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Thread: Windows Vista sounds like a POS. Win2k updates available still

  1. #1
    Senior Member alakhiyar's Avatar
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    Windows Vista sounds like a POS. Win2k updates available still

    I am hearing that you can only install Vista once and if you upgrade memory etc.. you will need to buy a new license.

    The only reason I switched from win2k to winxp was because win2k didn't support hyperhtreading well. Since the latest round of processors are simply dual core then I suspect that win2k will support them just fine. It has been along time since I even messed with win2k. Is it still supported somewhat? I am considering going back to it.
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  2. #2
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Well, I think that you would be forgiven for thinking that MS must have used Monte Carlo Simulation software to develop their EULA for Vista

    The last I heard was that if you buy the retail version you can move it from one machine to another. Naturally you need a separate licence for each installation that you have, so to transfer it, you are required to remove it from the old machine.

    If you buy an OEM version, it must be with a new computer or for a new computer. It can only be used once, and cannot be transferred. This brings us to the definition of "new computer". As per a memo I got from them a while back, this is defined (by MS) as a motherboard upgrade.

    Now, with XP (in the UK) this means that you can replace like with like and have no problems. If you are forced to replace with a different board because you cannot get an identical replacement, I have always found that they will accept that reason, and activate it.

    You have always been able to upgrade/replace all the other components such as RAM, drives, and so on.

    The situation with brand name OEMs (HP, Dell etc.) is more complex as you no longer get a full version of the operating system..............just a "recovery disk" and/or "recovery partition".

    Yes, Windows 2000 is still "supported" insofar as you can still get security updates and so on.

    I don't think that it really needs much support though, as it is pretty mature and stable by now. I have it running on several machines, and have never had to contact MS regarding it.............you can find all you want on their knowledgebase.

    My only caveat regarding old systems (assuming that they are stand alone) is that you need to be careful buying new peripherals and software, as they might not be supported.

    I know several people who have bought USB devices and found that they won't work with Win 95

  3. #3
    Senior Member alakhiyar's Avatar
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    I am still using W2k But every time I find some new software or hardware, I have to install Unsupported Microsoft stuff to get it to work. Examples are the newest version of DirectX and .Net 2.0 are required before Phrogram would run.

    The latest version of DirectX 9C redist does not mention Windows 2000.

    And then you still have to install the DRM stuff so MS can Validate the OS before downloading anything.

    Still, I hope to use it for a while longer. I had another Seagate drive start failing on me this week. All the ATA drives I have are either Seagates just like the failing one or IBM Deathstars. After recovering the Bad Sectors with Seatools, I cloned the OS to the IBM. It is so loud that I ended up cloning the OS to another Seagate.
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  4. #4
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Hmmm,

    I have just had a look on the Microsoft DirectX support site. Version 9.0C is supposed to support all Windows from Win 98 (first edition) through to XP.

    Even if you have a redistributed version, that can only be done under licence...........Microsoft's "small print" will doubtless stipulate that it is distributed "as is"?

  5. #5
    Agony Aunty-Online Moira's Avatar
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    Actually people seem to report having a fair amount of success in getting MS to reactivate an OEM copy after changing motherboards ... anyway I bought an OEM copy of Home Premium as it was so much cheaper than the full version, it would be worth buying again if I upgraded significantly. I could go through two or three motherboards before the full version would become uneconomic.

    The way my Vista install is going though, I don't think I'll be using it for very much longer. My hardware and software seems to be dying off very rapidly since I installed it!
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    HeadShot Master N1nja Cybr1d's Avatar
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    IMO, giving M$ a call when you change hardware should take care of that issue. Every time I've reinstalled Windows OEM on my ever changing hardware, I've just called them, and everything has been OK.

  7. #7
    Agony Aunty-Online Moira's Avatar
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    Yes, that's what I've heard. Actually getting it to install in the first place would be progress though - I hope I might have fixed the issue with reformatting the drive, but I found nothing would uninstall or reinstall any more including Vista when I decided to start again. I'm getting "windows setup could not reinitialize the deployment engine. To install windows, restart the installation." Which is helpful.

    Anyway I'll give it another go tomorrow.
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  8. #8
    AO Curmudgeon rcgreen's Avatar
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    Smile

    Will I need to phone them up if I want to format my hard drive and install Slackware?
    If I tell them to put Vista where the sun don't shine, will I need a license to put th Microsoft
    cd in the microave? Stay tuned to this station. Will it run on a 386? Will the DRM police come and take my Mac away because I installed a compiler? Who is this rcgreen troll anyway?
    I came in to the world with nothing. I still have most of it.

  9. #9
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rcgreen
    Will I need to phone them up if I want to format my hard drive and install Slackware?
    Yes, "I am Windows thy God, I am a jealous God, and thou shalt have no other gods before me"

    Quote Originally Posted by rcgreen
    If I tell them to put Vista where the sun don't shine, will I need a license to put the Microsoft cd in the microwave?
    Well, that would be grounds for divorce, or at least plea bargaining from murder1 to man2? I talk with you wife on IRC

    Quote Originally Posted by rcgreen
    Stay tuned to this station. Will it run on a 386? Will the DRM police come and take my Mac away because I installed a compiler?
    I spoke with William III the other day.......... apparently backwards compatibility to DOS 3.0 is not possible and it needs a "Pentium" whatever one of those is?

    The DRM police are not involved in vice......possession of a Mac is obviously an incurable perversity

  10. #10
    AOs Resident Troll
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    Personally I have never had a problem reactivating an MS OS...

    alakhiyar...you appear to whine alot about vista...and you havent even tried it yet....and your still running 2000.

    XP is a far better OS then 2000....and I am sure Vista will surpass that....although I will not be installing it til its been out for about a year or so...some SP and hotfixes released and to ensure our 3rd party hardware and software vendors have all thier kinks worked out.

    IMHO....if you dont like it...dont install it..use another OS

    MLF
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