Windows Vista Fee to reload Vista to new hard drive?

Jack57 · 2006/11/24

My brother in law has had several hard drive failures in the past few years and takes the computer in to have a new hard drive installed and of course the operating system reinstalled. The last time this happened the technician told him if he upgrades to Vista, when it comes out, he will have to pay a fee to Microsoft to have his Vista operating system reinstalled on a new hard drive. I don't think this sounds right. Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks, Jack

Whiskeyman · 2006/11/24

Microsoft clarifies Vista activation to bit-tech hacks

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 26th October 2006

Vista will be more enthusiast friendly than we thought.

Microsoft today talked to bit-tech in a bid to reassure the enthusiast community about the licensing terms of Windows Vista.

We previously read that Vista could prove to be a nightmare for enthusiasts who upgrade often, with only one transfer to a new machine allowed and with the license tied to a particular system configuration in a way that was far more limiting than Windows XP.

A Microsoft spokesman from the Licensing Dept told bit-tech that this would not be the case. He told us that Windows Vista will not require a system re-activation unless the hard drive and one other component is changed. This means that enthusiasts will be able to swap CPUs, memory and graphics cards out without any worry about having to re-activate with MS, either on the internet or by phone.

Should you change the hard drive and another piece of hardware - for example for a major upgrade such as a motherboard change that requires a re-installation - Microsoft will allow you to re-activate up to 10 times. You will not, however, be able to have more than one machine activated concurrently.

Should you wish to activate more than 10 times, you could be busted, or Microsoft could choose to let you activate again at its discretion.

For hardcore system enthusiasts, keeping a ghosted, activated copy of Vista with no drivers could be a good way of being able to swap around components and machines with the minimum amount of hassle.

This would seem to clear up some of the confusion about Vista activation. Let us know what you will be doing over in the forums!
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Fang · 2006/11/24

Well I like to reformatt my pc once a year, so this will limit me to ten years of use. The only other time I have needed to reinstall was after getting a CTD (computer transmitted disease) or known as a virus.

Arie · 2006/11/24

Fang said:

Well I like to reformatt my pc once a year, so this will limit me to ten years of use. The only other time I have needed to reinstall was after getting a CTD (computer transmitted disease) or known as a virus.
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That won't count, as long as your hardware doesn't change you could do it once a week.

PeteC · 2006/11/25

Well I like to reformatt my pc once a year, so this will limit me to ten years of use.
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In 10 years time Vista will be dead and buried and computers will bear no resemblance to those we use today.

Alpha_and_Omega · 2006/11/30

For hardcore system enthusiasts, keeping a ghosted, activated copy of Vista with no drivers could be a good way of being able to swap around components and machines with the minimum amount of hassle.
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I'm curious about this, how could you install Vista "without" installing no drivers? When I installed it on one of my systems, it installed the drivers for everything on the mainboard.

PeteC · 2006/11/30

My instinctive reaction to this is without specialised drivers - just the standard set included in Vista.

Alpha_and_Omega · 2006/11/30

PeteC said:

My instinctive reaction to this is without specialised drivers - just the standard set included in Vista.
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I've decided I'm going to try this, just to see how it would work.. I'll setup a system and install Vista, Ghost it, then change the mainboard and see what happens... this has me really curious, because I did manage to get it work with XP once.. but there were a few problems, I'll let you's know how it works out..

PeteC · 2006/11/30

Keep us posted Good luck!

Steve R Jones · 2006/11/30

I'd be interested in seeing if the clonng of Vista works.
I've been unable to do it with an older version of Acronis. I don't know if it's Acronis or if Vista is protected from being cloned..

PeteC · 2006/11/30

Steve

Acronis 10 supports Vista .....

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Alpha_and_Omega · 2006/12/01

PeteC said:

Keep us posted Good luck!
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And I will...

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Windows Vista Fee to reload Vista to new hard drive?

Jack57 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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Windows Vista Fee to reload Vista to new hard drive?

Jack57 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

Fang Inactive

Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

PeteC SuperGeek Staff

Alpha_and_Omega Well-Known Member

PeteC SuperGeek Staff

Alpha_and_Omega Well-Known Member

PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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