Vista - how many times can i reinstall it on my system?

i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.
#1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems, so
with vista will i be able to reinstall?
#2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does that
work?
#3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall without
having to buy another copy?

#1 You can reinstall os as many times as you like (as long as you have cd
(dvd) of course.
#2 don't really know. Sorry.
#3 you can reinstall OEM as many time as you like. As long as you installing
this on the same computer. About hardware, you can't change the mobo. You can
change other components, up to a certain point. read this:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...e/xpactiv.mspx

"kinglance" wrote:

> i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.
> #1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems, so
> with vista will i be able to reinstall?
> #2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does that
> work?
> #3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
> crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall without
> having to buy another copy?

Hi,

> #1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems, so
> with vista will i be able to reinstall?

As with any version of Windows, of course you can reinstall it. Problems
though, are usually due to malfunctioning hardware, poorly written drivers
for cheap hardware, and poor computing habits by the user (or the user's
kids).

> #2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does that
> work?

An upgrade disk relies on running from an existing installation. With an HP,
if you upgrade the motherboard the version of Windows you got with the
system will likely not install, as they are locked to the original hardware.
If you cannot install XP or 2000, then you will not be able to use the
upgrade. If this is in your plans, buy the full version of Vista to ensure
that this will not be an issue.

> #3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
> crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall
> without
> having to buy another copy?

The general idea of an OEM copy is that it is tied to the system on which it
is first activated. But, it's not set in stone. A BIOS-locked one, like with
HP or Compaq, will likely not migrate to a new system, but a generic one may
(and I do mean "may", no guarantees that it will work). Can you reinstall an
OEM copy on the same system? Sure, as often as you deem necessary, though at
some point your activations will need to be phoned in.

As to the "windows decides to crash like it seems to like to do", refer back
to my response to question #1.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"kinglance" <kinglance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:76337EDF-E336-4F0F-9C85-A9B588EA9DB2@microsoft.com...
>i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.

Windows "help" ??? Hah!

More like Windows shills.

The answer to every question is: "buy the full version."

I heard the rumor about the inability to use an upgrade version unless XP or
2000 is already installed, activated, and validated. I guess it's not a
rumor.

I will not purchase Vista. You "support" people ought to be ashamed of
yourselves. How can you work or provide support for such cynical and hateful
company. I don't know how you sleep at night.

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> > #1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems, so
> > with vista will i be able to reinstall?
>
> As with any version of Windows, of course you can reinstall it. Problems
> though, are usually due to malfunctioning hardware, poorly written drivers
> for cheap hardware, and poor computing habits by the user (or the user's
> kids).
>
> > #2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does that
> > work?
>
> An upgrade disk relies on running from an existing installation. With an HP,
> if you upgrade the motherboard the version of Windows you got with the
> system will likely not install, as they are locked to the original hardware.
> If you cannot install XP or 2000, then you will not be able to use the
> upgrade. If this is in your plans, buy the full version of Vista to ensure
> that this will not be an issue.
>
> > #3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
> > crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall
> > without
> > having to buy another copy?
>
> The general idea of an OEM copy is that it is tied to the system on which it
> is first activated. But, it's not set in stone. A BIOS-locked one, like with
> HP or Compaq, will likely not migrate to a new system, but a generic one may
> (and I do mean "may", no guarantees that it will work). Can you reinstall an
> OEM copy on the same system? Sure, as often as you deem necessary, though at
> some point your activations will need to be phoned in.
>
> As to the "windows decides to crash like it seems to like to do", refer back
> to my response to question #1.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "kinglance" <kinglance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:76337EDF-E336-4F0F-9C85-A9B588EA9DB2@microsoft.com...
> >i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.
>
>

"kenincher" <kenincher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FB5BDC87-D0D6-48A8-B065-0E770BAB7FB9@microsoft.com...
> Windows "help" ??? Hah!
>
> More like Windows shills.
>
> The answer to every question is: "buy the full version."
>
> I heard the rumor about the inability to use an upgrade version unless XP
> or
> 2000 is already installed, activated, and validated. I guess it's not a
> rumor.
>
> I will not purchase Vista. You "support" people ought to be ashamed of
> yourselves. How can you work or provide support for such cynical and
> hateful
> company. I don't know how you sleep at night.

Wow...someone didn't get their Koolaid today..
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> > #1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems,
>> > so
>> > with vista will i be able to reinstall?
>>
>> As with any version of Windows, of course you can reinstall it. Problems
>> though, are usually due to malfunctioning hardware, poorly written
>> drivers
>> for cheap hardware, and poor computing habits by the user (or the user's
>> kids).
>>
>> > #2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does
>> > that
>> > work?
>>
>> An upgrade disk relies on running from an existing installation. With an
>> HP,
>> if you upgrade the motherboard the version of Windows you got with the
>> system will likely not install, as they are locked to the original
>> hardware.
>> If you cannot install XP or 2000, then you will not be able to use the
>> upgrade. If this is in your plans, buy the full version of Vista to
>> ensure
>> that this will not be an issue.
>>
>> > #3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
>> > crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall
>> > without
>> > having to buy another copy?
>>
>> The general idea of an OEM copy is that it is tied to the system on which
>> it
>> is first activated. But, it's not set in stone. A BIOS-locked one, like
>> with
>> HP or Compaq, will likely not migrate to a new system, but a generic one
>> may
>> (and I do mean "may", no guarantees that it will work). Can you reinstall
>> an
>> OEM copy on the same system? Sure, as often as you deem necessary, though
>> at
>> some point your activations will need to be phoned in.
>>
>> As to the "windows decides to crash like it seems to like to do", refer
>> back
>> to my response to question #1.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>>
>> "kinglance" <kinglance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:76337EDF-E336-4F0F-9C85-A9B588EA9DB2@microsoft.com...
>> >i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.
>>
>>

It's quite simple really. The Upgrade is designed for people that want to do
just that. For everyone that wants to be able to do anything else, like
clean install or reinstall frequently or pretty much anything else, then
answer is to buy a full version. I can sleep at night very easily.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"kenincher" <kenincher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FB5BDC87-D0D6-48A8-B065-0E770BAB7FB9@microsoft.com...
> Windows "help" ??? Hah!
>
> More like Windows shills.
>
> The answer to every question is: "buy the full version."
>
> I heard the rumor about the inability to use an upgrade version unless XP
> or
> 2000 is already installed, activated, and validated. I guess it's not a
> rumor.
>
> I will not purchase Vista. You "support" people ought to be ashamed of
> yourselves. How can you work or provide support for such cynical and
> hateful
> company. I don't know how you sleep at night.
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> > #1 i usually have to reformat once a year, cause windows has problems,
>> > so
>> > with vista will i be able to reinstall?
>>
>> As with any version of Windows, of course you can reinstall it. Problems
>> though, are usually due to malfunctioning hardware, poorly written
>> drivers
>> for cheap hardware, and poor computing habits by the user (or the user's
>> kids).
>>
>> > #2 if i have a HP and i upgrade mobo and get an upgrade to Vista does
>> > that
>> > work?
>>
>> An upgrade disk relies on running from an existing installation. With an
>> HP,
>> if you upgrade the motherboard the version of Windows you got with the
>> system will likely not install, as they are locked to the original
>> hardware.
>> If you cannot install XP or 2000, then you will not be able to use the
>> upgrade. If this is in your plans, buy the full version of Vista to
>> ensure
>> that this will not be an issue.
>>
>> > #3 if i get an OEM copy and i change out hardware or windows decides to
>> > crash like it seems to like to do, can i use that OEM and restinall
>> > without
>> > having to buy another copy?
>>
>> The general idea of an OEM copy is that it is tied to the system on which
>> it
>> is first activated. But, it's not set in stone. A BIOS-locked one, like
>> with
>> HP or Compaq, will likely not migrate to a new system, but a generic one
>> may
>> (and I do mean "may", no guarantees that it will work). Can you reinstall
>> an
>> OEM copy on the same system? Sure, as often as you deem necessary, though
>> at
>> some point your activations will need to be phoned in.
>>
>> As to the "windows decides to crash like it seems to like to do", refer
>> back
>> to my response to question #1.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>>
>> "kinglance" <kinglance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:76337EDF-E336-4F0F-9C85-A9B588EA9DB2@microsoft.com...
>> >i am thinking of upgrading however i have heard scary rumors.
>>
>>