Tell me it isn't true. Windows 7 installation

[whs]

I legal own Windows and I should be able to put it on my computer as many times as I want to...Tabbycat

Agreed.

You guys live in a dream world. You do not "own" windows. You bought the right to use it on one system. That's what the EULA says and that's what you agreed to when you installed it. Stretching that may be possible, but that does not make it legal. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Use e.g. Linux.

 

[MadMaxData]

You guys live in a dream world. You do not "own" windows. You bought the right to use it on one system. That's what the EULA says and that's what you agreed to when you installed it. Stretching that may be possible, but that does not make it legal. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Use e.g. Linux.

Like I said, I don't even use it anymore. Not since Vista was released, so it's a moot point for me.

 

[WindowsStar]

I guess I did misunderstand then. I had the impression that people were saying you can only run the OS on one computer at a time with the same key. That's not correct. I've installed XP-Pro on many PC's and had them running at the same time. I can pretty much install XP-Pro wherever, whenever, and as many times as I want. I just use the same registration info every time, and never had even a hint at a problem with MS about it. However, I DO NOT give out my license, or install the OS for anyone....period. It's exclusively for my use only.

I know for a FACT this is not true with Windows XP Retail. Back when XP first came out a business I was working for were trying to do this and it would activate and then when you tried to do activate it the 3rd time it would say it could not and you had to call MS. I never tried it with OEM so I cannot speak to that maybe someone here can. This could have changed with Windows XP SP2 or SP3 slipstream because I never tried it.

Sounds like you have a VLK (Volume License Key) you can install on one or a billion machines it does not matter. However if you install it 100 times and you do not pay for each machine you installed it on you are running illegally. Microsoft let VLK users install on the honor system they trust that end users that buy VLK will pay for each machine they install it on.

 

[MadMaxData]

I guess I did misunderstand then. I had the impression that people were saying you can only run the OS on one computer at a time with the same key. That's not correct. I've installed XP-Pro on many PC's and had them running at the same time. I can pretty much install XP-Pro wherever, whenever, and as many times as I want. I just use the same registration info every time, and never had even a hint at a problem with MS about it. However, I DO NOT give out my license, or install the OS for anyone....period. It's exclusively for my use only.

I know for a FACT this is not true with Windows XP Retail. Back when XP first came out a business I was working for were trying to do this and it would activate and then when you tried to do activate it the 3rd time it would say it could not and you had to call MS. I never tried it with OEM so I cannot speak to that maybe someone here can. This could have changed with Windows XP SP2 or SP3 slipstream because I never tried it.

Sounds like you have a VLK (Volume License Key) you can install on one or a billion machines it does not matter. However if you install it 100 times and you do not pay for each machine you installed it on you are running illegally. Microsoft let VLK users install on the honor system they trust that end users that buy VLK will pay for each machine they install it on.

You guys got me intrigued, so I went and looked on my CD, and it says "System Builder License" on it, so maybe that's the deal with mine. It doesn't say "Volume License Key" on it anywhere though.

 

[WindowsStar]

You guys got me intrigued, so I went and looked on my CD, and it says "System Builder License" on it, so maybe that's the deal with mine. It doesn't say "Volume License Key" on it anywhere though.

System Builder License = OEM. You are most likely right and can install it over and over without issue. However as a "System Builder" you are supposed to install it use your key and then put the "Windows XP" sticker on the box. You have to BUY the stickers. This way the end-user of the machine has a valid license and can re-install if they need to.

 

[MadMaxData]

You guys got me intrigued, so I went and looked on my CD, and it says "System Builder License" on it, so maybe that's the deal with mine. It doesn't say "Volume License Key" on it anywhere though.

System Builder License = OEM. You are most likely right and can install it over and over without issue. However as a "System Builder" you are supposed to install it use your key and then put the "Windows XP" sticker on the box. You have to BUY the stickers. This way the end-user of the machine has a valid license and can re-install if they need to.

I was completely unaware of all that. I didn't even know it was a system builder disc until just now. No wonder why it was so expensive back then. It was the only one TigerDirect had at the time, so I just figured it was the regular one. It didn't say anything like it was a special license in the ad when I bought it. At least I don't think so, it's been so long now.

 

[manhunter2826]

This thread is rather confusing. I believe some bad info might be posted here. I've owned at least 10 rigs since Windows XP-Pro has come out, and I've installed it at least 50 different times [and that's a very conservative number] between all those rigs. Windows activates every time, and passes validation every time. It's an OEM CD too, that I bought from TigerDirect.com.

Technically you are not allowed to move an OEM copy from one physical machine to another machine. If it worked, it worked....but that's not the way the license is supposed to work.

As far as reinstalling onto the same machine...you can do that as often as you want with a single copy and a single license.

However, if you own a desktop computer and you waltz into Best Buy and buy a retail copy of Windows 7 then you can install that onto your desktop computer. But you aren't supposed to take that same copy and pop it into your laptop and install it there as well....unless you remove it from the desktop computer.

This isn't bad information...it's the way that MS intends this to work. There will always be people who work around it, hack it, pirate it, and otherwise use it in an illegal manner.

Here is a posting from the Microsoft Technet forums discussing this belief that you can do multiple installs without issue;
How many PC's can I install Windows 7 (Full Retail Version) on using the SAME LICENSE key.

And a link from a Microsoft website that has a question specifically on Vista and how many times it can be installed and the answer says 1
Quick start: Activation FAQ

Some fantastic info there and useful links, much thanks pp

 

[Night Hawk]

You guys got me intrigued, so I went and looked on my CD, and it says "System Builder License" on it, so maybe that's the deal with mine. It doesn't say "Volume License Key" on it anywhere though.

System Builder License = OEM. You are most likely right and can install it over and over without issue. However as a "System Builder" you are supposed to install it use your key and then put the "Windows XP" sticker on the box. You have to BUY the stickers. This way the end-user of the machine has a valid license and can re-install if they need to.

That's if you are building systems for sale. The product key sticker along with the actual disk used for installation are incliuded when sold.

There are two different types of OEM as well. The system builders version or what you see sold at newegg and other vendors is the type where you can choose any one machine to install onto while the branded OEM disks are bonded by Dell, HP, Toshiba, Gateway, and others to the machine they manufacturered only having the disk set included.

MS made an unnounced amendment on consective activations as far as XP was concerned due to constant delays seen for Vista's release. Let's say they didn't stamp down as hard since people were still upgrading hardwares and getting newer machines during the extended gap between versions seen there.

For both retail and OEM the idea is simply one license for use on one machine at a time. With the retail disk if your present system "bites the dust" for some reason or simply is too old where you build new you then move onto the new build and typically wipe the drives on the last especially if you plan to sell or donate it.

The OEM disk however remains tied to the machine it was used on there in accordance to the EULA licensing. This is where whs was correct by stating you don't own Windows but only bought the disk and license to "use" the software being Windows on your own hardwares.

MS is the patent holder and actual "owner" of their own software like I mentioned earlier in the thread. They hold the exclusive rights if you look at the technical aspect of things.

These days by the time you go through 3 consecutive activations(retail) on new machines the next version is out and your hardwares are now gerring on in computer years! That new board or new line of cpus even a new line up of video cards will have you investing in some form of upgrade!

 

[pparks1]

I am a pc troubleshooter and I use my computer many times as a guinea pig as I determine what is going on with my clients machines. It can get pretty messed up and so I like to collasp my partitions, then recreate the partitions, then reformat and then install Windows. This way I know I am starting with a clean machine.

You should do what I do and install your OS, install the drives for basic functionality, activate your copy, run Windows update and then image the machine. This way you can lay your image back down over and over again and never have to worry about activating again.

Plus, I hate Microsoft for a lot of reasons. They write software that takes more and more control of my computer away from me. Have you ever tried to delete windows from your hard drive? You reboot and it's all back.

Ummmm...I've never experienced that. I've replaced Windows with Linux on many occasions without it coming back on it's own. I've also simply deleted hard drive partitions with tools like Gparted and they are gone.

Honestly, if you hate Microsoft so much...then why continue to use their software? Take the time to learn Linux, grab a couple of distros and find another happy spot where you have more freedoms and the ability to do whatever you want with it.

I legal own Windows and I should be able to put it on my computer as many times as I want to, the same computer of course, without having to call Ma and Pa Microsoft to get their ok with a magic number.

Technically this is untrue. The software is licensed and you are granted the right to use it per the EULA. It is unfortunate that piracy has caused companies like MS to have to resort to these measures which do impact paying customers.

 

[DarkStar GT]

This thread is rather confusing. I believe some bad info might be posted here. I've owned at least 10 rigs since Windows XP-Pro has come out, and I've installed it at least 50 different times [and that's a very conservative number] between all those rigs. Windows activates every time, and passes validation every time. It's an OEM CD too, that I bought from TigerDirect.com.

I had understood that an OEM install and activation was constrained to one machine (with some hardware variations). So either those 10 rigs are very similar or I am misled.