How To OS

[john_the_papito]

I been really good at building pc but not installing OS or driver! And i just want to ask if i buy windows 8 how many time can i use it or is it one time use only? Is there any way to reset the serial code without having problem with a pc its all reaby been use in!

[Vitalius]

I been really good at building pc but not installing OS or driver! And i just want to ask if i buy windows 8 how many time can i use it or is it one time use only? Is there any way to reset the serial code without having problem with a pc its all reaby been use in!

That depends.

If you buy an OEM copy of Windows 8, it can only be activated once, then you have to call Microsoft support to reactivate it again. 

If you buy a normal retail version, you can activate it multiple times (I think the limit is 10?). However, that doesn't mean you can just use the same key in multiple separate installations of the OS running on different computers at the same time. 

It's just a convenience difference really.

[Imaginaerum]

You can activate it as many times as you want, but it can only be active on one computer at a time. There are some differences:

 

The retail (the expensive one) of a Windows OS can be reinstalled without issue on any hardware setup.

 

The OEM one (it's usually cheaper) ties itself to the motherboard, so it can be more difficult to reinstall. However, I've used both retail and OEM keys for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8, and any time I've had a problem with it activating, I called Microsoft and they did their magic and let me activate it. The weird limit isn't really there.

[dtronicsuk]

if you get an retail copy you can use the same key your pc as many times as you want.

 

just bear in mind that sometimes changing hdd, mobo or even cpu can cause the "windows is not genuine" message, if that happens just contact them and explain they should give you a new key for free

[mgsstar]

For Windows 8 you can use it more than once but it is valid for only one computer. If you are using an OEM copy, you would have to use phone activation in order to reactivate it on another computer:http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

[MangoJuiceStain]

You can only activate it on one computer at a time. And to install it, go into boot options in your bios, set the boot priority to the Windows cd or the flash drive that you have windows on, reboot, and install it from there.