Windows licensing

[Pirotech]

Hello guys

My question is:

Is it legal to use the True Image backup of my old WindowsXP to restore it to another computer if I already upgraded XP to Vista?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Pirotech
Hello guys

My question is:

Is it legal to use the True Image backup of my old WindowsXP to restore it to another computer if I already upgraded XP to Vista?

If your Vista license is full-version, rather than Upgrade, and if your XP is not OEM, then you're ok using the XP elsewhere. If your XP is OEM, it's not supposed to go onto other computers, and if it was used as the qualifying OS for upgrading to Vista, then that would be double-dipping your XP.

 

[DrGreen2007]

besides the hardware differfences as well between the old PC and new PC

 

[bigdaddy51]

Upgrade means just that, UPGRADE. Once you upgrade a copy of XP, it's against the eula to continue to use it, UNLESS you uninstall Vista ,reinstall XP ,and call to reactivate it. You can then use your RETAIL copy of Vista ,on another pc, with a qualifying old OS on it.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: bigdaddy51
Upgrade means just that, UPGRADE. Once you upgrade a copy of XP, it's against the eula to continue to use it, UNLESS you uninstall Vista ,reinstall XP ,and call to reactivate it. You can then use your RETAIL copy of Vista ,on another pc, with a qualifying old OS on it.

We need clarification - did he actually use an "Upgrade" version of Vista, or just use the word "upgrade" to mean "I installed Vista on top of XP"?

 

[Pirotech]

Yep, I meant 'upgrade' exactly, i.e. I had an XP version and also had a free Windows Vista upgrade, so that I didn't install Vista on top of XP. I guess, bigdaddy51 is right in his explanation.But what about backup archieves?

Generally speaking, I could simply restore the image of my old XP on the other computer and use it as well. True Image allows me to do this. Or this operation would be the same illegal? If so, why True Image has this feature?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Pirotech
Yep, I meant 'upgrade' exactly, i.e. I had an XP version and also had a free Windows Vista upgrade, so that I didn't install Vista on top of XP. I guess, bigdaddy51 is right in his explanation.But what about backup archieves?

Generally speaking, I could simply restore the image of my old XP on the other computer and use it as well. True Image allows me to do this. Or this operation would be the same illegal? If so, why True Image has this feature?

You trade in your old car for $2400 off the purchase of your new car.

Then you drive your new car home, come back to the car lot, jump in your old car with your spare set of keys, and drive it home too.

Is that ok? No, and you see why: you got a discount on the new car because you gave up your old one. If you didn't want to give up your old one, you got to pay full price for the new one. Same with licensed software when you're doing an upgrade. If you aren't cool with giving up the previous version, then buy the new one at full price and you can use both at once.

Also note that OEM WinXP isn't supposed to get installed onto another computer after it's activated on the first computer, so if your XP is OEM (with a sticky COA sticker that says OEM on it), you aren't supposed to move it to other computers at all. That's why it's so much cheaper than full-retail XP.