Microsoft retreat on Vista upgrade restictions

Written by Ryan Garside

November 3, 2006 | 13:00

Tags: #blog #change #hardware #upgrade #vista #windows

Companies: #microsoft

A recent Windows Vista blog, written by Product Manager Nick White, has reacted to the outcry from the internet on their intention to forbid people installing new hardware on their Vista machines.

The new line from Microsoft is:

You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.

In a paragraph that appears to be written precisely for bit-tech readers he said:

"Our intention behind the original terms was genuinely geared toward combating piracy; however, it’s become clear to us that those original terms were perceived as adversely affecting an important group of customers: PC and hardware enthusiasts. You who comprise the enthusiast market are vital to us for several reasons, not least of all because of the support you’ve provided us throughout the development of Windows Vista. We respect the time and expense you go to in customizing, building and rebuilding your hardware and we heard you that the previous terms were seen as an impediment to that -- it’s for that reason we’ve made this change. I hope that this change provides the flexibility you need, and gives you more reason to be excited about the upcoming retail release of our new operating system."

A big thumbs up to Microsoft on this one I feel, although I'm sure some of you will claim they were silly for trying to stop people from upgrading their hardware in the first place. I for one will be happy I won't have to ghost my hard drive just to keep Vista from deactivating.

Happy you will be able to tinker with your PC whilst using Vista? Or are you going to ignore the operating system anyway? Let us know in the forums.
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