Windows Vista question

[CoalRage]

Hi

Im considering buying Vista Premium OEM version but am unsure about the licensing. Read that you could only install it on the one machine, and when changing to another machine you'd need to buy a new copy? Also, is there any sort of limit to the amount of times you can activate it on the 1 machine if you reinstall?

Thanks

 

[modo77]

Hi and welcome.
The OEM licenses only let you install on one PC. You can upgrade most components apart from the motherboard, since this is classed as a new pc.

You can reinstall as many times as you want on the same PC.

 

[mmj_uk]

You can reinstall as many times as you want on the same PC.

bear in mind though if you activate too often within a certain time period it will fail to activate and you'll have to phone up and use the automated activation service or speak to a representative.

 

[div0]

modo is correct - and XP OEM is no different to Vista OEM.

A Retail licence can also only be installed on one machine (at a time). But as soon as you uninstall a Retail version from one machine, then you are alllowed to install it on another. With OEM, you can't do this. The OEM licence is tied to the machine it is first installed on, and it cannot be moved to a new machine (the 'machine' is defined as the motherboard)

Basically...

1) if you need to have it installed on more than 1 machine (at the same time), then you need to buy multiple copies/licences (whether you chose Retail or OEM)
2) if you're going to change motherboard a lot (upgrade) then buy Retail
3) if not, then buy OEM and you can upgrade everything as much as you like, until you need to change the motherboard.

 

[CoalRage]

Cheers guys

Think ill go for OEM. Don't think ill upgrade the motherboard for a while when my new machine arrives and at more than twice the price, i cant bring myself to spend the extra £100