Q: Hello Im about to buy Windows Vista Ultimate, I have a few questions. I have multiple PCs at home and was wondering if I can make copies of the operating system on all of them or is it a per-PC type deal? If I install a copy on a PC to another PC to block out or unable to control it because the CD key is used? How does it work? Thanks
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Originally posted by: guy
There is no such thing as "formatting properly"
Quickformat is fine. No need for a full format.
If you want a sector scan, do a disk check once you complete your installation. Right click on the drive, go to the tools tab, check disk, check both options, reboot and it will do a full surface scan.
People often mistakenly believe you must do a full format with a new hard drive. False. Quickformat is perfectly fine and it's very rare for a new drive to have bad sectors since they're all chcked at the factory.
Someone understands. There is hope for the world after all 
Hehe, specially because 500GB+ HDD are becoming the norm.
I could probably go to the gym, do my laundry and clean up my apartment long before a HDD that big full-formats.
Though I always leave a full scan overnight on new drives. But at least I can do that while I'm sleeping.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Ya I am just reformatting now trying to tweak the OS and set up everything perfectly, playing around sort of. But usually I don't format more then once every 6 months.When installing, watch for the checkbox marked Automatically activate Windows when I'm online :camera: (http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/guy/Vista_activate_automatically_checkbox.jpg) and uncheck it, so you can manually activate once you're satisfied everything's just right.
Re:Ya I am just reformatting now trying to tweak the OS and set up everything perfectly, playing around sort of. But usually I don't format more then once every 6 months.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
wow this is terrible. If I reformat my computer, I have to call microsoft to reactivate my windows, every single time I do it….
Well, if you refer to your original post in this thread…
I am multipled PC's at home and was wondering if I can install copies of the OS on all of them or is it 1 per PC type deal? If I install a copy on one PC will the other PC block it out or not be able to verify it because the CD key has been used? …there's the reason, guy. People either don't know, or don't care, that they have to buy one license for each PC they want to install on. Activation helps prevent license abuse.
Actually, if you reformat your same computer and reinstall your same Windows license on it, and don't do that more than once per 120 days, you're probably going to be able to activate automagically over the Internet. Your OEM license can't go onto any other computer evar, by the terms of the OEM Windows license agreement, so just try to keep the reformats >120 days apart and see how it goes
Re:wow this is terrible. If I reformat my computer, I have to call microsoft to reactivate my windows, every single time I do it….
Re:OEM licenses are tied to the version you purchase. If you purchase a 32bit version, that's it. You can't move it to another computer, you can't upgrade it to a 64bit version, nor can you buy the home premium upgrade versions if you buy an oem version of Vista Ultimate.
Re:ok, so OEM comes with only 1 DVD, but can you get the other version?
Re:I have the OEM 64 bit version on DVD. It only comes with one version. If you buy a retail it comes with both versions. Every new cpu made is 64 bit, so why not? Eventually they will iron out the bugs with time?
Thanks for the format info, I am still used to formatting hard drives old school with like 10 seconds between each percentage increase 
Re:If one buys OEM 32-bit, can you later request 64-bit like you can with retail? I believe that Ultimate retail comes with both, does OEM? Also, if you go OEM, can you change MB and CPU down the raod and use this same OEM version? Thanks.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
There is no such thing as "formatting properly"
Quickformat is fine. No need for a full format.
If you want a sector scan, do a disk check once you complete your installation. Right click on the drive, go to the tools tab, check disk, check both options, reboot and it will do a full surface scan.
People often mistakenly believe you must do a full format with a new hard drive. False. Quickformat is perfectly fine and it's very rare for a new drive to have bad sectors since they're all chcked at the factory.
Someone understands. There is hope for the world after all
Re:There is no such thing as "formatting properly"
Quickformat is fine. No need for a full format.
If you want a sector scan, do a disk check once you complete your installation. Right click on the drive, go to the tools tab, check disk, check both options, reboot and it will do a full surface scan.
People often mistakenly believe you must do a full format with a new hard drive. False. Quickformat is perfectly fine and it's very rare for a new drive to have bad sectors since they're all chcked at the factory.
Re:I also have a question about the initial installation. I noticed that when you select to format your hard drive it formats it really fast. Is there any way to format your hard drive properly prior to installing windows vista?
Re:got the 64 bit version of vista ultimate today OEM. going to see what i can do about buying additional licenses.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
One license, one computer.
Microsoft will be glad to sell you additional licenses (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/addlicense/howto.mspx#pricing). If you move to the Retail version of Vista Ultimate, you would qualify for the fmaily discount (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/familydiscount.mspx) on 2 copies of Home Premium, but I'm not in the mood to do the math and see how that compares to OEM pricing. The advantage there would be having all retail licenses.Also, as a point of clarification, the two Home Premiums are Home Premium Upgrade, so he'd need valid licenses for qualifying previous versions of Windows.
Re:One license, one computer.
Microsoft will be glad to sell you additional licenses (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/addlicense/howto.mspx#pricing). If you move to the Retail version of Vista Ultimate, you would qualify for the fmaily discount (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/familydiscount.mspx) on 2 copies of Home Premium, but I'm not in the mood to do the math and see how that compares to OEM pricing. The advantage there would be having all retail licenses.
Re:It is one copy per PC according to the EULA.
0 Comments.