Microsoft is constantly under scrutiny for almost any decision they make, and their latest Windows Vista license changes were no different. Surprisingly, Microsoft did decide to budge a little and they will now allow users to transfer retail licenses of Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate to another machine. Here is what the Windows Vista Team Blog had to say about it:
- You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.
You can find the newly-revised retail license terms here, as I’m sure you’ll want to read them for yourself.
Our intention behind the original terms was genuinely geared toward combating piracy; however, it’s become clear to us that those original terms were perceived as adversely affecting an important group of customers: PC and hardware enthusiasts. You who comprise the enthusiast market are vital to us for several reasons, not least of all because of the support you’ve provided us throughout the development of Windows Vista. We respect the time and expense you go to in customizing, building and rebuilding your hardware and we heard you that the previous terms were seen as an impediment to that — it’s for that reason we’ve made this change.
Hey, if this is how Microsoft wants to thank me for testing Vista then I more than welcome it (especially with the number of times my computer has been reformatted to install new versions). It’s obvious that they aren’t going to give the millions of testers a free copy of Windows but this is a great unexpected change.
Now that is really making me think heavily whether I should just fork out the $110 for a copy of Windows XP Media Center Edition so that I can receive the Vista Home Premium upgrade later on. It’s looking like a very good deal since it is more than half off of the Vista Home Premium price, get a valid XP license (good for a virtual machine or something), and since it is a retail copy I can carry it with me from computer to computer.
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OK, but how about those serial-number-stickers on the PC cases? Should I scrape it with my fingernails, to stick it on my new PC?
:D 
What? You are not getting Vista Ultimate Ryan???
As nice as it would be to get Vista Ultimate that is a pretty penny to fork out. If I get the Media Center deal right now I could get all three copies that I need for less than what it would cost to get one copy of Vista Ultimate. Are you going to be getting Vista Ultimate?
Well, just remeber part of that pretty penny for Vista Ultimate is that packaging that will protect the software inside for life-long use.
So this means you would have to purchase the ‘new’ version? Since the upgrade version requires a prior version of Windows.
For example I still have my Windows XP ‘For distribution with a new computer’ CD which I bought when I had this last system built. If I were to purchase and install the upgrade version of Windows Vista then decide to buld a new computer, would I be able to install Windows XP first then upgrade to Vista (after removing it from the first system) again on the new system?
You’re right, but I’ll get that packaging whether I purchase the most expensive version or the cheapest one. So I’m protected for life either way!
In the agreement it also says this:
I’m not sure if that is the answer though. I take it that an upgrade version can be transferred one time?
I’m planning on it.