The Official OcUK Vista Licencing Questions FAQ Thread

OzyOly · 4 Jan 2007 at 14:53

ben_j_davis said:
So what are we saying here, if we buy the Retail Version of Vista we can change as many components as well like? Or is there a limit to the number of times we can reactivate like 10?

Ues, 10 times without phoning up. After the 10th time you just phone up to activate and M$ will be happy to give you an activation code seeing as it is legal. You can activate as many times as you want over the phone with the retail version.

pcknight · 4 Jan 2007 at 14:54

What if you bought the OEM version one month and then the next month the mobo packed in and then you find out the replacement Motherboard is no longer in production? Do you honestly think 99% of people would stand having to buy another licence? No chance!

OzyOly · 4 Jan 2007 at 14:55

pcknight said:
What if you bought the OEM version one month and then the next month the mobo packed in and then you find out the replacement Motherboard is no longer in production? Do you honestly think 99% of people would stand having to buy another licence? No chance!

This thread isn't about the moral justification for the OEM licence.

Burnsy has answered all the legal questions.

If you dom't like the OEM licence, don't buy OEM. Bitching about it isn't going to change anything.

shuntfield · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:08

pcknight said:
What if you bought the OEM version one month and then the next month the mobo packed in and then you find out the replacement Motherboard is no longer in production? Do you honestly think 99% of people would stand having to buy another licence? No chance!

That is exactly what should happen (not good imo), you could do in that case is attempt a telephone activation and speak to an activation agent, they my have rules that determine that if you have changed the Motherboard so soon after original activation then you my be able to re-activate, from the other components such as ram, processor etc.

On this case only time will tell.

With Windows XP you have 30 days activation grace period, I would guess that Vista is the same, and suggest not to activate the machine unless you are certain you have the setup the way you want it.

I upgrade my machine on an 18 month cycle, which means that I now have to factor in another OS Licence, this will only slow down my upgrade cycle which means that I and possibly others will increase the interval at which they upgrade, having a knock on in almost all areas of the computer industry from Manufacture to Distribution and sales.

Personally I think if enough people made comment to Microsoft, then they may reconsider some of the criteria that determines an upgrade, they have done in the past on other system builder issues such as the OEM break-the-seal agreement.

Shunts...

pcknight · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:12

Well, i for one would tell them anything to get it activated again. No way i would pay a 2nd time!

ben_j_davis · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:13

OzyOly said:
Ues, 10 times without phoning up. After the 10th time you just phone up to activate and M$ will be happy to give you an activation code seeing as it is legal. You can activate as many times as you want over the phone with the retail version.

Thanks

I have one last interesting question, I have a copy of XP Pro from MSDN, I buy the upgrade version (Retail), install it. Then i decide to change my mobo and of course it requires a reinstall. I'll assume i need an xp disk to reinstall as will not detect a previous version. But as its from MSDN I only have XP on a disc i've made. Do you reckon it will still work? I mean has anyone every tried this with XP (i.e. upgrading MSDN Win 98 to XP)?

b.cummins · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:14

what do i have to buy to qualify for the purchase of an OEM copy? Some say as little as a mouse but I plan to buy a hard drive anyway does that count?

Rebelius · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:14

pcknight said:
What if you bought the OEM version one month and then the next month the mobo packed in and then you find out the replacement Motherboard is no longer in production? Do you honestly think 99% of people would stand having to buy another licence? No chance!

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The replacement motherboard must be the same make/model or the same manufacturer’s replacement/equivalent, as defined by that manufacturer’s warranty.

can you read?

pcknight · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:16

Rebelius said:
If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The replacement motherboard must be the same make/model or the same manufacturer’s replacement/equivalent, as defined by that manufacturer’s warranty.

can you read?

Can you not be so arrogant then?

ben_j_davis · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:19

ben_j_davis said:
Thanks

I have one last interesting question, I have a copy of XP Pro from MSDN, I buy the upgrade version (Retail), install it. Then i decide to change my mobo and of course it requires a reinstall. I'll assume i need an xp disk to reinstall as will not detect a previous version. But as its from MSDN I only have XP on a disc i've made. Do you reckon it will still work? I mean has anyone every tried this with XP (i.e. upgrading MSDN Win 98 to XP)?

Actually I've just had an idea, if the disc didn't work then I could simply upgrade the computer and install XP activate and then install Vista over the top.

Mr.Clark · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:19

burnsy2023 said:
Rebelius said:

this gives me a question:

if you have an upgrade version of XP - based on a retail 98, say - is that eligible for upgrade to vista?

Click to expand...

Yes.

Burnsy

Really?

So I could get a Vista upgrade DVD (of any flavour), boot from it, and when it asks for a qualifying product, shove my XP Pro Upgrade (retail) CD in?

Sweet!

I assume it's not clever enough to say "well that's an Upgrade disk so please insert a qualifying product to prove that THAT is valid" (as technically, I could then use a 98 CD... not good enough for Vista, but it isgood enough for XP)

shuntfield · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:21

b.cummins said:
what do i have to buy to qualify for the purchase of an OEM copy? Some say as little as a mouse but I plan to buy a hard drive anyway does that count?

You dont have to buy any additional Hardware anymore, have a look at my post above:

Shuntfield said:
3. If the distributor sells you an OEM copy of the software it must be inside the Break the seal box, in this case, a distributor can sell the sealed box to a system builder or end user for installation on their machine Without hardware. Once the box has been opened any further distribution of the software MUST be with a system. If it is installed on a system to be sold to an end user it must be installed with the OEM Preinstallation kit available to System Builders.

You used to have to buy non-perhiperal hardware but that is no longer required, as vista will come in a Break-the-seal box, your supplier will have to sell it to you in that box, otherwise they would be in trouble.

In the previous licence before the break-the-seal you could have purchased an IDE or CD-Audio cable to comply with the Hardware Requirement, but as I say this is no longer a requirement as long as it comes in a sealed box

Shunts...

Burnsy2023 · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:27

shuntfield said:
Snip

You are correct in pretty much everything except point 2. The motherboard replacement must be under a warrenty claim, and the resulting board that gets put in place may not be identical. This is for the simple fact that products become discontinued etc. This would mean that an OEM would have to accept and support the board that the manufacturer replaced it with.

Burnsy

Macro · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:29

pcknight said:
Don't worry, be happy! No need to get worked up over an OS. - Yew

He has a point though. the question has been answered for you, several times. It really all comes down to honesty, if someone's happy to rationalise that they're OK to take the illegal option then thats a matter for them.

People need to buy the version of the software that allows them to do what it is they want to do, it's not like they have no option, purely that they think they don't have to pay the appropriate amount like everyone else.

As i've said time and time again, Home Premium upgrade is £140, buy this and all the trying to frig the system to get past OEM restrictions is a non issue.

pcknight · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:30

As stated before 99% of people wouldn't give a damn about this rule or that rule when it comes to activation of the OS. They will just say anything to get it activated. I know i would.

shuntfield · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:32

burnsy2023 said:
You are correct in pretty much everything except point 2. The motherboard replacement must be under a warrenty claim, and the resulting board that gets put in place may not be identical. This is for the simple fact that products become discontinued etc. This would mean that an OEM would have to accept and support the board that the manufacturer replaced it with.

Burnsy

Thanks Burnsy, I read it from the OEM site, and this is what I took it to be, I also looked at the Technet System Builder forums, and there is a chap on there who says he builds specialist machines, and that motherboards go discontinued, after say 8 months if he replaced the motherboard under his warranty, with a different board would he need another licence.

The reply from the MSFT guy was - Yes you need a new licence, to which the reply from the OP was I dont stock boards for warranty and this is too restrictive, another poster then went in to a Microsoft Rant!

I shall edit my Original post having read the Licence rules again !

As for me, I am planning to replace most of my machine, with new components, except for the Hard Drive and DVD-Writers and put OEM Vista Premium on it, which will suit me for the next 18-24 months when I will start again I expect!

Shunts...

Macro · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:35

pcknight said:
As stated before 99% of people wouldn't give a damn about this rule or that rule when it comes to activation of the OS. They will just say anything to get it activated. I know i would.

That's quite a bold claim, are you really saying 99% of people are prepared to be dishonest if it saves them a few quid rather than buy the right version of the OS in the first place?

As I say, there is a version available that allows you to do exactly what you want to do.

What annoys me is people go for the cheaper version fully aware that it's cheaper because it has some limitations and then whinge that they think they should be able to break the rules rather than buy the appropriate version.

Presumably you also belive that driving at 45mph in a 30mph speed limit isn't illegal as long as no one catches you...

pcknight · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:36

Athanor said:
That's quite a bold claim, are you really saying 99% of people are prepared to be dishonest if it saves them a few quid rather than buy the right version of the OS in the first place?

Presumably you also belive that driving at 45mph in a 30mph speed limit isn't illegal as long as no one catches you...

Yes, thats right. Be realistic mate, probably 90% of people on here would do that. As for speeding, who doesn't?

Macro · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:38

pcknight said:
Yes, thats right. Be realistic mate, probably 90% of people on here would do that. As for speeding, who doesn't?

Sorry, added a few lines after you quoted me.

Ok,so now piracy and speeding are OK as long as you don't get caught, how about shoplifting?

Burnsy2023 · 4 Jan 2007 at 15:40

pcknight said:
As stated before 99% of people wouldn't give a damn about this rule or that rule when it comes to activation of the OS. They will just say anything to get it activated. I know i would.

If you wish to use software that isn't licenced keep discussion off the forums.
Can we have discussion of this stopped please.

Burnsy