Microsoft is going full retard...

[Nightshade]

They are doing some massively anti-competitive crap.

http://fossboss.com/2016/09/21/windows- ... ing-linux/

Now, not only are they blocking other operating systems on purpose, you can't even install non-MS apps under Windows with this!

Just one aspect out of a loooong list of things Microsoft is pushing on consumers after Windows 10 came out.

It's up to people to reject this crap and stop using Windows. Hopefully businesses will be pushed away from Microsoft as well. They're turning ugly.

[MD-1118]

I can install whatever I want, I'm still using my "free" copy of Windows 7.

[callmeslick]

[Nightshade]

I can install whatever I want, I'm still using my "free" copy of Windows 7.

Free?

[MD-1118]

Free?

Let's just say I paid for that particular OS once in my life and I refuse to spend more money on another brand new "official" copy just because I built a new computer, if you catch my drift.

[woodchip]

I put win 7 on more than one comp. and all I get is a "This copy of windows not genuine". Win 7 works fine and no issues. I'm like MD, If I buy a copy it is mine and if I want to put it on a rebuilt comp. then it is mine to do so.
MS not careful they will be deemed a monopoly and broken up by the feds.

[Tunnelcat]

Microsoft is still arrogant I see, even after they got their hands slapped years ago for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... _Microsoft

[Spidey]

JFTR in case anybody cares…you cannot buy a copy of MS windows, you can only lease it.

And you can legally transfer that OS to as many computers as you want, as long as you remove it from the last.

And you can use that copy to install onto any PC as long as you buy a new license.

Now as far as it working without buying another license…that is pretty much hit and miss, you may turn on your machine one day and find it doesn’t work. MS probably doesn't care about 7 at this point, because they are pushing 10.

But no, you can’t buy Windows 7 and treat it like it belongs to you. (well you can…until you get caught)

[MD-1118]

But no, you can’t buy Windows 7 and treat it like it belongs to you. (well you can…until you get caught)

Innocent until proven guilty!

Interestingly enough, I found this:

Under Microsoft's arcane licensing rules, you can legitimately purchase OEM copies of Windows 7 (any edition). However, the license agreement with those copies explicitly prohibits you from using that software on a PC you build or refurbish for your own personal use.

[Spidey]

If you read carefully, you are still not actually buying the OS, it is still a license.

[MD-1118]

If you read carefully, you are still not actually buying the OS, it is still a license.

I know. I just think it's a bit shady to say "you can pay for the right to use this but you can't install it on a computer you built."

[Spidey]

I see…

Yea that’s probably because of the huge discount you get on such copies, because they were originally sold in bulk to a manufacturer, and they don’t want to sell at that rate to a single builder.

I don’t know, just guessing here.

[Vander]

you can't even install non-MS apps under Windows with this!

I think you're misreading this. It's the manufacturer that can't preload 3rd party software on the laptop, which is the whole point of "Signature Edition" in the first place. This is also why many "Signature Edition" versions cost more, since the manufacturers aren't getting the $$ from the 3rd parties, so they're passing along the cost.

It's a bit like what Google was doing a couple years ago with the "Google Play Edition" versions of Android phones. The regular version would have preloaded crap from both the manufacturer and the carrier, while the GPE edition would just be stock Android.

[MD-1118]

I see…

Yea that’s probably because of the huge discount you get on such copies, because they were originally sold in bulk to a manufacturer, and they don’t want to sell at that rate to a single builder.

I don’t know, just guessing here.

Probably, but at that point they're just being greedy assholes. If I'm going to spend $200 on an OS then I better have ownership rights, especially if they're selling the same OS to mass distributors/manufacturers for an 80% discount.

[Vander]

The OEM version is only licensed for the first computer it's installed on. The retail version can be moved from one computer to another as long as only one is in use. As far as I can tell, activation is the exact same on both, and you'll typically get 3 activations before it starts complaining that you've installed it too many times. When that time comes, just do the phone activation and tell them it's only installed once. That seems to reset the 3 activations. I've been using Action Pack for years, which comes with a single license that can be used on 10 machines, and activation seems to follow the same method. After the first couple, it bitches and I have to call.

They seem to have been changing this a bit in the last couple years, and especially with Win7 to Win10 upgrades, though.