So you bought a license for a pre-installed PC (MB-locked) and wish you’d read the license (or any of the sites like the one I linked) that warned you before installing it on the wrong PC. OK.
I knew there was a workaround where people were able to spoof MS’ site into thinking they were buying an upgrade. I thought about using it before I’d seen the licensing thing and am glad I didn’t. The web says there’s a workaround that is allowing people to use the media center upgrade key to register Win8 as legit, too; I’ll be interested to see the ‘netstorm when MS locks those copies sometime (my guess, on 1/1/13 after the media center upgrade offer ends).
One must ask. “dear Microsoft. The motherboard failed in my PC so I replaced it, now windows wants to re-activate but it’s telling me I need to buy a new license. How do I correct this”
Expected MS reply
“hear EU, we are sorry you experienced a motherboard failure. Due to the failure of the motherboard that our software was linked to here is a link so you can go and buy our software again”
A license to software as, up until now, been a license to use said software on ANY computer. With the ability to uninstall it from an old PC and re-install it on a new one.
Microsoft has obviously changed this. Fine. I bought an upgrade I legitimately had coming because I bought a computer (well actually 3 computers) during the time MS said you had to to get the 15 dollar upgrade. I got my key, downloaded it to a thumb drive and installed it on one of my computers.
I stole nothing.
However, I won’t be buying any more windows 8 licenses for ANY of my computers. I’ll stick with 7.
I did also get my free media center key but not to cheat the system. I paid for the software and I guess I’ll keep the old dual core around a while.