Upgrading 2 PC's with one copy of Vista?

Question

Ok so I asked a similar question yesterday and the answers have been pretty much 50/50 Split. It hasn't really helped. Even searching on Google hasn't made it easier to find out a definitive answer. All I want to find out is CAN YOU UPGRADE 2 PC'S WITH ONE COPY OF VISTA? Or is the only way by buying 2 copies or a multi-use licence?

If you absolutely are sure of the answer (i.e have actually got a copy and DONE IT) then please let me know. I'm not interested in guesses or people saying it's piracy. I oinly want to know if Microsoft would block it or not. Even thier own site is as clear as mud on the topic.

Greatful for any reply from those who have actually tried whether it worked or not.

Thanks all :-)

Answer 1

ok easy answer 1 licence 1 computer if you put it on 2 pc's microsoft will call it a hacked copy and neither will work

Answer 2

Read it and weep.

Install Windows Vista on Two Computers
http://www.itworld.com/Comp/2218/061027vistalicensing/
Microsoft clarifies Vista licensing; users still irked
IDG News Service 10/27/06

Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service, New York Bureau
Microsoft Corp. on Thursday finally attempted to clear up confusion over licensing of Windows Vista for power users who rebuild their PCs on a regular basis. But the answer from the software vendor did little to placate some users, who are still upset about Microsoft's one-machine transfer policy for Vista.
According to Microsoft spokesman Mike Burk, Microsoft users who frequently change the hardware configuration of the system running Vista may fail Vista's new Software Protection Platform software-validation feature more than once. If they did, they would be required to purchase an additional license or use Microsoft's support services to activate Vista on a newly configured machine.
As he explained it in an e-mail to the IDG News Service, Microsoft's product-activation process for Vista compares information from the initial validation -- which includes the hardware configuration of the device -- against the new configuration to transfer the license to a new piece of hardware.
This process, an extension of Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program designed to fight software piracy, uses an algorithm to help assess whether the software is installed on the same device, and validation of the software will fail if it detects a "substantially different hardware configuration," he said.
Much more info – too much to copy here.

Answer 3

i wont give you any guesses mate like you said,but i have from a friend with 25 years p.c experience that vista is only liceneced for 1 machine per copy
if a copy is installed on a second machine vista has in-built security features that will basically close the operating system down,not all at once but bit by bit
in fact xp has a similar feature in it,if you use a second copy or a pirated copy,it will slowly start disabling hardware,and will crash after around 12 months
i can totally understand your question though,with vista ultimate costing a wacking £250,its gonna cost you a small fortune if you have 3 or more p.c,s running in the household
finally i myself have installed the ultimate beta copy(build 5600) on 2 machines in my house (dual booted with xp) and up to now no problems to report,however these are beta,s
you can buy multi licence copies of vista,try this ............http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=263775&CatId=0
good luck

Answer 4

You will have to have two licenses in order for this to really work. When Windows XP came out you installed it, typed in your license key and everything installed. However once it was completed you were required to "activate it" either via the internet or by phone. This must be done on Vista also. When activating it, Microsoft logs your license key as used; no two computers my activate a Windows OS with the same key used.

To actually answer your question yes you can upgrade both pc's with the same disk, however they won't work with just one license key.

There are cracks out there for this, however I don't recommend doing that. Running legitimate software is always better than cracked; it seems less troublesome.

Answer 5

Hi. If you own a purchased copy of Vista you may use it on only one computer at a time. Microsoft wanted to make the product CPU specific but recently changed their mind. It has to be removed from the first computer to be used on the second. Just FYI, if you buy a computer with Vista already installed (OEM) and the computer dies, your right to use that copy of Vista dies with it.

Answer 6

Physically you can upgrade any amount of PCs with one copy of Vista upgrade. Technically you need one copy per PC or a multi-user copy to be legal or the Microsoft "thought" police will get you (no really, they can, unsolicited visits are common).

Answer 7

I don't believe you can. I think its one copy per computer, unless you have a corporate license. I believe those versions can be installed multiple times but cost a good deal of money.

God Bless and Jesus Saves.

Answer 8

how about...buy a mac?