I recently wrote about my first run-in with Windows 7, and how I wasn't impressed having to spend many hours helping a friend to get Windows to install because Microsoft's activation server wouldn't accept the license included in the package. We eventually bypassed the problem by making use of a flaw in the upgrade procedure, which turned out to be The Hack.

Today, I was reminded of the fiasco when Boycottnovell posted an article discussing the on-going complaints regarding the upgrade version of Windows 7.

According to Eric Ligman, Microsoft Global Partner Experience Lead in the Worldwide Partner Group (no doubt brandishing an A4 sized business card with a title like that), The Hack, otherwise known as installing Windows Upgrade twice on the same hardware to bypass activation rejection, is not actually legal.

Which means that if you've bought the upgrade version of Windows 7 then you can only install it on a hard drive that already has a fully licensed version of an older copy of Windows (WinXP or higher), and in order to do so, you must start the old version of Windows and run the upgrade from the Desktop.

Don't boot the DVD and do a clean install from there, you'll be breaking the rules and your PC might not be licensed!

Got an OEM license on a dead PC? Forgeddaboutit!

Has your PC got a copy of Windows that came pre-installed from the manufacturer, otherwise known as an OEM license?

Has your machine stopped working or is it time to upgrade to a new one?

Have you decided to assemble or buy a replacement box, sans OS, and reinstall Windows on the new machine, since you won't or can't use the old one anymore? After all, you've already got a license, it'd be a shame to see it go to waste.

Stop right there, that's a breach of licensing terms!

OEM licenses are tied to the PC that they are first installed on, so when the PC dies (ie. the motherboard), so does the license.

Sure, you can use The Hack to put Windows 7 Upgrade on your new system, but you won't have a valid license.

What can I do?

Just because you bought a copy of Windows, it doesn't mean that Microsoft has to let you use it, so it's up to you to be sure that you can legally install and use the version of Windows that you are buying. There are no refunds and ignorance is not an excuse, but Microsoft will help you out by selling you more Windows licenses until you get it right, or get caught.

At this point in time, Microsoft doesn't appear to be cracking down on machines that use The Hack to install Windows 7 Upgrade, but there's nothing to say that they won't in the future. After all, they have complete control over your PC, so they can do what they want to your computer because you gave them permission when you accepted the Windows EULA.

To avoid these and many other licensing problems, simply purchase the most expensive version of Windows since that will most likely entitle you to use it, or to save some money, you could become a licensing legal guru like Mr Ligman.

Then again, if you don't have lots of time and lots of money, but you want to be sure you are legally allowed to use your computer, then you could always make the move to one of the many alternative operating systems, such as Ubuntu, Fedora or FreeBSD to name a few.