A question for TechNet subscribers

[TechieSooner]

Here is a question that I'd like to know, I now am using Win7 Ultimate from technet, now say later on I decide I want to use the machine for business, can I just buy a OEM or retail copy then change the key without having to reinstall everything? It would suck to have to reinstall everything on a working machine that you customized over several months just to change the dam product key.

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you have a record you bought a retail copy, if they ever audit you, Microsoft isn't going to fine you.

 

[nilepez]

You can change the Product Key, but to change the TYPE of install (Ultimate versus Business) requires a clean install, or at least it did in Vista. Plus, I don't think you can change serials downwards.

Technically, I think it could be done IF, bitlocker isn't used, but I believe that Ultimate automatically does some bitlocker setup, so I suspect a downgrade is not possible. It's definitely not because of the installed files, because all versions get all the files (which makes anytime upgrades much easier this time around, even if they're still overpriced).

Lurker, here's what I'd do:

1. backup your OS partition.
2. reinstall Vista ultimate, but do not enter a key.
3. after you've booted into the system, enter a home premium (or even starter edition) key and see what happens.

If it disables features, then my guess is that you could hack the system to downgrade it.
I think it will fail, but you never know till you try.....it won't cost you more than an hour or so to back up, install and then restore your original partition.

 

[kre62]

Activation is tied to a specific hash created by an algorithm in the activation computation engine (complicated, but true). The algorithm takes a bunch of parts in the PC (the mobo, the processor, video card, etc etc) and computes a checksum based on the given components and then sends that to Microsoft's activation servers - that code is unique, and basically impossible to duplicate because it also includes the time of day, the date, how long the PC has been up and running, etc etc.

1 in Infinity is about the percentage that it'll ever be duplicated, even if you had two machines comprised of the exact same hardware trying to activate at the same time using the same Product Key you'd end up with two entirely different checksums...

So, the basic gist is that activation ties the Product Key to that specific machine - and as TechNet's Retail keys provide you with 10 activations per key (that's what they say, at least), then that means 10 reinstallations on the same hardware platform, and the activation should go through without any issues.

But if you change some hardware, most especially the motherboard itself, when you attempt an activation it'll snag because a major component of that original checksum hash is now altered.

If you have a need to reactivate 10 times or more on the same machine, if you hit that snag in the process, a phone call to Microsoft with your explanation will be enough to gain a new key to use for 10 more activations, etc - but in the process, your original Product Key, the one that started this whole process, would then become permanently de-activated, never to be used again (it wouldn't activate past that point ever again).

Hope that clears some of it up...

Joe Ive seen you post this a few times but I wanted to refute this claim.

I have a basic technet subscription. I used a windows 7 ultimate key, 1 key, to activate 4 different machines. I just did this over the last 3 days.

So in other words, the 10 activations can be used on DIFFERENT machines. Each machine does not need its own key. So theoretically you could activate 100 machines with the keys provided.

 

[DeaconFrost]

1 key, to activate 4 different machines.

Given the way keys have worked in the past, this shouldn't have been allowed. it most certainly breaks the EULA, so I wouldn't go around trumpting this fact, or else we'll find the thread locked.

 

[BinarySynapse]

Given the way keys have worked in the past, this shouldn't have been allowed. it most certainly breaks the EULA, so I wouldn't go around trumpting this fact, or else we'll find the thread locked.

The thing is, I specifically remember the documentation saying that using a single key on multiple machines was allowed, and that when you ran out of activations, you could request a new key.

In fact, a quick skim of the EULA says nothing about activation restrictions, other than that you have to do it if required.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can request keys anytime you want, and get them. In fact, last year, I wasn't sure if my company would agree to pay the renewal or not, so I grabbed all the keys I could for the products I wanted to try out.

 

[BinarySynapse]

You can request keys anytime you want, and get them. In fact, last year, I wasn't sure if my company would agree to pay the renewal or not, so I grabbed all the keys I could for the products I wanted to try out.

Yes, I know that, that wasn't my point.


EDIT: also, even though my sub is expires, I can still access the keys I've already obtained.

 

[Neb]

Given the way keys have worked in the past, this shouldn't have been allowed. it most certainly breaks the EULA, so I wouldn't go around trumpting this fact, or else we'll find the thread locked.

From my experience, it's allowed as long as you remove the software from the previous computer prior to activating on the next. The 10 activations seem to be associated mainly with the hardware setup so kre62 most likely has 6 activations left.

If you activate on the same exact system the activation software seems to recognize it's the same system and doesn't count it against your activation count (aside from that first activation on that system) I know this because I was doing some testing and crashes/corruption issues required multiple re-installations and the activation lockout did not trigger.

Q: Can I determine how many activations are remaining for my keys, if activation is required?

A: No. When a Microsoft product requires activation (such as Windows Vista), the product keys provided with your subscription allow a limited number of activations. The product keys available through your subscription can have one or more activations per product key. Multiple Activation Keys for older products typically are 10 activation keys. As subscribers often have legitimate needs to install and reinstall software more often, we are working to increase activations available for keys, or to enable issuance of additional keys. Going forward we plan to continue to support this business need and increase the number of activations for subscribers, or enable multiple keys to be claimed.

IMPORTANT - If you use products that require activation, many allow up to 30 days usage without activating. If you re-image your computers more frequently than every 30 days, you may want to consider NOT activating them if you have that option based on the product you are installing.

If you deplete activations for a key, you may be able to claim additional keys for that product. Additional keys would have their own set of activations.

If you are unable to claim additional keys and you have depleted all activations on ALL keys claimed, you can request additional keys by contacting your local Customer Service Center (click the Support tab above). A Customer Service Representative will validate your request and will submit the request to have additional keys provisioned for you. The additional keys will be claimable from the site.

From: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/securedownloads/dd464803.aspx

 

[BinarySynapse]

From my experiences, it's allowed as long as you remove the software from the previous computer prior to activating on the next. The 10 activations seem to be associated mainly with the hardware setup so kre62 most likely has 6 activations left.

If you activate on the same exact system the activation software seems to recognize it's the same system and doesn't count it against your activation count (aside from that first activation on that system) I know this because I was doing some testing and crashes/corruption caused me to need to reinstall multiple times and the activation lockout did not trigger.

There's nothing in the documentation (EULA or otherwise) that I can find that implies that, much less lays it out specifically. Yes, the retail EULA do limit one key per machine, but the Technet EULA supercedes it and only grants rights, not restrictions, from the original software that don't conflict.

 

[DeaconFrost]

But TechNet licenses are retail licenses, so retail rules apply.

 

[BinarySynapse]

But TechNet licenses are retail licenses, so retail rules apply.

retail rules are outlined in the product specific EULAs, which the Technet EULA supercedes.

 

[Neb]

There's nothing in the documentation (EULA or otherwise) that I can find that implies that, much less lays it out specifically. Yes, the retail EULA do limit one key per machine, but the Technet EULA supercedes it and only grants rights, not restrictions, from the original software that don't conflict.

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/cc294422.aspx:

THESE LICENSE TERMS ARE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN MICROSOFT CORPORATION (OR, IF APPLICABLE BASED ON WHERE YOU ACQUIRED THE SOFTWARE, ONE OF ITS AFFILIATES) AND YOU. PLEASE READ THEM. THEY APPLY TO THE SOFTWARE NAMED ABOVE WHICH INCLUDES THE MEDIA ON WHICH YOU RECEIVED IT, IF ANY. THE TERMS ALSO APPLY TO THE MICROSOFT:

• UPDATES,

• SUPPLEMENTS,

• INTERNET-BASED SERVICES, AND

• SUPPORT SERVICES,


FOR THIS SOFTWARE UNLESS OTHER TERMS ACCOMPANY THOSE ITEMS. IF SO, THOSE TERMS APPLY.

The technet EULA does not superscede the product specific EULA. Rather, it gives additional rights but goes out of the way to tell you that the EULA that comes with the software still applies.

 

[BinarySynapse]

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/cc294422.aspx:



The technet EULA does not superscede the product specific EULA. Rather, it gives additional rights but goes out of the way to tell you that the EULA that comes with the software still applies.

Except:

INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. If you comply with this agreement, for each license you acquire, you have the rights below.

a.


General.
•

Single User License. If you acquire a single user license, one user may install and use copies of the software on any of your devices.
•

Server License. If you acquire a server license, you may install copies of the software on one server. Any person that has access to that server may install and use the software on any of your devices.

b.


Certain Components.
•

Evaluation Software. One user may install and use copies of the evaluation software listed in the COMPONENTS.TXT file, even if you obtained a server license. You may use the evaluation software only to evaluate it. You may not use it in a live operating, in a staging environment or with data that has not been sufficiently backed up. If the evaluation software comes with its own license agreement, this agreement will control. If that other license agreement gives you additional rights that do not conflict with express limitations in this agreement, you also have those rights.
•

Windows Server. The 32-bit version of Windows Server includes data storage technology called Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine for Windows. Components of the server software use this technology to store data. You may not otherwise use or access this technology under this agreement.

Since all software available through Technet Plus is used for evalation only, would that not mean that it's Evaluation Software?

 

[Neb]

Except:



Since all software available through Technet Plus is used for evalation only, would that not mean that it's Evaluation Software?

Single User License. If you acquire a single user license, one user may install and use copies of the software on any of your devices.

Honestly, I read this as a general statement that if you have a license, one user can install the software. I may be wrong, but from the following server license comment I think it's only referring to the mechanics of a single user license.

Evaluation Software. One user may install and use copies of the evaluation software listed in the COMPONENTS.TXT file, even if you obtained a server license. You may use the evaluation software only to evaluate it. You may not use it in a live operating, in a staging environment or with data that has not been sufficiently backed up. If the evaluation software comes with its own license agreement, this agreement will control. If that other license agreement gives you additional rights that do not conflict with express limitations in this agreement, you also have those rights.

I haven't looked at a compnents.txt file in a while, but I believe in this instance this statement is referring to evaluation software (ie. demo software) that's normally included on some discs, not the overall Technet Subscription. Elsewhere though, they state "Licensed users may install included content on any number of devices for evaluation purposes only." ref: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/bb892756.aspx

I must say this discussion has made me learn more about the technet EULA than I've ever have

 

[Uppercut]

Say if i had to purchase a 2nd Technet subscription and i used the same name, e-mail, and form of payment to purchase it again, would i get a 2nd set of unique keys with that subscription?

 

[Neb]

If you used the same name, email and form of payment I think they would probably call you and ask why you are getting a second subscription, then try to get you to purchase one of the higher level subscriptions.

 

[Joe Average]

They won't stop you from getting a second account, but as noted above, they may attempt to contact you so they understand your intentions. I've heard reports of people grabbing a TechNet Plus Direct - the basic subscription - just to harvest keys, then they dump 'em with an ISO for $100 a pop, take some of the profits to get another account, and so on.

It's really pretty lame, but people are making money with TechNet so, it would not surprise me if at some point Microsoft clamps down on allowing just anyone to get one anytime.

Humans... I tell ya, what a bunch of useless fuckers some of us are...

 

[Midian_Falls]

I just wanted to thank all you guys for the very useful information. Though I hadn't asked any TechNet questions in this thread I had in the W7 download thread.

Subscribed today and will likely be downloading W7-64 Ultimate tonight for the rig in my signature, laptop & backup machine. Office at a later date.

--MF

 

[sizzlemeister]

It's really pretty lame, but people are making money with TechNet so, it would not surprise me if at some point Microsoft clamps down on allowing just anyone to get one anytime.

FWIW, I'm making money with Technet, too, just legitimately. People WILL pay for the knowledge and skills you acquire with a Technet account.

 

[Greggy_D]

If you have a need to reactivate 10 times or more on the same machine, if you hit that snag in the process, a phone call to Microsoft with your explanation will be enough to gain a new key to use for 10 more activations, etc - but in the process, your original Product Key, the one that started this whole process, would then become permanently de-activated, never to be used again (it wouldn't activate past that point ever again).

I have never EVER seen where MS issued you a new PRODUCT KEY to activate a product and then they deactivate your original key because you used all your activations. They'll give you a numeric challenge to enter on your PC for activation, but never a new key. I've done this and my original key still worked, usually after the 120 day activation time limit resets.

 

[Catweazle]

Okeys. Finally, at long last, got my Technet sub sorted out and accessible. I lodged a 'pay by cheque' application, and a mix-up with Microsoft's local agent for handling the transactions delayed the order getting processed for a helluva long time.

Now that I'm finally "in" I gotta say that I reckon all the kerfuffle about '10 activations per key' is a load of hogwash! Those keys issued are 'Retail' keys, and retail keys simply don't have a finite 'lifetime' limit to the number of activations allowable. Instead, they have a limit to the number of activations allowable within a specified period. they use the 'retail' activation server, and that means the activation counter in relation to them gets reset at regular intervals. You can re-use retail keys over and over forever, and you only get activation refused if you reuse them too many times within a set period. If you do that then, for the remainder of that period, you gotta manually activate via telephone activation. At the end of the period, when the counters get flushed again, it all goes back to zero again and you can again auto-activate afterwards.

That's how retail activation worls, and these are retail activation keys. They don't mean you actually have a 'retail license'. The Technet agreement clearly indicates that all licenses pertaining o products obtained are evaluation licenses. But you only get a finite 'lifetime' number of activations limit with MAK keys, not retail keys.


The 'Product Key FAQ':

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/subscriptions/downloads/cc137104.aspx

states only this, in relation to a '10 activations limit':

When a Microsoft product requires activation (such as Windows Vista), the product keys provided with your subscription allow a limited number of activations. The product keys available through your subscription can have one or more activations per product key. Multiple Activation Keys for older products typically are 10 activation keys. As subscribers often need to install and reinstall software, we are working to increase activations available for keys, or to enable issuance of additional keys.

Windows 7 ain't an 'older product'. It's an upcoming product. Vista ain't an older product either. It's the current 'flagship' product, until October 22nd.