omfg!

Also read this (about Vista's new WGA)

On the positive side: this is a nice incentive for switching to linux.

What if you want to reformat your harddrive and reinstall your OS? Does this mean you can only do this once with Vista?

No, it would be the same computer, not another, so it would not be considered a transfer.

You had better hope their security is on tight with this product, especially with its cost and pc dibilitating software. Not to mention, the hackers, crackers, and bugs in the code.

Either way, MS beter have a good customer service department, hopefully remote desktop. Get it fixed in an hour or your connections toast. Because that sounds more accepting than spending hours on the phone or exchangine emails.

I am leaning toward Linux.... if only they would bundel with pc OEMs I haven't even wanted to try upgrade coomputers since Windows Media PC seem to be the new defacto OS on store models

I'm surprised that Microsoft would be able to tell the difference between a reinstall and a transfer to another computer. Maybe the OS beams the computer's serial number to Microsoft.

jklugman. For the answer to that question, read my first public clip here at clipmarks, 'How Windows Activation Works in Short'.

It's something like you explained, but a bit more complex. It's about Windows XP however, not Vista. It's possible they'll use a somewhat different method for that.

On a related note regarding Vista installs:

http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/178FAD1A-37B6-40ED-84B4-2CFDECAB9A81/