Windows Vista one copy four computers?

[Luthien]

I have four computers in my home. Can I purchase one copy of vista and install it on all four of my computers like with past operating systems? I know they recently changed it so that you can install it on the same machine repeatedly. If you are not supposed to install it on more than one machine in your own home then what is in place to prevent me from doing it anyways? I mean really who wants to spend $1000 more than they have to on an OS? I know this will be controversial for some of you but with Vista around the corner I would like to know the answers. thanks

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You are treading very close to piracy.

Anandtech Moderator

 

[w00t]

vista is bad why get it anyways it will be cheaper later on also unless there is a reason for you to get it i'd say stick with what you have probably windows XP home/pro

 

[raincityboy]

Vista EULA can be found here.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Luthien
I have four computers in my home. Can I purchase one copy of vista and install it on all four of my computers like with past operating systems? I know they recently changed it so that you can install it on the same machine repeatedly. If you are not supposed to install it on more than one machine in your own home then what is in place to prevent me from doing it anyways? I mean really who wants to spend $1000 more than they have to on an OS? I know this will be controversial for some of you but with Vista around the corner I would like to know the answers. thanks

-------------------------------------------------------
You are treading very close to piracy.

Anandtech Moderator

It has never been legal to install the same license on multiple computers...not sure where you got that idea.


If you don't want to pay for vista, then find an alternative. Computers are expensive, the windows OS is just another expense, like the proc, memory, or video card. If you can afford 4 computers, you can afford to license them legally.

 

[Lonyo]

Do you even need Vista on all 4 PC's?
If you even have 4 PC's that can run Vista, then you can afford Vista anyway.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: Luthien
I have four computers in my home. Can I purchase one copy of vista and install it on all four of my computers like with past operating systems? I know they recently changed it so that you can install it on the same machine repeatedly. If you are not supposed to install it on more than one machine in your own home then what is in place to prevent me from doing it anyways? I mean really who wants to spend $1000 more than they have to on an OS? I know this will be controversial for some of you but with Vista around the corner I would like to know the answers. thanks

-------------------------------------------------------
You are treading very close to piracy.

Anandtech Moderator

It has never been legal to install the same license on multiple computers...not sure where you got that idea.


If you don't want to pay for vista, then find an alternative. Computers are expensive, the windows OS is just another expense, like the proc, memory, or video card. If you can afford 4 computers, you can afford to license them legally.

IIRC Windows 95 and 98 could be installed on as many of your computers as you want.

Heck I believe even 2000 let you install it on more of your computers. XP was the first time activation was a problem. I have never had a problem. I have a desktop and a tablet PC both running XP Professional. I don't believe it is illegal to install a copy on each; In fact, having bought the software, provided you aren't sharing it with others outside of yourself, and provided you aren't selling it, you should be able to do whatever with it.

It was when idiots decide to bitorrent it and not pay for it, or decided to make a copy for each of their friends and then they do the same is when we have problems.

The EULA says 1 copy per person from what I read.

-Kevin

 

[xtknight]

I thought that you could only have ONE copy of Windows running at the same time, per license.

 

[Luthien]

So, if I install Vista on one machine and then go to install it on another machine with the same liscense what will happen?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Luthien
So, if I install Vista on one machine and then go to install it on another machine with the same liscense what will happen?

Bill Gates will come to your house.

Actually, it probably just won't let you activate it since you have already activated a PC with that hardware signature. You could change the hardware signature to your current PC, but then your old one wouldn't work.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
IIRC Windows 95 and 98 could be installed on as many of your computers as you want.

Not legally.

Heck I believe even 2000 let you install it on more of your computers.

Again, "let you" and "is legal for you to do" are not the same thing.

I have a desktop and a tablet PC both running XP Professional. I don't believe it is illegal to install a copy on each

It is. You may be confusing this with MS Office, which does let you install it on (I think) up to three computers that you own for your personal use. Apple's OSX also has some sort of licensing like this, but I don't know the exact details.

In fact, having bought the software, provided you aren't sharing it with others outside of yourself, and provided you aren't selling it, you should be able to do whatever with it.

Generally not true. The "fair use" provisions of copyright only extend so far; if Microsoft clearly wants you to buy a copy for each computer you own, you can't weasel around that by claiming it is "fair use" for you to install it multiple times for personal use.

The EULA says 1 copy per person from what I read.

You're not reading it right.

From the Vista licensing (linked above, emphasis added):

INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. Before you use the software under a license, you must
assign that license to one device (physical hardware system). That device is the ?licensed device.?
A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate device.
a. Licensed Device. You may install one copy of the software on the licensed device. You may
use the software on up to two processors on that device at one time. Except as provided in the
Storage and Network Use (Ultimate edition) sections below, you may not use the software on any
other device.
b. Number of Users. Except as provided in the Device Connections (all editions), Remote Access
Technologies (Home Basic and Home Premium editions) and Other Access Technologies
(Ultimate edition) sections below, only one user may use the software at a time.
c. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and
64-bit. You may use only one version at one time.
3. ADDITIONAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND/OR USE RIGHTS.
a. Multiplexing. Hardware or software you use to
· pool connections, or
· reduce the number of devices or users that directly access or use the software
(sometimes referred to as ?multiplexing? or ?pooling?), does not reduce the number of licenses
you need.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: Luthien
I have four computers in my home. Can I purchase one copy of vista and install it on all four of my computers like with past operating systems? I know they recently changed it so that you can install it on the same machine repeatedly. If you are not supposed to install it on more than one machine in your own home then what is in place to prevent me from doing it anyways? I mean really who wants to spend $1000 more than they have to on an OS? I know this will be controversial for some of you but with Vista around the corner I would like to know the answers. thanks

-------------------------------------------------------
You are treading very close to piracy.

Anandtech Moderator

It has never been legal to install the same license on multiple computers...not sure where you got that idea.


If you don't want to pay for vista, then find an alternative. Computers are expensive, the windows OS is just another expense, like the proc, memory, or video card. If you can afford 4 computers, you can afford to license them legally.

IIRC Windows 95 and 98 could be installed on as many of your computers as you want.

Heck I believe even 2000 let you install it on more of your computers. XP was the first time activation was a problem. I have never had a problem. I have a desktop and a tablet PC both running XP Professional. I don't believe it is illegal to install a copy on each; In fact, having bought the software, provided you aren't sharing it with others outside of yourself, and provided you aren't selling it, you should be able to do whatever with it.

It was when idiots decide to bitorrent it and not pay for it, or decided to make a copy for each of their friends and then they do the same is when we have problems.

The EULA says 1 copy per person from what I read.

-Kevin

not sure about 95, but 98 was not this way, neither was 2000. Just because you COULD (no WGA) didn't mean it didn't violate the EULA. Office was setup so you could install 2 copies for one user, but that was office, not windows.

Illegal/Legal is still gray, because you have to decide if the EULA is legal/illegal. All that aside, you agree to abide by the EULA, so you are in violation.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Ugh....well you are right, and no matter what I think I need to abide by the rules, especially if I plan on posting my comments.

Does anyone know if purchasing it through my University gives me 2 separate licenses; I know sometimes Universities distribute Corporate Editions and what not that allow it to be validated on any of your computers?

I am not endorsing in anyway breaking EULA, only a question

-Kevin

 

[Nothinman]

Does anyone know if purchasing it through my University gives me 2 separate licenses; I know sometimes Universities distribute Corporate Editions and what not that allow it to be validated on any of your computers?

You need to talk to your university about that since they usually have special agreements with MS, for instance some times licenses become void as soon as you graduate.

 

[Gamingphreek]

So you mean if my university doesn't support multiple licenses or whatever....me, a college student, is going to have to buy 2x separate $400 copies of Windows Vista Ultimate??

I'm not saying it is right, but that is absurd for Microsoft to ask. In my honest opinion if you buy the software you should be allowed to do whatever you want with it as long as it isn't
A) Distributing it
B) Giving it away to friends, who will, in turn, do the same
C) Seeding it to a torrent.

If you have 3 computers that you own, you should not have to buy 3 identical copies of the exact same OS at (in some cases $400 each) to have them function correctly.

Then again, this is all just my opinion and is in no way suggesting that you should actually break the EULA.

Does anyone know what XP had to verify activation? People installed that on multiple machines without problems (Outside of the fact that they broke EULA) using the same Product Key.

-Kevin

 

[Nothinman]

So you mean if my university doesn't support multiple licenses or whatever....me, a college student, is going to have to buy 2x separate $400 copies of Windows Vista Ultimate??

Well at least for now you'd have to buy 2x whatever your university will sell you. And depending on the license you may have to repurchase them at retail prices after you graduate.

If you have 3 computers that you own, you should not have to buy 3 identical copies of the exact same OS at (in some cases $400 each) to have them function correctly.

Why not? You're using all 3 of them at he the same time and you were able to afford the hardware for all 3 machines so why should the software be any different? What about corporations? Should they also be allowed to use 1500 copies of Windows for the same $400 that you paid for 3 copies?

Does anyone know what XP had to verify activation? People installed that on multiple machines without problems (Outside of the fact that they broke EULA) using the same Product Key.

I believe MS discards the XP activation record after 90(?) days so as long as you don't activate them all at the same time you'll be fine, technically, not legally.