Can i use someone elses vista?

Question

My sister just got a new computer, same brand and everything, except mine came with XP and hers came with Vista. I want vista, yet i cant afford to pay for it. Can I use her vista from her computer??

Also. If i do install vista on my computer, would i lose all my files?

Answer 1

Don't go Vista.
1) Most software drivers haven't been "approved" yet by Microsoft and won't be allowed to run. This means that your cool digital camera may not be allowed to be connected.
2) ANY media that is copied thru Vista is degraded. Copied CDs are not allowed to be "high" quality.

Answer 2

No, the license for Vista is good for only one computer, and if hers came with the OS then it's already been activated.

If you install it on your computer then in 30 days it will connect to the activation server and see that you have an illegal copy. It will then go into reduced functionality mode, which means that it will remove the start menu and all desktop icons, it will start IE and take you to a page where you can purchase Vista, and it will shut down after an hour. And that's all it will allow.

If you can't afford Vista then you don't get it. But if you want a free OS, check out Linux (www.ubuntu.com).

Answer 3

No, you can't. Vista is almost impossible to put on a different computer. If you get a computer with Vista you basically can't. If you buy a copy, you have to first delete it from the original computer you put it on, then put it on a new computer. Originally they wanted to make it only legal for one computer, then they made it legal but you can only have a single computer with it running on it.

My opinion on Vista is to stay away if you can. Its new security stuff is more of a nuisance. The amount of resources you need to run it is insane. Its a super bloated version of XP. Plus they have something I am not particularly happy with. If you want to use software, watch tv, or whatever, the corresponding company has low level access to your computer. If a company like Sony, who infected millions of computers last year with a malacious root kit spyware program, has access to my computer at any level, I feel very unsecured. If that makes sense.

Plus, they took out a certain Audio thing for games, so games like Call of Duty 2 wont have audio, you have to put programs in that convert the Audio into what Vista understands. Not only that, but the support isnt completed right now, so certain things don't work yet, but that will be fixed soon. Theres also alot of problems right now, though that will also be fixed with service pack one which will be later this year.

The only thing I like about Vista is Direct X10, which is Vista exclusive. Its for gamers though, and since theres only 1 graphics card that supports it, its kinda pointless right now.

Sorry about all the extra stuff that has nothing to do with your question, its just some knowledge id thought to pass on. I would go with XP professional. Its the best windows out right now, in my opinion. Just a thought. And yes, you will lose all your files on the drive or partition that you put Vista onto. It formats it, then loads it. But, if you have partitioned the drive, put everything onto the partition that isnt going to be the operating system.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

If you would like a reliable, up to date operating system try UBUNTU. It's free, plus all the software you will ever need is free too. You can order a CD or download it at http://www.ubuntu.com

Once you have the CD, restart the computer with the CD in the drive. It will not make any changes to your computer unless you select install after you get to the desktop.

If you like it, you can do a dual boot with your version of windows

Answer 5

Find out what her end user licence says.If she can install it on a number of computers then go for it.Also back up all files.They will be lost if you do.

Answer 6

sure. No you won't loose all your files.