What is the deal here? This copy has ran since day 2 of download offering. Things that have changed: It is a practice of mine that I uses the same hard drive between two of my machines. Is this a security thing for Windows 7 and Vista Ultimate, because both now give me the Illegal Copy statement. If so how do I change it back, as both are legal copies. This is the only thing that I can think of that could have caused this. I have been able to do this since Windows 95. JB

Does your reply state a yes to switching between machines is very well the problem? Is this no longer allowed with Windows 7 and Vista? Other programs like Adobe you just do a repair validation and go on. Is there a repair system like this in Windows? JB

The Windows licensing agreement states you can install one (1) copy of Windows on one (1) computer. Moving the hard drive that contains the Windows operating system to a different computerconstitutes a second installation. Windows was not designed to be switched back and forth to different computers.Carey Frisch

What constitutes uninstalling it? Reformatting the hard drive that contains the installedWindows operating system.Carey Frisch

Are we not permitted by EULA to maintain one spare copy? On, say, a hard disk?I read nothing in the EULAs (plural) about formatting anything. I won't respond to this thread any further unless there is a reference to official documentation.

Type WINVER in Windows 7's Search Programs and Files search box and the Microsoft Software License Terms link will appear.Under section2. Installation and Use Rights, read: a. One copy per computer. You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the "licensed computer".Also read section10. Backup Copy.Carey Frisch