Microsoft's quest to closely control the way Windows Vista can be used on PCs has taken a turn for the worse, as new information indicates that the company is breaking tradition when it comes to Windows Vista upgrades. With Windows Vista, users will not be able to use upgrade keys to initiate completely new installations. It is a change that will affect few users, but enthusiasts will certainly be amongst those pinched.
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Member since:
2005-08-09
Member since:2005-07-06
Yes. You can install to a new location, but you can't do a truly clean install. I believe that Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade Edition may be exempt from this requirement though.
The article specifically mentions that it applies to:
Upgrade versions of Windows Vista Home Basic, Premium, and Starter Edition
Member since:2006-04-18
Member since:
2006-11-09
For reminding me of the very reason I no longer use your products. It's not the only reason, but it was the biggest reason, and before it was the inconvenience of it.
I mean you buy a computer for $2500 cnd , and they don't give you any choice of os. Then they don't give you a real copy of thier os, but a "recovery disc". Got problems, to bad, reinstall. Reinstall too many times, your stealing it, phone this number in India and explain to them why your install is taking place, etc.,etc.,etc......
I was looking forward to trying Vista, to see for myself what it's realy like. Cold day in hell now.
OTOH, I can see why they would do this, as more people steal this software then all other software combined, I would think. Price, maybe? Being the top dog does have it's drawbacks.....
Member since:2006-07-16
...and you haven't even mentioned the hellish nightmare that is DRM awaiting the unsuspecting masses. I'm with you...Vista, (nor any other MS product) will NEVER occupy space on my computers' hard disks. I'm through with Microsoft's bullsh*t! I've been MS free for nearly four years and computing is actually enjoyable again.
Edited 2007-01-28 22:39
Member since:2005-07-06
"OTOH, I can see why they would do this, as more people steal this software then all other software combined, I would think."
Not that such practices will stop the stealing, if anything they will increase it.
But stealing is not worth, IMO. Just use something better, something which gives you back your freedom.
Member since:
2006-10-12
The thing about Vista is that you can no longer do an OS upgrade by booting from the DVD and pointing it at your old installation: you HAVE to run setup from inside of XP/2K/whatever (this certainly applies to Vista Business Upgrade, I can't speak for the others).
I've already come across an instance where the hardware checker/system profiler component of the installer fails when running under XP and proceeds fine when booted from DVD; how many people are going to have to ring Microsoft when their shiny new Vista Upgrade DVD won't let them install from within their old broken setups?
Edited 2007-01-28 22:30
Member since:
2005-07-06
Back in the 1980s IBM ruled the IT department, they could get away with almost anything, nobody was ever fired for spending more money on IBM contracts, no matter how expensive or useless they were.
Around the corner, there was a small company called Microsoft that sold an almost toy like OS. It didn't have the uptime of the mainframe, it couldn't do all the things that you could do by buying some time on the IBM mainframe, but it felt like you were in control. It was your desktop, your OS, your data. That freedom tasted good, and quite a lot of people wanted more of that taste. As people wanted more of it, more software was developed for this new toy platform, and all of a sudden it was not a toy anymore...
Today there are new companies round the corner, that will be quite happy to eat Microsoft's lunch in case Microsoft makes life to difficult or expensive to their customers.
Member since:2007-01-22
Member since:
2005-11-15
Member since:2006-10-12
Wonder if the cracked versions will have this feature?
Why would you run a cracked upgrade version?
(The only difference between most of the versions you'll come into contact with is the product key: if you don't enter a product key, you have a maximum of 120 days [in 30 day blocks] to enter a key matching the edition you chose to install and activate it. If you're able to circumvent that time-out on a permanent basis, then this is a non-issue: simply don't pick an upgrade version from the list that Vista's setup program gives you).
Edited 2007-01-28 23:00
Member since:
2005-08-28
Member since:
2007-01-29
One more obnoxious little thing that won't make a bit of difference.
Microsoft is waaaaay too close to a monopoly for my comfort. I don't like them. And yet I still have to use their desktop software.
If only there were a simple, free (or cheaper) alternative that could run all of my desktop software and games without missing a beat. Once more, ah well.
Member since:2005-11-11
//One more obnoxious little thing that won't make a bit of difference. //
Agreed. Vista won't run on most existing hardware anyway, so the vast majority of Vista installs won't be upgrades they will be new installs on newly purchased PCs.
Some experts would strongly advise against installing Vista via an upgrade:
http://desktoplinux.com/articles/AT2094892904.html
//If only there were a simple, free (or cheaper) alternative that could run all of my desktop software and games without missing a beat. //
Well, there is a simple free alternative that can run the equivalent to (or better variants of) your typical desktop software and some games without missing a beat.
http://www.pclinuxos.com/page.php?6
http://www.pclinuxonline.com/wiki/HomePage
Enjoy! It isn't going to cost you anything (other than the cost of a blank CD and either postage and/or download charges), so you may as well at least try it. (You can try this one without having to install it, BTW). If you are a Windows user, you should feel more or less right at home using this distribution.
Member since:2006-01-01
[offtopic]
From: http://desktoplinux.com/articles/AT2094892904.html
Vista still needs an unencrypted partition to boot from, so dual-booting should still work. It's just that getting at data on the BitLocker-protected NTFS partition will be close to impossible for Linux users.
[/offtopic]
To me, looks like the author is complaining. Well, it is suppose to be impossible. Isn't it? If you can access the encrypted data the same way as you can access a password-protected user-dir in Windows from Linux then it wouldn't be so trusted would it....Don't get me wrong, I am not taking sides, I am only making a point.
Member since:
2005-07-06
The thing that annoys me is all these anti-piracy features (strict licensing, mandatory DRM, etc.) will be a minor hurdle for those who make a living pirating software. The consumers are the people who are hurt by this added "security." It imposes unfair restrictions because people out there steal software. I don't understand the logic behind this though. In the real world there are people commit violent crimes, but that doesn't mean we're locking up the entire population. Unfortunately consumers have little choice in their operating system. I'd say vote with your dollar, but it's hard to purchase a computer without Windows.
Member since:2005-11-11
//Unfortunately consumers have little choice in their operating system. I'd say vote with your dollar, but it's hard to purchase a computer without Windows.//
Correct. Perhaps this may help:
http://lxer.com/module/db/index.php?dbn=14
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2006-03-12
Member since:2005-07-06
Well aren't people going to be stealing whatever is easy to gain access too? For example if Microsoft created unbreakable security for Ultimate Edition, but Home and Pro editions contained no security people would pirate the lesser version.
I guess what I'm trying to say is the actions of the few are making things harder for everyone. Consumers are now going to be presented with a platform where all media and content are licensed to that device instead of content free to be used on whatever piece of hardware within the terms of "fair use."
For example if a consumer has bought Vista Ultimate (OEM?) and it's licensed to be run on that computer only and the consumer wants to upgrade his computer. His brand new brand X computer comes preloaded with Vista Home edition. He threw out his other computer, shouldn't he be entitled to use his Vista Ultimate he already purchased? Now a pirate won't be paying for the content in the first place, yet will be able to put his bootleg copy on whatever computer he wants. Legitimate consumers will be buying things twice, while pirates still get things for free.
Even with audio/video content. A user buys a song on a phone. Then they decide they want to listen to it on their Zune so they purchase it right then and there on the computer. Later they find out this download won't work on their iPod so they decide to buy the CD. The user has purchased this song 3 times, while the pirates still find ways of getting it for free. Personally I beleive DRM isn't stopping piracy, it's making it harder yes, but instead it's making consumers pay more for the same content to make up for that loss.
Also: food for thought. You know those FBI anti-piracy warnings on DVDs? It's funny that only legitimate copies show them and they're stripped from bootlegs. 
Member since:
2005-12-02
"First, the change prevents a dual-license situation with all of the free Vista upgrade coupons out there. If things worked according to the old scheme, people with upgrade coupons would essentially get a "free" OS because they could install the Vista upgrade anywhere, and continue to use the version of Windows XP that came with their computer. Did Microsoft fear that this would happen quite a bit? It seems like an unlikely scenario."
Yes, of course this is why they are doing it. This is exactly what people were doing, which is, and has been, against the EULA forever. This is nothing new, though the enforcement of it is. I really do not know why people are surprised. Yes, it sucks, though the above scenario was occurring, and was a huge contributor to the pirated copies out there.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Member since:
2006-01-01
Member since:
2005-12-18
Member since:
2006-02-20
Member since:
2005-07-22
Member since:2005-12-02
Member since:
2007-01-30
I thought I would give this a try, I installed Vista Business upgrade from within XP Pro updated it and activeted it no problems. Then I reinstalled Vista upgrade from within Vista updated it and activated it no problems. So someone has got the facts wrong or only Vista Business upgrade will let you do this.
