Questions about installing windows.

Hello everyone...


Q1: I bought OEM Windows Vista Home and installed it on my laptop. Is it possible to install it on my desktop too? In other word, if I install it on my desktop and manage to activate (if not online, then by phone) will the version on the laptop still work? or will I be unable to update any more and asked to buy a license?

Q2: If I get a computer with Vista is preinstalled on it. Can I make multiboot and install WinXP?

Q3: I have an NTFS hard drive that used to be a secondary drive for WinXP. Now I want to make it a primary drive and install Vista or XP, do I have to do quick format? in other word, there is no way I can keep the little data i already have on it?

I think thats about it for the time being. Thanks in advance

 

1. No, that's not legal- bring it up again and thread will be locked!!

2. Yes

 

1: No. Legally, OEM versions of Windows may only be installed on the computer it came with, and the license is not transferrable.

2. Yes.

3. You could partition it, install the version of Windows you want on the newly created empty partition, and change BOOT.INI settings so that the newly installed version of Windows is on the top of the boot list. Or did you mean something else?

 

I was just reading the user agreement for the windows vista found at microsoft website here http://download.microsoft.com/docum...lish_d16c019b-fa71-4fc9-a51d-a0621bddb153.pdf

and it says "only one user may use the software at a time."
so i'm kinda wondering why do you say its not legal to install the os on two computers that are mine? I am one user, and I will be using one computer at a time. well, i'm not turning this into a debate. but thats what the end user agreement said.

 

i didn't really get what you meant with the INI file. but let me see... I have a 320 gig hard drive, its lets say 100 gig is used. I dont want to lose my data, but i want to install windows.
all i have to do is partition the drive and install windows on the second partition? when i create partition, will i lose the data on the hard drive?

 

There are partitioning tools that allow you to partition your HD without losing data. Examples include GParted, which is free, and PartitionMagic, which is very powerful.

 

You have an OEM liscence, and I believe this agreemnt if for retail

 

Even the retail licenses are ONE computer per ONE key. That cannot be legally avoided.

 

You might wanna look at the 'definitions' of the user agreement

One User might be defined as one computer

 

The OEM license only permits you to install it on one computer, ever.

Even the retail license you linked to explains (in sections 2a and 15a) that you may only have it installed on one device at a time.

 

Partition Magic isn't compatible w/ vista. Try Acronis or Paragon, or GParted

 

ok then, thanks everyone. I'm sticking with XP i guess.

 

It is. Do your research first. http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=sp&pvid=pm80