Windows 8 licensing

[dirtyvu]

I posted this in another thread, please read this for more information for those concerned....

Windows 8 System Builder Software

EDIT: Everything you want to know about System Builder License as it stands right now today
OEM System Builder Licensing

There is still a whole lot of confusion surrounding System Builder....

That link is for Windows 7. In addition, with Windows 7, most people ended up buying the OEM version because it was much cheaper than the full retail version. It didn't seem to be an issue with Windows 7. Now, Microsoft canceled the full retail version and is selling the OEM version directly to the public as the system builder version.

Do you have one for Windows 8? Some changes were made regarding Windows 8 licensing.

 

[Tepid]

That is the only official information from MS regarding System Builder at this time
That actually covers all System Builder information for all OS's to date. Not just 7

 

[dirtyvu]

Seems to me it's fairly safe to get the System Builder version...How the new Windows 8 license terms affect you | Page 2 | ZDNet

Can I transfer my copy of Windows 8 to another PC?
That depends.
If you buy a new PC with Windows 8 already installed, your OEM Windows license is permanently bound to that computer. The only way you can transfer the license to another person is to sell or give away the computer itself, with its copy of Windows. The following terms apply:

The transfer must include the software, proof of purchase, and, if provided with the computer, an authentic Windows label such as the certificate of authenticity label including the product key. You may not keep any copies of the software or any earlier version. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software.
​

If you purchase the software separately, in a package or as a download, the rules are much more liberal. Note that the text for the following rules is identical for retail upgrades and for System Builder software that you install on a PC you build yourself, or in a virtual machine, or on a separate partition. Emphasis in the following sections is in the original:

You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you. … You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers.
​

In other words, you can remove the Windows 8 upgrade from an original PC and then install it on another PC, assuming the new PC has a license that qualifies it for an upgrade. Likewise, you can completely remove the PUL System Builder software from a self-built PC, a VM, or a partition and then install it in a new physical or virtual PC.
There is no limit on the number of times you may do this type of transfer, providing you follow the rules I describe later in this section. That means hobbyists who like to tinker with PCs can relax. If you buy a System Builder copy, you can move (not share) that license from an old PC to a new one.

You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key and the proof of purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software.
​

In either case, one ironclad rule applies:

Anytime you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer.
​

 

[Tepid]

That is what Ed Bott thinks based on what he has seen, it is not official from MS.

 

[Phone Man]

That is the only official information from MS regarding System Builder at this time
That actually covers all System Builder information for all OS's to date. Not just 7

But I don't think it covers Window 8 just yet. May have to be updated after Oct 26 but we will have to wait and see.

Jim

 

[Phone Man]

That is what Ed Bott thinks based on what he has seen, it is not official from MS.

\
I agree. Ed has said he has read the new Personal Use License which I believe is new for Windows 8 but as yet MS has not made it available to the general public. We should hopefully know more on Oct 26. I hope he is right but I have not seen anyone post that he is wrong except the notice on Newegg and I don't trust every thing they post about a product..

Jim

 

[Tepid]

Yeah me either about new egg. I am just putting out what is official as of today so people are aware of this, and that things may or may not change.
We don't know everything yet. The rumors are good news, but we need something official.

 

[dirtyvu]

here's what I got in the Microsoft forum:

Can I install Windows 8 Pro on another PC if delete it off of the old - Microsoft Community


According to the Windows 8 license, you are free to remove it from the current machine it is installed on and move it to another machine:
Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if
a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. To make that transfer, you must transfer the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key and the proof of purchase directly to that other person, without retaining any copies of the software. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Anytime you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer.
You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers. You may transfer Get Genuine Windows software, Pro Pack or Media Center Pack software only together with the licensed computer.

Reactivation by telephone might be required.

Yes, it's good for one PC at a time. As long as you delete if from the old PC, you can install it on the other with no problem (as long as it's retail, as you've stated. OEM is tied to the machine it was first installed on).


Upgrade version is the retail version.


The System Builder or OEM version is the full version. Microsoft has changed the rules with the OEM System Builder version. You can move it to another computer if you wish.

 

[Tepid]

The System Builder or OEM version is the full version. Microsoft has changed the rules with the OEM System Builder version. You can move it to another computer if you wish.

That is a contradiction, until we see official MS documentation, that is still hearsay
There is System Builder OEM and OEM. they are not exactly the same. OEM comes from Dell, HP, etc. and unless things have changed, the person buying the system can not move it to another PC, because you are not the first owner of the software licenses. System Builder OEM is similar, but as the rumor reports are for the PUL, only apply to it.

 

[dirtyvu]

No, System Builder is the OEM. the only difference is now Microsoft is selling the OEM version as the System Builder version and cutting out all those retailers who bought the OEM versions of the past and sold them to consumers which they were not supposed to. The full retail version of Windows is gone forever. Which is okay because most people opted for the cheaper OEM version that was being peddled, not knowing that the OEM version had no customer support and used to be tied to a machine.

 

[bobkn]

The System Builder or OEM version is the full version. Microsoft has changed the rules with the OEM System Builder version. You can move it to another computer if you wish.

That is a contradiction, until we see official MS documentation, that is still hearsay
There is System Builder OEM and OEM. they are not exactly the same. OEM comes from Dell, HP, etc. and unless things have changed, the person buying the system can not move it to another PC, because you are not the first owner of the software licenses. System Builder OEM is similar, but as the rumor reports are for the PUL, only apply to it.

As far as I know, Microsoft has not made the Windows 8 licensing scheme public yet.

However, on the Win8 preorder list at Newgg:

Newegg.com - Software, Operating Systems, Microsoft, Retail, OEM, windows 8

Note that there are no listings for full retail versions. Ditto for Amazon. It appears that no retail packages will be available at GA (general availability, aka Friday 10/26). Do you believe that Microsoft is keeping some other Win8 license type secret?

Nah. The Ed Bott article appears to be the real story. It's consistent with other stories that the traditional retail package will not exist for Win 8. As I presume that MS will offer some legitimate means to install Win8 on a virgin system, the new "system builder" copy must be it.

 

[Tepid]

And that is great, I hope the rumors are true, I really do, and to some extent I will concede that they probably are. however

you know what they say about assume-ing things

 

[Phone Man]

Here is the conformation from MS on the OEM/System Builder for Personal Use.

It can be transferred to another PC you own.

Windows 8 System Builder Product--Personal Use License

Jim