Activation of Vista Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Activation of Vista in the Windows Vista forums; http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase..._licensing.asp Licensing Changes to Windows Vista I'm here to tell you that virtually everything you've read online about the changes to Windows ...

[Snuffy]

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase..._licensing.asp

Licensing Changes to Windows Vista


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.

visit the site to read all of it.
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Adding and removing PC components
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.

When Windows examines changes to the system, the two most heavily weighed components are the PC's motherboard and hard drive, in that order. If you change both of these components at one time, Windows will almost certainly assume it's running in a new computer and cause you to reactivate. "It's that old question, 'When does a boat become a new boat?," Boettcher asked, rhetorically. "When every plank has been replaced, is it a new boat?" In the case of a Windows XP and Vista-based PC, there is an algorithm that examines hardware changes and, based on an internal score, determines whether a reactivation is required.

When that happens, Windows will attempt to reactivate electronically. If that fails, the user will need to call and reactivate manually. This is the same under Vista as it was under XP, though again the algorithm has been updated to be less strict.

"This is a fairly rare thing," Boettcher said. "Edge cases can be accommodated through customer support, but it's a relatively small group: People who are building their own PCs; hard core enthusiasts." Long story short, you'll have to talk to a human being and explain what happened. Just as you have had to do with XP.

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[Snuffy]

Microsoft clarifies Vista activation to bit-tech hacks

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!

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/10...n_to_bit-tech/
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I have just ordered my NEW Vista System.
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System Configuration :
AMD 64 CPU AM2 : AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ (Dual Core) AM2 1024K Cache
AMD 64 CPU Fans : Spire Kestrel-King II AMD 64 fan
AMD 64 AM2 Motherboards : ASRock ALiveSATA2 K8T890, PCI-EX, DDR2 ,Sound, LAN
DDR2 memory : 2GB (2x1GB) PC4200 DDR2 533 Dual Channel
PCI-Express Video cards : GeForce 7300GS 256Mb PCI EXpress 16X dual head, tv out
Sound Cards : AC 97 32 BIT Full Duplex sound card (onboard)
Network Cards : 10/100 Network card adapter (onboard)
Cases : APEVIA (Aspire) X-Plorer Silver, Side Window, front USB,iEEE,Temp control
Power Supply : Okia 600W ATX Power Supply
Keyboards : Black Windows Keyboard, 104 key, PS/2
Mice : 2-Button Wheel Mouse, PS/2 Black
Speakers : Black Multimedia amplified stereo speakers 180w

I will swap my HD's into this and SEE what happens...This is the Ultimate Install..and Yes, I will keep everybody posted on exactly what happens..

[crabby]

Great PC! Guess you will ipgrade to a DX10 card once they come down in price (6 months - 1 year)?

crabby

[felix8406]

WOW, that's a nice PC. I like the AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ (Dual Core) AM2 1024K Cache. And what I really like about this particular CPU is that it is a 64-Bit X2 4600+, the fact that it's a Dual-Core, and the 1K Cache...in other words, I like everything this CPU has to offer. Nice buy Snuffy. Enjoy to the fullest.

[Snuffy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence :blush:

[Snuffy]

Guess I will be leaving for a while.. UPS arrived this afternoon.... and Yes, He left me a Monster SIZE BOX full of "peanut pebbles" pack around lots of new shiny, toys, so I'll say "I De Ose" till I get the NEW System running..

System Configuration :
AMD 64 CPU AM2 : AMD Athlon 64 x2 4600+ (Dual Core) AM2 1024K Cache
AMD 64 CPU Fans : Spire Kestrel-King II AMD 64 fan
AMD 64 AM2 Motherboards : ASRock ALiveSATA2 K8T890, PCI-EX, DDR2 ,Sound, LAN
DDR2 memory : 2GB (2x1GB) PC4200 DDR2 533 Dual Channel
PCI-Express Video cards : GeForce 7300GS 256Mb PCI EXpress 16X dual head, tv out
Sound Cards : AC 97 32 BIT Full Duplex sound card (onboard)
Network Cards : 10/100 Network card adapter (onboard)
Cases : APEVIA (Aspire) X-Plorer Silver, Side Window, front USB,iEEE,Temp control
Power Supply : Okia 600W ATX Power Supply
Keyboards : Black Windows Keyboard, 104 key, PS/2
Mice : 2-Button Wheel Mouse, PS/2 Black
Speakers : Black Multimedia amplified stereo speakers 180w

and Like General MacArthur said.. "I shall return!"

[Znod]

My 8800 is being delivered today too. So, I'll be doesy doats and lil lams i divy too.