Win8 licence key

I'm thinking of buying a copy of Win8 while it's still cheap. I won't
use it until necessary as I like Win7.

How long will the key last for an install?

Ed

Ed Cryer ed somewhere.in.the.uk wrote:

I'm thinking of buying a copy of Win8 while it's still cheap. I
won't use it until necessary as I like Win7.

How long will the key last for an install?

A CD key is unique. And like any other CD key, it probably will
never expire. Conceivably, Microsoft could stop activating its
Windows 8 CD keys at some point in the far future. But there will
have been an activation hack long before then.

--











Ed

The key will be yours for use now or in the future.
Use of the upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being upgraded.


--
....winston
msft mvp


"Ed Cryer" wrote in message ...

I'm thinking of buying a copy of Win8 while it's still cheap. I won't
use it until necessary as I like Win7.

How long will the key last for an install?

Ed

...winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?

--
Crash

"Never underestimate the power of the Dark Side."
~ Obi-Wan Kenobi ~

In article , lid says...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?

I think a dual-boot would be considered two separate installs. An
upgrade REPLACES an older version.

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.comcast.net/~andyross

On Tue, 6 Nov 2012 17:15:58 -0600, Andrew Rossmann
wrote:

In article , lid says...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?

I think a dual-boot would be considered two separate installs. An
upgrade REPLACES an older version.

One could envisage a situation where a dual boot system is created with
two identical Win7 systems. Then one of them is upgraded to Win8. The
Win7 system no longer activates? This situation seems possible with
retail (not upgrade) versions of Win 7 & 8.
--
Robin Bignall
Herts, England

"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

...winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc, upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it – we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it – we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under “Are there things I’m not allowed to do with the software?�

Are there things I’m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.

--
....winston
msft mvp

On 2012-11-06, Dave "Crash" Dummy wrote:
..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


Legally, you can't do this, as the Windows 7 license is invalid once you
upgrade it to Windows 8. But technicaly I don't think there's any enforcing
of this by Microsoft.

--
Morten Nygaard Ã…snes
http://www.twitter.com/mortenaa

...winston wrote:
"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an
earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc,
upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it – we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it – we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under “Are there things I’m not allowed to do with the software?�

Are there things I’m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.


I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?

Ed

On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:05:56 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

..winston wrote:
"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an
earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc,
upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under ?Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software??

Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.


I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?

Ed

Yup. However, as long as it is a Retail license and not an OEM
license, you can move that license from the virtual environment to a
physical PC if you like.

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's
something big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:05:56 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

..winston wrote:
"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an
earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc,
upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under ?Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software??

Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.


I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?

Ed

Yup. However, as long as it is a Retail license and not an OEM
license, you can move that license from the virtual environment to a
physical PC if you like.


How do I do that?

Ed

On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:25:19 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:05:56 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

..winston wrote:
"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an
earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc,
upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under ?Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software??

Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.


I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?

Ed

Yup. However, as long as it is a Retail license and not an OEM
license, you can move that license from the virtual environment to a
physical PC if you like.


How do I do that?


http://lifehacker.com/5958507/uninst...roduct-key-so-
you-can-use-the-license-on-another-pc

--
Zaphod

"The best Bang since the Big One" - Eccentrica Gallumbits

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
http://lifehacker.com/5958507/uninst...roduct-key-so-
you-can-use-the-license-on-another-pc

Unwrapped:
http://lifehacker.com/5958507/uninst...-on-another-pc
http://tinyurl.com/d2jqluu
--
Crash

"Never underestimate the power of the Dark Side."
~ Obi-Wan Kenobi ~

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:25:19 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:05:56 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

..winston wrote:
"Dave "Crash" Dummy" wrote in message ...

..winston wrote:
The key will be yours for use now or in the future. Use of the
upgrade key will nullify the license for the o/s that is being
upgraded.

Well, that sucks. What if I want to leave Windows 7 installed in a dual
boot configuration with Windows 8?


In MSFT speak, it would appear the Personal User License
(System Builder) is the only version granting a license to
install in a separate partition (i.e. dual boot scenario)

cf. [Quoted from an earlier post on mine]
Here's the relevant information from the MSFT EULA (quoted from an
earlier post of mine)
for each type of Win8 media and how obtained (e.g OEM pre-built pc,
upgrade, or full version System Builder)
qp
How can I use the software?

OEM
The software is licensed, not sold.Under this agreement, we grant
you the right to install and run one copy only on the computer
with which you acquired the software (the licensed computer)...

RETAIL UPGRADE
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer), for
use by one person at a time, but only if you comply with all the
terms of this agreement. Typically, this means you can install one
copy of the software on a personal computer and then you can
use the software on that computer.

PERSONAL USE LICENSE (SYSTEM BUILDER) FOR WINDOWS 8 PRO
We do not sell our software or your copy of it ? we only license it.
Under our license, we grant you the right to install and run
that one copy on one computer (the licensed computer) as the
operating system on a computer that you build for your personal
use, or as an additional operating system running on a local virtual
machine or a separate partition, subject to the restrictions
outlined under ?Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software??

Are there things I?m not allowed to do with the software ?
You may not install the software as an operating system on any
computer except one that you are building for your own use or
as an operating system running on a local virtual machine or
a separate partition. You may not install the software on a
computer that is running a non-genuine Windows operating system

After I upgrade, can I use my old Windows version on a separate
partition or on another PC? Can I give it away or sell it?
The software covered by this agreement is an upgrade to your
existing operating system software, so the upgrade replaces the
original software that you are upgrading. You do not retain any
rights to the original software after you have upgraded and you may
not continue to use it or transfer it in any way.
qp

Comments:
The above does not preclude the technical ability to dual boot
with an upgrade version (from what I can see, some have
successfully reported doing so)...but depending upon your system
and whatever constraints it may have, ymmv.


I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?

Ed

Yup. However, as long as it is a Retail license and not an OEM
license, you can move that license from the virtual environment to a
physical PC if you like.


How do I do that?


http://lifehacker.com/5958507/uninst...roduct-key-so-
you-can-use-the-license-on-another-pc


Cool!

What would happen to the system then? I suppose it would go into
"illegal copy of Windows" mode.

Ed

"Zaphod Beeblebrox" wrote in message ...

On Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:05:56 +0000, "Ed Cryer"
wrote in article ...

I got my new Win8 Pro.
What's the story on using it? If I install it in a virtual environment,
will that be it? My one and only licence used up?


Yup. However, as long as it is a Retail license and not an OEM
license, you can move that license from the virtual environment to a
physical PC if you like.

Technically...
There are no full retail licenses for Win8 like there were for Win7 and earlier. In the past retail versions of Windows and OEM
System Builder version were available.

For Win8 there are
- OEM (preinstalled by the OEM on pc's sold to the end customer) - 32 or 64 bit
- Retail (only upgrades) - 32 and 64 bit
- Personal Use (System Builder 32 or 64 bit)

Thus the only licenses in MSFT terms/speak for virtual or partition use are the latter (System Builder) but only one copy in use at
a time.

As noted previously, none of the above precludes the technical ability (not legality) to achieve some other end means.

--
....winston