Licensing Changes to Windows Vista @ Paul Thurrott's SuperSite

Vikingod · Oct 14, 2006, 06:55 PM

Source: Paul Thurrott's SuperSite
_____________
I'm here to tell you that virtually everything you've read online about the changes to Windows Vista's end-user license agreement (EULA) is wrong. Microsoft is further limiting your rights to transfer Windows to new PCs? Wrong. Microsoft is limiting your ability to upgrade your PC? Wrong. Microsoft is limiting the Vista versions you can install in virtual machines? Well, that one is partially correct. But there's a reason.

Here's what's really happening.

Every version of Windows is accompanied by a EULA. This document is a contract that specifies your rights with regards to the copy of Windows you just obtained. The thing is, most people--over 90 percent--get Windows with a new PC, according to Microsoft. And their rights are substantially different from the rights of a customer who purchased Windows at retail. More specifically, versions of Windows that come with a new PC can't ever be transferred to another PC. They are, quite literally, bound to the PCs with which they were purchased. Retail copies of Windows... that's a bit different. But only a bit. We'll get to that.

crlorentzen · Oct 14, 2006, 07:51 PM

This is a load of BS.

"You may move [Windows XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove [Windows XP] from the former Workstation Computer." means simply what it says. You may move the OS as long as you remove it from the last system it was installed on.

"reassign the [Windows Vista] license to another device one time." Means exactly that that you may move it once.

What the author is doing is using a form of legal theory that I do not buy, it is called intentionality, where you read the document attempting to understand the intention of the writter. So yes if you put yourself in MS shoes and think what is best for MS then sure you would say one transfer...but legal writing is to be taken at what words are used.

Then there is always the disconnect between what MS thinks is a new device. If I upgrade my motherboard is that a new device? How much control over my right to change my physical computer should MS have? NONE!!!

I found it distasteful in Windows XP and still find it distasteful. And as the doc states "Fewer than 5 percent of PC users ever open a PC case" If this is true then why have the algorithm in the first place...the possible lose of revenue is far smaller than the inconvenience to the user and the cost of keeping the added phone line activation persons on pay.

SFOSOK · Oct 14, 2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by from the article

The only people that really need to do this regularly are hardcore PC enthusiasts who change their machine configurations regularly. In short, this new restriction isn't all that new and it won't affect any mainstream users.

Yea...wouldn't enthusiast include everyone on this f*ckin site!.

Quote:

Originally Posted by again from the article

This one dates back to the first horror stories about Product Activation (PA) and how users who made even modest hardware changes to their PCs would have to reactivate Windows on a regular basis. In worst-case scenarios, so the story went, users would be shut out of their PCs because Windows detected too many hardware changes.
Hogwash. Fewer than 5 percent of PC users ever open a PC case let alone perform major hardware surgery. But if you're one of those guys who regularly upgrades your PC's hardware, you'll be happy to hear that instances of forced reactivation because of hardware upgrades are less frequent under Vista than they were under XP. More to the point, this is another one of those issues that only affects a tiny, tiny percentage of Windows users.

F*ck that dude, he doesn't know sh*t about what he is talking about. So what microsoft is just goin to ignore enthusiasts or people who upgrade their computer?

How can only 5% of pc users open their case to perform hardware upgrades when he said a little less than 10% of the market are enthusiasts upgrade their computers all the time...this guy is a bunch of bullsh*t. There are no sources to his information and such.

Also look at hardware review sites u d*uchebag. Microsoft is undermining the entire market, including themselves.

IamLakota · Oct 14, 2006, 09:26 PM

Oh well what the hell,I build my own PC's for me so when I build my next one,which will be before Vista hits the streets,it will still be loaded with my oem XP Home disc.Besides the point is moot,as soon as Vista is available some one will figure a way around it they always do.

Oct 14, 2006, 06:55 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Licensing Changes to Windows Vista @ Paul Thurrott's SuperSite Source: Paul Thurrott's SuperSite _____________ I'm here to tell you that virtually everything you've read online about the changes to Windows Vista's end-user license agreement (EULA) is wrong. Microsoft is further limiting your rights to transfer Windows to new PCs? Wrong. Microsoft is limiting your ability to upgrade your PC? Wrong. Microsoft is limiting the Vista versions you can install in virtual machines? Well, that one is partially correct. But there's a reason. Here's what's really happening. Every version of Windows is accompanied by a EULA. This document is a contract that specifies your rights with regards to the copy of Windows you just obtained. The thing is, most people--over 90 percent--get Windows with a new PC, according to Microsoft. And their rights are substantially different from the rights of a customer who purchased Windows at retail. More specifically, versions of Windows that come with a new PC can't ever be transferred to another PC. They are, quite literally, bound to the PCs with which they were purchased. Retail copies of Windows... that's a bit different. But only a bit. We'll get to that.

Oct 14, 2006, 07:51 PM	#2
crlorentzen DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 1,201 Rep Power: 0	This is a load of BS. "You may move [Windows XP] to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove [Windows XP] from the former Workstation Computer." means simply what it says. You may move the OS as long as you remove it from the last system it was installed on. "reassign the [Windows Vista] license to another device one time." Means exactly that that you may move it once. What the author is doing is using a form of legal theory that I do not buy, it is called intentionality, where you read the document attempting to understand the intention of the writter. So yes if you put yourself in MS shoes and think what is best for MS then sure you would say one transfer...but legal writing is to be taken at what words are used. Then there is always the disconnect between what MS thinks is a new device. If I upgrade my motherboard is that a new device? How much control over my right to change my physical computer should MS have? NONE!!! I found it distasteful in Windows XP and still find it distasteful. And as the doc states "Fewer than 5 percent of PC users ever open a PC case" If this is true then why have the algorithm in the first place...the possible lose of revenue is far smaller than the inconvenience to the user and the cost of keeping the added phone line activation persons on pay. __________________ Last edited by crlorentzen; Oct 14, 2006 at 07:56 PM.

Oct 14, 2006, 09:26 PM	#4
IamLakota HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Viriginia Posts: 552 Rep Power: 0	Oh well what the hell,I build my own PC's for me so when I build my next one,which will be before Vista hits the streets,it will still be loaded with my oem XP Home disc.Besides the point is moot,as soon as Vista is available some one will figure a way around it they always do. __________________ Harley Davidson: If You Have To Ask You Wouldn't Understand!!! System Specs: Mobo:Asus P6T Deluxe V2,intel i7 920,2x BFG GTX 250 oc in SLI,Corsair 6gigs tri channel pc12800CL8 2xWD Velociraptor's 2x74gig WD Raptor , X-Fi Fatal1ty Titainium,HANNS-G HG281HD 1080p 28" monitor,Coolermaster HAF/922,PC-PWR&Cooling Sliencer 750,CoolerMaster V8 HSF