vista anti-piracy policy question

Hi! I was thinking of upgrading to vista, but I have a few concerns
I have an office xp cd that i installed on my desktop some years ago, and i also installed it on my current laptop.
will I be able to install it on vista?
how about non microsoft products? will they still work even if i had already installed them on my old computer?

 

If you have removed them from your old computer, then yes. You may have to call microsoft to get your key activated if it gives you problems. Office allows you to install software on 2 machines that only you use (one desktop, one laptop). So if you removed it from your old desktop you will be fine.

As for the other software, its most likely licensed for only one computer. So if you removed it from both other computers, you can install it on your new computer. If they give you problems, you will need to contact the vendor of the software to straighten it out, but they should not deny it.

 

thanks for your quick response
i never registered them online before, i just installed, entered the cd key, and when they prompted me to register online, i clicked the register later and checked the don't display this message again checkbox. i didn't see the point as i was able to download office updates (language pack) from their site before without any problems. i was thinking that they might send me spam, or be like one of those programs that track personal usage or something...

so i would need to register all my software or they will shut down my computer?

 

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by "shut down my computer" i mean that safe mode style thing that a lot of people are complaining about

 

I don't know what programs you use, but the only company that gave me a bit of trouble was adobe.... MS NEVER gives me any trouble.

With adobe, the magic words are "my computer crashed." Well, with MS as well. I think adobe has some type of activation where you have to deactivate the old license or something... I never do remember it.

And no, MS won't shut down your computer... as long as your license was not compromised in some fashion (you gave it to the entire dorm), you will be ok. I have licenses that I've had for years and I have to call in.... it is not a big deal.

edit: guess I should say it depends on the type of license you have.... although, I have all of them, from oem to full versions and I never have any trouble. I guess you could have trouble if trying to activate an oem license....