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Thread ID: 91280	2008-07-02 02:42:00	Muliple PC license for windows	dugimodo (138)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
684485	2008-07-02 02:42:00	A question that's been bugging me for some time, can a home user buy a license to install one copy of windows XP and/or Vista on multiple PC's ? and if so is the price affordable and can the license be transferred when the pc's are replaced ? Searching round the net and on microsofts website doesn't enlighten me much, and when I decided to try and E-mail them a question I discovered their website seems specifically designed to discourage such outrageous behavior ( requires you to submit a product key to see if you qualify for free support for example ) or at least make it near impossible to figure out who to E-mail. As a pc enthusiast I regularly build new pc's and upgrade my existing ones, until recently I managed with OEM keys purchased now and again with new hardware but it's starting to get ridiculous. I would like to be able to install windows on my own machines at will without re-purchasing new copies all the time. I currently have 3 pc's and 4 legitimate copies of windows but don't have any way to install a valid copy on the most recent one! I have 2 XP home OEM licenses, 1 Vista upgrade that must go on one of the XP home machines, and an OEM copy of XP pro x64 bit (which turns out to be a mistake for what I wanted) To purchase an OEM version of Vista requires me to buy enough hardware to constitute a new pc, e.g. MB, CPU, RAM, and possible a HDD. With XP the license was a bit less restrictive. I think Microsoft should allow a license to belong to a PERSON and not tie it to hardware, as long as I'm the only one using my copy of windows why should I have to buy a new one. edit: - no $400 for a retail license is not affordable !	dugimodo (138)
684486	2008-07-02 02:46:00	the PC hardware might be cheap but MS hits you with the licensing. I know they do some pretty good deals but I am pretty sure that 1 license means only 1 PC. If you want to put Windows on several machines you have to buy several licenses (family pack) MS NEVER does anything to favour the customer - how else do you think they go to be so rich - develop the software then license it out to who ever wants to use it. They have also tightened up a lot with XP and Vista on making sure that you have a legit paid license to run your copy of Windows on that PC which is why the PCs dial home to the MS mothership to check that you are not trying to rip off Bill and Steve.	vitalstatistix (9182)
684487	2008-07-02 03:24:00	You can do a Vista full install from an upgrades disc. (vistarewired.com) I'm using a upg version right now using the above method - activated successfully and updtaes come down properly. No probs at all! OEM XP = Tied to hardware Retail XP = Transferable (I think) Volume XP = Tied to organisation OEM Vista = Tied to hardware Retail Vista = Transferable Volume Vista = Tied to organisation So... 2x XP OEM 32 bit 1x Vista full from upgrade install 1x XP OEM 64 Bit = 4 full licenses! :D	jwil1 (65)
684488	2008-07-02 03:50:00	the PC hardware might be cheap but MS hits you with the licensing. I know they do some pretty good deals but I am pretty sure that 1 license means only 1 PC. If you want to put Windows on several machines you have to buy several licenses (family pack) MS NEVER does anything to favour the customer - how else do you think they go to be so rich - develop the software then license it out to who ever wants to use it. They have also tightened up a lot with XP and Vista on making sure that you have a legit paid license to run your copy of Windows on that PC which is why the PCs dial home to the MS mothership to check that you are not trying to rip off Bill and Steve. At least you can buy a standalone licence for the Windows OS, without having to buy any Microsoft hardware with it... dugimodo: Are you a student? If so, you can get heavily discounted/free copies of Windows. In terms of one-licence-many-PCs, you can get volume licences which allow you to do that, but they typically require you to buy quite a few at once (i.e. more than the 3 you need).	somebody (208)
684489	2008-07-02 04:02:00	At least you can buy a standalone licence for the Windows OS, without having to buy any Microsoft hardware with it... . That would be because Microsoft is a software company that licenses its OS out to anyone that wants to pay the fees whereas Apple does both and when they did license out the OS all they got was Mac clones that didn't do them any favours. If you take the Xbox as a similar example of vertical integration - MS following Apple's lead again - you try and play a non MS/Xbox game on the Xbox - ain't goona happen although by your argument it should....	vitalstatistix (9182)
684490	2008-07-02 04:14:00	You don't have to buy any hardware with any of the Microsoft, Apple, Sun, or Linux OSs . But usually you do want to run the software, so some hardware is necessary . All software is totally virus resistant (and internal bugs never show up) as long it is safely kept in the (cardboard) box . :thumbs:	Graham L (2)
684491	2008-07-02 04:18:00	You don't have to buy any hardware with any of the Microsoft, Apple, Sun, or Linux OSs . But usually you do want to run the software, so some hardware is necessary . :D	vitalstatistix (9182)
684492	2008-07-02 04:22:00	You don't have to buy any hardware with any of the Microsoft, Apple, Sun, or Linux OSs . But usually you do want to run the software, so some hardware is necessary . All software is totally virus resistant (and internal bugs never show up) as long it is safely kept in the (cardboard) box . :thumbs: If you can find me a standalone Mac OSX Leopard licence which I can run on any hardware I like, I'd be keen to have a play with it . . .	somebody (208)
684493	2008-07-02 04:36:00	OSX will install on a good range of hardware	Bantu (52)
684494	2008-07-02 04:53:00	If you can find me a standalone Mac OSX Leopard licence which I can run on any hardware I like, I'd be keen to have a play with it... No such thing although Apple does have a opensource version of Darwin on their site which you can install on a PC. I think that is what Bantu has. If you want to have a play with Leopard, go and visit a Noel Leemings, Bond n Bond or HN or Apple Store and have a play on a Mac for half an hour in your lunch break. OSX will install on a good range of hardware Illegally on PCs, legally on Macs :)	vitalstatistix (9182)
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