Vista license, How many activations on that machine?

[EllTheGamer]

At the moment i think i am ok but i am going to get another rig so if i buy 1 copy of vista direct from microsoft through digital locker how many times will i be able to activate it through reinstalls and such, i regularly have to due to people faffing about with my machines....

I tried google but all i could see were things about how its change not an actual number.

Thanks for your help.

[Splash]

A bajillion. Activation is not limited in any way shape or form so long as you only have it installed on one machine at a time (retail), unless you have OEM in which case you can reactivate is as many times as you may need on that one machine.

Please note a bajillion isn't the actual limit.

[dave87]

If the hardware is unchanged, then you shouldn't have to reactivate if you reinstall - its only if you change an important bit of the hardware (hard disks, CPU, Mobo etc)

[BUFF]

unfortunately some people have found that they required reactivation even after BIOS updates ...

[Splash]

unfortunately some people have found that they required reactivation even after BIOS updates ...

While this is true there is no limit to the number of activations you can have on a single machine. Microsoft may flag you for a phone call if you use it a ridiculous amount of times, but so long as you're above board you have nothing to worry about.

[EllTheGamer]

Cheers guys for the prompt and complete answers. Thanks all round!