Vista OEM license

Ok I'll explain it. YOu go into the shop and say "I want this computer" and then you give them some money and then they give you the computer.

This is how you buy a computer.

Ask the people selling you the PC.

I just hoped that it is available on internet...

rofl

What the pc? Dell sells them on the internet. http://www.dell.com
The license, dah!

There is a big discussion on this board about MS licenses. But it looks like no one have seen OEM Vista license and only uses the information from hearsay or indirect sources (including me). I was not able to google it, so I am asking if somebody knows the link to it, so that we know exactly what we are talking about. It helps, you know

The reason why so many people are discussing this is because most of us build our own computers and we need to buy the OS separately. Microsoft allows people like us to buy the same sort of license as Dell or HP because we are considered "system builders." Usually the same company that sells us the parts (CPU, motherboard, memory, etc.) sells us the OEM version of Windows. Here's an example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116202

You can also use these licenses for pre-built PCs that you wish to upgrade, since they're a bit cheaper than the "upgrade" license and don't require a previous version of the OS to be installed.

If you would like me to, I can scan the license and e-mail it to you.

There is no limit to the number of upgrades you can do as I mentioned in another thread..... there was going to be, but Microsoft dropped it in the face of strong opposition.

I sent you the e-mail but the license text itself will not be very helpful and might even scare you away from buying OEM. This article explains it better.

http://www.extremetech.com/article [...] 385,00.asp

Ditto what others have said about hardware changes. With XP, a new motherboard constitutes a new "device" and requires an additional license, but I have been able to transfer OEM XP licenses to upgraded motherboards/CPUs without even having to call. I have a hunch that Microsoft is more lenient with users who buy the more expensive MCE or Pro than with plain Home, but that's just a hunch. My advice is to get the OEM Vista Ultimate.

There you go. The ET article was updated to clarify this point. Even though we were able to do it doesn't mean it's legal. We either outwitted the system or (more likely) Microsoft looked the other way. But we probably did violate the EULA.

Microsoft has always been fair with me as a customer. I have objections to some of their business practices or the quality of their software but they have always been a pleasure to deal with individually. It's not really fair to put them in the same category as RIAA or MPAA. You don't see Microsoft suing grandmothers and children. And they are responding to competitive pressure (from God knows who) and lowering their prices. The Office and Vista home editions are actually cheap. Go figure.