Windows 7 licensed for 1 or 2 PCs?

[Dolby]

I've got legit Windows 7 that I bought running on my machine at home - but I've installed it on a HTPC to run XBMC.

I unclicked 'activate automatically' so I need to do it in 20-odd days. If I try activate it, will it run? I know some Office licenses are for up to 3 PCs, but I'm not sure how Windows works

 

[Grouter]

1 pc, 1 licence key unfortunately.

You can do a manual activation (call 0801434343) and when asked by the robot lady "Is this copy of windows installed on more than 1 pc?" just answer "no" and you will be activated. This, of course, is dependant on you assuring microsoft that you have removed the copy of windows from the first pc...It's all down to your word.

 

[Dolby]

Can't they check via updates etc that two different PCs have ?

 

[Arthur]

You can do a manual activation (call 0801434343) and when asked by the robot lady "Is this copy of windows installed on more than 1 pc?" just answer "no" and you will be activated. This, of course, is dependant on you assuring microsoft that you have removed the copy of windows from the first pc...It's all down to your word.

A lie can achieve many things.
But it always makes you and the world worse.

 

[Dolby]

I think it's silly buying R2,000 Windows 7 to run XBMC

I wish they'd change their pricing system for OSs

 

[Arthur]

I wish they'd change their pricing system for OSs

S'funny you should say that - I was thinking much the same thing about the Cessna Citation.

 

[Nick_K]

Why don't you try Openelec on the HTPC instead.

 

[Dean]

I think it's silly buying R2,000 Windows 7 to run XBMC

I wish they'd change their pricing system for OSs

You know that you don't need Windows to run XBMC, right?

Download XBMCBuntu and its XBMC on top of a stripped-down version of Ubuntu, which automatically boots into XBMC.
Even if you aren't good with Linux, this is as simple as it gets.

 

[Rickster]

Use Linux for XBMC then Windows for the other PC.

 

[The_Ogre]

One word...OpenElec

 

[Grouter]

Can't they check via updates etc that two different PCs have ?

No.

A lie can achieve many things.
But it always makes you and the world worse.

Agreed. I was not advocating the solution, just pointing it out. If one chooses to activate a single copy of windows on more than 1 pc, that's your own business. Microsoft have left the loophole there, it's up to you if you want to exploit it. If your conscience can live with it, fine, whatever.

Personally I'd go with openelec, Dolby.