I would hate to have to do it. Thanks Brink

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

Hi Nate,

Windows will check in with Microsoft every so often to verify that it is genuine, and that the key number is not being used on another computer.

Uninstall = format. You could also change the product key number in Windows 7 to be used to activate it with.

A retail Windows 7 can be installed on any computer after uninstalling from the previous computer that it was installed on.

A OEM Windows 7 can only be reinstalled on the original computer that it was first installed and activated on. It cannot be installed on another computer.

You don't need to uninstall/format actually. Unless its a 7 thing, I know with Vista you didn't have to.

 

[nate42nd]

I want to comply with the EULA but I would hate to loose $180 if my motherboard fails. I know this issue is a dead horse and I hate to even bring it up. I will just order OEM right now and call it good. I will use this machine for a year or two.

 

[Ramzy]

So Microsoft rewards our honesty (paying close to $500 for a retail version of Windows 7) by allowing us to activate once?

I wonder why piracy exists :shock:.

And just for clarification sake:

 

[Brink]

Ramzy,

You have always only been able to activate once per product key license number. A retail Windows 7 will let you activate as many times as you like on any computer that you want, as long as it has been uninstalled from any prior computer that the key number was activated on first.

Microsoft does offer a Windows 7 Family Pack for $149.99 for 3 Windows 7 Home Premium product key license numbers included.

 

[pparks1]

So Microsoft rewards our honesty (paying close to $500 for a retail version of Windows 7) by allowing us to activate once?

I wonder why piracy exists :shock:.

First, a retail copy of Windows 7 is not $500. A full retail install for Home Premium that is not an upgrade is $199 and if you actually require the Ultimate features it's $319. The upgrades are considerably cheaper.

Second, you can activate it over and over again on the same machine. You however are required to have 1 product key per install. This is the way things have always been.

Third, just because Windows 7 is coming out doesn't mean all of your computers HAVE to use it. If you already legally own Vista or XP..you can continue using that on your other computers.

Fourth...with regards to piracy....is it absolutely required that you must use a Microsoft based operating system on your other computers? Seriously, if you aren't happy with MS and feel that their products are too expensive...why pirate it and use it??? Look for a different product. I use Linux on my other computers simply because I don't want to pay the licensing premiums to run MS based OS's on these other machines.