Editor said:
I just bought a new Dell with Vista. Vista is driving me INSANE
and it's past the 3 week return date. My husband has a Gateway
with Windows XP. Can I reformat and use his Windows XP CD on my
new Dell?
No. The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each
computer.
There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been
in effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows 3.1.
The only thing new with XP is that there's now an enforcement
mechanism.
Well, I'm confused then. Windows XP came on my husband's computer.
I then put it on my computer, since I had Windows 98. How was I
able to do that with no problem? And, if so, why can't I do it
again? I'm not trying to be rude... I just don't understand.
It sometimes happens. Just because you are able to get away with a
violation of the rules doesn't mean that the rules aren't in effect.
To mention an *extreme* example, some people get away with robbing
banks, but that doesn't mean that robbing banks is therefore legal.
Ken, I have enough Microsoft licenses to cover each computer in my
home. By downgrading to Windows XP, I will be UNinstalling Vista,
so this is not a case of "robbing" anyone, i.e., Microsoft.
Shenan said:
Just because you have a license for Windows Vista does not mean you can
forgo using Vista and decide to downgrade *magically* to Windows XP anbd
use the Windows Vista license to cover that. Now if you mean you have as
many Windows XP licenses as you need to install it on each of your
computers (not other Microsoft licenses - like Vista or Office or
whatever) - then ignore the rest...
Yes - it is software and technically speaking - you can get away with
things that are built/managed like software has to be because of the
nature of how easy it is to copy/etc that you could not get away with
using other products - but that does not mean that you are in the right
because it is easier to do without being caught or because you feel you
can justify it because you paid your money (even if it was for another
product) and you just want satisfaction...
If you go out and purchase a 1.5 million dollar home in a neighborhood
that is empty of people (but has houses all in it - all built by the same
people, all owned by the same bank...) - you cannot just decide to move
into the 1.2 million dollar home across the street because you like the
layout better without going through the process of selling the 1.5 million
dollar home and buying the 1.2 million dollar home.
You bought the right to use Windows Vista and just because you decide not
to use that does not give you the right to use some other product from the
manufacturer (Microsoft) for no cost... Now you may have bought downgrade
rights from Dell - but you need to contact them to get the proper
media/license going - and yes - they sell such a thing with their
systems...
But - you do whatever your moral code allows you to do. I don't know you
and don't really care in the end how you live your life. ;-)
Bottom line is if Microsoft made an good operating system that was
better than XP would this conversation be happening. They release
crap, so people do what they have to do.
Interesting logic - although it doesn't fulfill all requirements to make
this a 'closed case'...
People have been purchasing a single license for software/operating systems
for a long time and installing said software/operating systems on more
machines than they purchased it for. Whether out of ignorance or a wanton
disregard for the agreement contained with said software/operating system -
I cannot say. Perhaps neither, perhaps a little of both (even if the
ignorance was feigned.)
Specific to the manufacturer in this conversation - many people installed
Windows 9x on every machine they could (no checks/balances) and had only
purchased one copy. With Windows ME, etc - they did the same thing. For
Windows XP - same difference, just a little trickier and perhaps they
actually had to self-justify what they were doing now that ignorance played
less of a role with the activation scheme being put into place.
Some would argue that Windows Vista is not worth going to (just like many
argues the same thing about Windows XP and many will likely argue the same
about the next big OS change from Microsoft) - and that is fine an well - as
some will argue that Vista is the only way to go (some may have never
experienced anything else - especially if you limit it to their own
personally owned computer.)
I see it as a personal choice. You can still (as of me writing this) buy
new machines *with* Windows XP new, with downgrade rights from Windows Vista
to XP, etc. So - quite simply - ignorance and/or simply not researching
what you are about to spend $400-$5000 on comes into play. There is nothing
keeping someone from currently purchasing a new PC from someplace with
Windows XP (or an ability/right to downgrade to Windows XP) installed upon
it and supported by the original equipment manufacturer for the length of
the warranty also purchased.
Also - Windows is not "the only OS in town". There are plenty of other
choices - some may be tougher to go with because a person believes they need
(or actually needs) to run some specific software that only runs on a given
platform.
Laying the blame on a single product (when there is no 100% consensus in
either direction for said product - good or bad - leaning is *not* a
consensus...) is flawed logic. The person in this particular post may have
just been unable to 'get used to' the new layout and location of things.
Other people may have experienced the same problem. They would experience a
similar issue if trying to switch from Windows XP (especially if it was the
only OS they had ever used) to *nix of any given flavor... Or Microsoft
Office to Open Office. Or Adobe Photoshop CS3 to Paint .NET 3.30. Or Adobe
Acrobat Professional to FoxIt Software. The list goes on... None of that
makes the second choice 'crap software', it just makes it different.
I could easily have said, "Bottom line: if the original poster had made an
informed purchasing decision based of their needs and wants (just a little
research and testing before buying), would this conversation be happening?"
<- I didn't, but it holds more water than your bottom line. ;-) Might not
be true in this case, either. Thus I am making it a 'what could have been
said' instead of 'what I am saying'...
Yes - it 'feels like' this conversation (uninstall Windows Vista and install
Windows XP) is coming up more often than the one prior (uninstall Windows XP
and install Windows 98) - but truthfully - given the increase in computer
users, the increase in those who know (or try to) how to post on
forums/newsgroups such as these, etc - I would presume the percentage is
actually on-par (one request percentage is no greater than the other was.)
I remember many people wanting to go back to Windows 9x... Heck...
How to uninstall Windows XP and revert to a previous operating system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303661
Google Groups Archives about uninstalling Windows XP... (answered with the
above link.)
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=303661+XP