Vista Activation

[tcash11]

Ok, so I have been running RC2 on a virtual machine for awhile, but I finally broke down and went and bought Vista Ultimate full version for 400 bucks. I dont think im ready to bail on my current xp install, so I want to do another VM with this but am concerned about what will happen when Im ready to migrate to actually running it as the host OS with a clean install on my current machine, or buy a new machine (that will probably come with Home Basic) and want to put it on there. What is the deal with activation? I have read numerous articles on the subject but still do not have a clear picture on reinstalling Vista on a new machine after I have already activated it once. I mean I know it can be done (I mean legally I have to be allowed to install it anywhere I want as long as that is the one and only place it is actually used), but has MS made it difficult? What hoops am I going to have to jump through?

[tcash11]

I found a great blog that basically steps through the whole Vista activation issue and MSs final word. In summary, for those enthusiasts like me out there that go and buy the full copy of Vista, we can hop it to a new computer as many times as we want as long as we do uninstall-new install process...this is good, because at first it was looking like only 1 hop after the original install could be made when they first released the licensing terms, so this is a huge step (I guess all the testers and enthusiests made enough of a comotion). But note that OEM users (computers that come with vista pre-installed) are stuck with it on that machine. Never thought Id say this, but thanks MS.