Windows Vista EULA

[EricMartello]

So you pay $100 to $300+ for a piece of software, you should be able to upgrade your PC in the future without having to worry about it not working due to some invalidation of your "license", but apparently MS has its own plans for you. You cannot install a purchased copy of Vista on more than one PC, nor can you upgrade your PC without uninstalling Vista first.

Now to anyone who finds this acceptable...we have a word for people like you - we call them TOOLS. Seriously, bend over and lube up real good with the K-Y, because you obviously enjoy a good sodomizing. 😀

When companies try to micromanage the usage of their products with restrictive "licenses" or DRM (in the case of media) it becomes an intrusive burden to the consumer. That's fine, they're just trying to milk as much money as possible out of anyone and everyone - what really bothers me is the people who accept this, and purchase said products, happily, thus supporting this monopolistic business model.

I find it odd that so many people here would actually consider paying $100+ for a copy of Vista each time they upgrade what MS defines as a "device", or they will buy more than one copy for each PC in their household. Seriously, it's pathetic.

 

[Nocturnal]

I think you are not reading the EULA or understand it correctly. With the full version, you're allowed to reinstall it to your hearts content. You can upgrade, hardware after hardware and the only thing that will and should happen is that you will have to call in to re-activate it. It's the same way with XP. I just installed 2GB of memory (I upgraded from 1GB) and in doing so I had to call in to MS to activate XP.

With the OEM version, the license is tied to your motherboard. If your mobo dies or you upgrade it, you are no longer eligible to use that license of Windows. You should then have to purchase another copy/license.

With the full version, as long as it is only installed on one PC at a time then there is no problem and no violation of the EULA.

 

[EricMartello]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I think you are not reading the EULA or understand it correctly. With the full version, you're allowed to reinstall it to your hearts content. You can upgrade, hardware after hardware and the only thing that will and should happen is that you will have to call in to re-activate it. It's the same way with XP. I just installed 2GB of memory (I upgraded from 1GB) and in doing so I had to call in to MS to activate XP.

You cannot install Vista on system A, then later make system B that you want for a media server or HTPC and install Vista on that without buying it again. And with the OEM version, once you install it on a "device" it is tied ot that device. So you think this is ok?

With the OEM version, the license is tied to your motherboard. If your mobo dies or you upgrade it, you are no longer eligible to use that license of Windows. You should then have to purchase another copy/license.

With the full version, as long as it is only installed on one PC at a time then there is no problem and no violation of the EULA.

Yes, which is even more ludicrous. Think about it...the average person doesn't know much about the internal workings of their computer, and if they bought their system then it most likely came with the OEM version of Vista...so if their MB dies, which does happen, they need to pay for a replacement MB AND another copy of Vista?

 

[magomago]

Then don't buy the OEM version?

 

[EricMartello]

It's not just the OEM version that is restricted...same with the retail. Aside from being overpriced, you cannot install the retail version on more than one computer at a time.

 

[pcgeek11]

Aside from being overpriced, you cannot install the retail version on more than one computer at a time

It has always been this way, no changes. One license = one seat on one PC. It was the same with DOS, Windows every version.... and Now Vista. Did you just wake up or what?

pcgeek11

 

[EricMartello]

I've always installed OSes on multiple systems and I would not pay for more than one copy of it. Did I violate the eula? I really don't care, as long as I CAN do it, I would. As far as I know, activation was implemented with XP, and now with Vista it's even more restrictive since it now resets if it detects a hardware change.

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

Originally posted by: EricMartello
It's not just the OEM version that is restricted...same with the retail. Aside from being overpriced, you cannot install the retail version on more than one computer at a time.

Isn't this true with most software? Almost all software I purchased don't allow concurrent installations and/or concurrent usage on multiple computers although that would've been nice. It's a binding license that you can only install on one device at a time. You may transfer that retail license to a different computer at least once (maybe more I am not sure), but only if you first remove vista from the former computer/device. Anyone installing any OS (or software) with the said EULA is violating the EULA. You can install it on as many pc as you want, but it's not legal by law and morally it's your choice. That's why most popular software these days require online activation and verification including XP and Vista. The least restrictive is retail Ultimate (also the most expensive). The most restrictive is OEM (also the least expensive). These are your tradeoffs.

This topic is discussed many times on this forum. Please search for them.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: EricMartello

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I think you are not reading the EULA or understand it correctly. With the full version, you're allowed to reinstall it to your hearts content. You can upgrade, hardware after hardware and the only thing that will and should happen is that you will have to call in to re-activate it. It's the same way with XP. I just installed 2GB of memory (I upgraded from 1GB) and in doing so I had to call in to MS to activate XP.

You cannot install Vista on system A, then later make system B that you want for a media server or HTPC and install Vista on that without buying it again. And with the OEM version, once you install it on a "device" it is tied ot that device. So you think this is ok?

With the OEM version, the license is tied to your motherboard. If your mobo dies or you upgrade it, you are no longer eligible to use that license of Windows. You should then have to purchase another copy/license.

With the full version, as long as it is only installed on one PC at a time then there is no problem and no violation of the EULA.

Yes, which is even more ludicrous. Think about it...the average person doesn't know much about the internal workings of their computer, and if they bought their system then it most likely came with the OEM version of Vista...so if their MB dies, which does happen, they need to pay for a replacement MB AND another copy of Vista?

First off: Thats what OEM IS!

Second: Yes, they need to buy a bunch of new stuff.
You know why?
Because they are ignorant and not hardcore leet computer gurus like us and they dont want to have to rip out a motherboard and install OS's. Why do you think Dell is doing so great these days?
People WANT to be ignorant about their computers. Life is too short to worry about every little detail of one of their household tools. Thats also probably why Apple is still is
business too.

Cars are another area where folks used to love knowing about every little thing going on in there. Now, nobody gives a rats butt.
Have you noticed they dont provide you with full schematics and blue-prints when you buy a car? Its because they know we dont worry about it anymore. Most of us arent going to rip it apart. Most Americans are happy to send it over to the garage and pay whatever the evil bastards tell us to pay.

Kind of sick, but easy. 😛