Windows activation question

I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get damage
and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
buy a new license? What happen if I have to format my hard drive
completely can I reinstall windows using my original license? How many
times can I activate windows using the same serial number?

The retail licenses can be reinstalled and/or moved to a different
computer an unlimited # of times.
No need to buy a new license.
But it can only be installed on one computer at a time.

Worst case, you will need to call Microsoft for activation.
Typically a less than 10 minute call.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Artificer" <eliezerfigueroa@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181449428.371871.45090@c77g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
>I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
> came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
> version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
> and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get
> damage
> and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
> buy a new license? What happen if I have to format my hard drive
> completely can I reinstall windows using my original license? How
> many
> times can I activate windows using the same serial number?

"Artificer" wrote
>I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
> came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
> version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
> and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get damage
> and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
> buy a new license? What happen if I have to format my hard drive
> completely can I reinstall windows using my original license? How many
> times can I activate windows using the same serial number?


Any copy of Vista, OEM or retail, can be activated as many times as is
wanted on the same system. Additionally a retail copy - full or upgrade,
but not an OEM version, can be transferred to a different computer if first
removed from the computer on which it's installed.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

How Microsoft prevents me from installing on multiple computers them?

"Artificer" <eliezerfigueroa@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181476637.753882.304340@h2g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> How Microsoft prevents me from installing on multiple computers them?
>


If you attempt within a period of three-to-four months to do such a thing
you will have to phone in multiple times to get them activated because after
the first one or two the online activation will refuse. If you spread it out
over time they may all go through online because [I think] there is still a
3 or 4 month reset. If by phone and you are careful what you say, you will
get all of them activated over the phone.

But it is a bit of a pain and some future technology rolled out might cross
check or somesuch, plus its a violation of the EULA which is a potential
problem if these are business machines in the USA. There's still a litle bit
of the honour system left .. but do many out there have any honour?

If you are a tinkerer and like to test systems, consider a Technet
subscription. Gives you access to all the Microsoft operating systems [XP
Pro 32bit/64bit, all versions of Vista, Server 2003 most or all versions,
Betas for upcoming Server 2008, Office 2003, Office 2007 and so on] for
three hundred and something USD. The license is *for you only* and *not for
production machines*, but it lets you test them out and so on indefinitely.
MSDN subscription is similar, but moe development oriented in scope where
you also get access to the various Visual Studio related softwares .. and
the MSDN license subscription is pricier.

Saucy

On Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:23:48 -0700, Artificer
<eliezerfigueroa@gmail.com> wrote:

>I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
>came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
>version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
>and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get damage
>and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
>buy a new license?


No. That would be true if you bought an OEM version, but with a retail
version, you can move it to a new computer as often as you want.


>What happen if I have to format my hard drive
>completely can I reinstall windows using my original license?


Yes. That would be true even if you had an OEM version.


>How many
>times can I activate windows using the same serial number?


As often as you need to or want to. Worst case, you might have to do
it by a voice telephone call.

By the way, all of the above is just as it was in Windows XP; there's
nothing new in this regard.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

In article <up$BtexqHHA.4740@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, Jupiter Jones
[MVP] wrote:

> But it can only be installed on one computer at a time.

Not quite true! <g> It can only be *activated* on one computer at a
time!

I ran an already activated copy of VISTA business for the 120 days
resetable period while waiting for a purchased copy of VISTA Ultimate.

I can think of a number of other ways in which this could be useful
including re-installing onto a different computer and wanting to be
sure that all was OK before cleaning off the older installation.

The worst that would happen would be that one had to activate by
telephone "I upgraded my computer"?

I have a question. I upgraded the Motherboard, CPU and memory in my
computer.. and now Vista says that it's a new computer and can't activate
it... so who do I call to fix it?

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:23:48 -0700, Artificer
> <eliezerfigueroa@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
> >came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
> >version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
> >and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get damage
> >and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
> >buy a new license?
>
>
> No. That would be true if you bought an OEM version, but with a retail
> version, you can move it to a new computer as often as you want.
>
>
> >What happen if I have to format my hard drive
> >completely can I reinstall windows using my original license?
>
>
> Yes. That would be true even if you had an OEM version.
>
>
> >How many
> >times can I activate windows using the same serial number?
>
>
> As often as you need to or want to. Worst case, you might have to do
> it by a voice telephone call.
>
> By the way, all of the above is just as it was in Windows XP; there's
> nothing new in this regard.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

I have recently purchased a new PC and have had issues with getting Vista
activated. After the third time of talking with Microsoft, I was told that
any time you had a new program or make a major change to your computer, you
will have to actually call the Microsoft number on the registration screen
to get a new key code from them. This is a huge problem. I am in school and
will be adding new programs through out my next three years. I had really
thought about dumping Windows Vista, but all the drivers for my new computer
are only created for the Vista image.


"Seattle Mark" <Seattle Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7E0A82C0-9E68-43A4-8BFE-EE39EF1AE523@microsoft.com...
>I have a question. I upgraded the Motherboard, CPU and memory in my
> computer.. and now Vista says that it's a new computer and can't activate
> it... so who do I call to fix it?
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:23:48 -0700, Artificer
>> <eliezerfigueroa@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >I just bought a windows vista license. I don't mean that my computer
>> >came with vista preinstalled I actually mean than I bought a retail
>> >version of windows vista on Amazon. Now I wonder this: If I install
>> >and activate windows on a computer but later that computer get damage
>> >and I have to install all my programs on a new computer do I need to
>> >buy a new license?
>>
>>
>> No. That would be true if you bought an OEM version, but with a retail
>> version, you can move it to a new computer as often as you want.
>>
>>
>> >What happen if I have to format my hard drive
>> >completely can I reinstall windows using my original license?
>>
>>
>> Yes. That would be true even if you had an OEM version.
>>
>>
>> >How many
>> >times can I activate windows using the same serial number?
>>
>>
>> As often as you need to or want to. Worst case, you might have to do
>> it by a voice telephone call.
>>
>> By the way, all of the above is just as it was in Windows XP; there's
>> nothing new in this regard.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>

Lisa Taylor wrote:
> I have recently purchased a new PC and have had issues with getting
> Vista activated. After the third time of talking with Microsoft, I was
> told that any time you had a new program or make a major change to your
> computer, you will have to actually call the Microsoft number on the
> registration screen to get a new key code from them. This is a huge
> problem. I am in school and will be adding new programs through out my
> next three years. I had really thought about dumping Windows Vista, but
> all the drivers for my new computer are only created for the Vista image.

I'm pretty sure that adding only new software program applications
should not require you to re-activate Vista because the activation
"hash" is based on a hardware/BIOS reading.
However, making certain hardware changes will require re-activation.
Frank