How many computers can i install windows vista on with one disc?

[Bips123]

Hi,

I recently bought a windows vista operating system disc, and i was wondering if i can install that same disc to multiple computers?

[Experi-Mentor]

here's a place to start :

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/lessthan250/faq.mspx

[doctorhardware]

According to the license agreement, you can only install the OS on one computer.

[MilesAhead]

How many Windows 7 discs does it take to screw in a light bulb? I'll let someone else come up with the punch line.

[admin]

Windows licensing is overly complicated, but you can be almost certain that each license key can only be used on one computer at a time (for home licenses, that is).

If you have the full retail version, then you can transfer the license over to a new computer if you are retiring the old one.

If you have the OEM version, then the license is locked to the computer you installed it on, so you can't transfer it to a new computer.

If you bought the upgrade version and upgraded from a full retail version, then you can transfer both to a new computer (first transfer the older full retail version and then apply the upgrade).

If you bought the upgrade version and upgraded from the OEM version, then it's still locked to the original computer. However, if you change computers, you can keep the old OEM version on the old computer, apply a new OEM license to the new computer and then use the upgrade on that new computer. So the upgrade can be transfered to a new computer, but again, only one upgraded system at a time.

All this could have been avoided if Microsoft had simply done what Apple does and released a single license type (no OEM/retail/upgrade), and then sold them in 3 license family packs for a relatively small price.

[drfsupercenter]

admin, they DO have that for Windows 7.

I was really surprised, actually - I was at Staples the other day and right next to the retail discs they had a Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack that was good for 3 installations. Only $150, compared to $120 for a single license. The problem there is, who would willingly buy Home Premium when Professional is what does all the cool stuff? (Windows XP Mode, Domain Join, etc.)

[admin]

Yes, but that's not available here in Australia, and I think it's available as upgrades only, so if you have PCs that are, um, of questionable legal status, you still have to go out and buy 3 full licenses (retail or OEM).

The whole Home/Pro/Ultimate thing is also annoying - just have one for home, and one for business (or just merge the business one with Windows Server). The Professional version really isn't worth it IMO, unless you need XP mode and the network backup, but if you do, then the Ultimate edition is only a couple of dollars more anyway.

One edition, one license type, no upgrades/OEMs, and multi-license family packs - just like Apple.

[PurpleDemon]

The whole Home/Pro/Ultimate thing is also annoying - just have one for home, and one for business (or just merge the business one with Windows Server). The Professional version really isn't worth it IMO, unless you need XP mode and the network backup, but if you do, then the Ultimate edition is only a couple of dollars more anyway.

One edition, one license type, no upgrades/OEMs, and multi-license family packs - just like Apple.

Well Said

[drfsupercenter]

"Upgrade only" media can be used for a full install - I tried it witht he one Microsoft sent me.

I get annoyed by the different versions too but at least it's better than Vista where there were like 6 at one point... Windows XP was nice in that it was just XP Home and XP Professional (for the most part, anyway).
And as for Ultimate... If I could get that for free from MSDNAA I would

But one thing Windows has over OSX - you can actually run more than just a couple programs on them!

[admin]

The upgrade only is only good if you have an existing valid Windows (previous version) license, and then it can be used to make a "clean install" or a genuine upgrade (unless you're still using XP, or if you're changing from 32-bit to 64-bit, in which case you have to do a clean install). If you don't have a valid license, then the upgrade won't work. If you somehow made it work without a previous valid license, then you're technically breaking the license agreement, which is the same as piracy in Microsoft's eyes.

I'm not saying that the Apple OS is a good replacement for Windows. It isn't, because as you mentioned, it doesn't run a lot of things. But the licensing is simple and clear, which is something I hope Microsoft can adopt eventually. The one thing in Microsoft's favour is that when they do make an updated version that's available to buy, it's usually a big update, as opposed to the more incremental updates that Apple do charge (like the Snow Leopard one), albeit only a small amount. So with Apple, sometimes you're paying for "SP2 with a bit added to the side", whereas these kind of updates are free with Windows (although one can argue that Windows 7 is really just Vista SP3, or at the very least, Vista - The "Done Right" Edition).

[drfsupercenter]

How would Microsoft know if it's a genuine upgrade?

When I did it in VMWare, it never once asked me for a previous version of Windows, only the 25-digit Windows 7 key that came on the back of the box. I didn't try activating it as that would be pointless, since it's not even a real computer - but if I ever get a license to spare maybe I will.
I mean, what happens if you put in the disc to do a clean install (say you're moving to 64-bit), but instead of installing it "on top of" the previous version you use the partitioner in step 1 of the installer to erase that partition... then you install it on an empty hard drive. Would it say your license isn't valid, even when it is?

Software companies consider *EVERYTHING* you do piracy, short of putting cash in their wallets... I say if the upgrade disc lets you do a clean install without hacking, it mayaswell be a full disc (and Microsoft just sells the full discs to dupe people out of money, as hey, they're Microsoft - it's what they do)

[admin]

Sorry I wasn't clear before, what I meant was that the upgrade disc would allow you to make a clean install (on a new partition), and it would also allow you to make an upgrade install (over an existing Windows Vista install - I called this a "genuine upgrade", I should have typed "actual upgrade"). Upgrades over XP and switching from 32 to 64-bit will require a clean install, and that's why the upgrade disc allows it.

But when you go to activate Windows, I guess this is when it will check for your license status, in that if you're using the upgrade version, it will have to check if you have a previous valid version or not. I don't know how this is done, perhaps it scans your computer for the required license, or asks you to enter the original serial key, but I'm sure it will be required. This is the reason why the upgrade version is cheaper than the full version, as the upgrade assumes you've already paid for Windows before.

Even cheaper will be the OEM version, which only allows clean installs, and is ideal for those with a new computer or without an existing valid Windows license, but don't plan on transferring the license to another computer anytime in the future. It also only comes in 32-bit or 64-bit licenses (no dual versions on the same disc, as with the retail package), so it's only for those that have made up their mind about 32/64-bit. And technically, it has to be sold with hardware, and you don't get any tech support from Microsoft (the person/company who installs it is liable for support, as OEMs are sold to companies like Dell, Toshiba, Sony ... for use in their computer/notebook systems).

I ended up getting Ultimate OEM. I do actually have a valid Vista install, but the Ultimate Upgrade was more than 50% more expensive than the full OEM (it is in Australia, anyway), and the full retail is 100% more costly. So even though I can't transfer the license to another computer in the future, the full retail being 100% dearer means I can just but another OEM version in the future and still spend the same amount. And there's a chance I might not even go with the Ultimate for my next computer, and with pricing discounts in the future, I might even come out ahead even if I need to buy another license for my next computer. This is not to mention interest and depreciation.

[drfsupercenter]

I guess what MSDNAA uses is similar to OEM then - I got 7 Pro x64 and it was just the 64-bit. It *did* allow for upgrades, though, but going from Vista Home Premium x86 to 7 x64 is just simply out of the question. I suppose you'd need Vista Business, as MSDNAA *only* has the Professional version (fine for my needs)

Is it actually on the same disc with retail? I was under the impression that there was one of each. Since the 64-bit is about 3GB and the 32-bit is very close to 3GB, that would require a dual-layer disc unless there's some overlapping files.

I haven't ever tried activating an upgrade install - if anyone here got the Windows 7 upgrade disc free from their computer (or you bought it, even) and does a clean install - could you please screenshot the activation process for me? I'm curious how it works.

--EDIT--

And what's with the transferring licenses thing? Is that a new feature in Vista/7? I have a full retail copy of Windows XP Pro and I never saw the option to transfer keys at all. I wasn't aware you could, until you brought it up. (Does that mean I could, say, sell one of our old computers on eBay and transfer the key off it to a replacement computer, obviously wiping the drive before I ship it?)

[MilesAhead]

...
So even though I can't transfer the license to another computer in the future, the full retail being 100% dearer means I can just but another OEM version in the future and still spend the same amount. And there's a chance I might not even go with the Ultimate for my next computer, and with pricing discounts in the future, I might even come out ahead even if I need to buy another license for my next computer. This is not to mention interest and depreciation.

For awhile too there was a trend of selling PCs with Linux on. You didn't have to pay for the Windows license since it wasn't on the machine. I don't know if it's still in fashion, but you could probably save about $250 by getting a PC with no Windows and apply that savings to an OEM disc.

[drfsupercenter]

Yeah, Micro Center has some computers that come with Ubuntu. The problem is all those computers don't have very good specs compared to the Windows ones...