Product activation on a replacement PC

[QUOTE=NoelDP;1679619]

cluberti said:

4) There is NO problem about MS transerring the activation to new hardware, so long as they don't think you are lying to them.

I proably should have posted this yesterday (might have prevented a big argument )

Anyway, FWIW I managed to find a phone number for Microsoft and called them yesterday. They told me that as long as they're satsified I've removed Win7 from my old machine (or the machine's died or whatever). I can re-activate onto a new machine. There's no longer any time limit like there used to be with XP. So that's it.... straight from the horse's mouth!

[QUOTE=johne53;1679993]

NoelDP said:

cluberti said:

4) There is NO problem about MS transerring the activation to new hardware, so long as they don't think you are lying to them.

I proably should have posted this yesterday (might have prevented a big argument )

Anyway, FWIW I managed to find a phone number for Microsoft and called them yesterday. They told me that as long as they're satsified I've removed Win7 from my old machine (or the machine's died or whatever). I can re-activate onto a new machine. There's no longer any time limit like there used to be with XP. So that's it.... straight from the horse's mouth!

John, we never argue on WSF - just discuss heatedly!

Thanks for posting back, though. There was an inkling of doubt in my mind even though I was certain that what Microsoft told you was correct.

NoelDP said:

cluberti said:

Well, actually you can usually get internet activation to work if it's anywhere near 180 days after the last time it's checked in, and I've had it work about 40 days afterwards. It will eventually not work at all, but I've never had to phone to activate when moving an install. Getting Microsoft to give you your activation information won't be possible, though, hence my post.

That is total hogwash.

1) XP used to have a 120-day threshhold on system upgrades - that hasn't been the case for either Vista or Win 7.
2) While the Activation servers may have a refresh date, ALL activation and validation for ANY Key is available at need to the Acitvation operators (although this may be restricted to 2nd-level support).
3) ANY Win 7 install which goes out of 'hardware complince' will require re-activation. Occasionally, this may work by Internet, but most of the time, it will require telephone activation.
4) There is NO problem about MS transerring the activation to new hardware, so long as they don't think you are lying to them. - that's one of the reasons that Retail versions of Windows are more expensive than OEM ones.
5) there IS a threshhold for the number of internet activations of any given Key - which MS will not publish - but this is simply an administrative thing, and telephone activation is still available thereafter for the life of the Key (which is perpetual).


If you know different, please quote your source.

Hi there
I don't even think the XP activation expires by date either.

I've done a few activations of XP on a Virtual Machine -- I've had to use the Phone mechanism for activating but explained to MS that I NEED XP on a "New Machine" to run some legacy apps.

The New machine was my Virtual XP machine. I've got an expensive draughtsman Blueprint printer and an old HP plotter -- both devices work on XP -- no chance whatsoever of these running on a modern OS as the manufacturers long stopped supporting the devices. However they work perfectly and I'm not spending 1000's of dollars on new replacement equipment.

No problem whatsoever even though my original XP disc was probably from around 2005 or 2006 -- can't remember exactly.

So long as it's RETAIL AFAIK you can activate it FOREVER -- MS aren't an unreasonable company actually -- not the picture some people paint of them.

My expereince with them so long as you are open with them is 100% OK.

Cheers
jimbo