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Microsoft Will Allow Vista Reinstalls

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the yay-for-logic dept.

Claus Valca writes "I just spotted over on the Windows Vista Team Blog the news that the Windows Vista retail licensing terms are being revised. Looks like PC home-brew system builders have been let back into the Vista party!" From the article: "Our intention behind the original terms was genuinely geared toward combating piracy; however, it's become clear to us that those original terms were perceived as adversely affecting an important group of customers: PC and hardware enthusiasts. You who comprise the enthusiast market are vital to us for several reasons, not least of all because of the support you've provided us throughout the development of Windows Vista. We respect the time and expense you go to in customizing, building and rebuilding your hardware and we heard you that the previous terms were seen as an impediment to that — it's for that reason we've made this change."

1 of 349 comments (clear)

  1. Just noticed it 2 hours ago by SiliconEntity · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    That's funny, I just posted two hours ago this comment on the "Surprises in Microsoft Vista's EULA" thread:

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=204291&cid=166 93727


    The article misquotes the current license text regarding reassignment. Here's what the article claims the license says in Clause 15:

            a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. The first user of the software may reassign the license to another device one time. If you reassign the license, that other device becomes the "licensed device."

    But here's what the license actually says (Home Basic version):

            a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.

    See the difference? The language has changed completely. There's no more reference to this being allowed only "one time".

    Does this represent Microsoft loosening the license terms in response to criticism? That seems newsworthy!


    Looks like I was right. Good catch to the moderators, they moderated me all the way up to... er, well, 2. Which is exactly what I posted at. Oh, well...