Windows 7 Upgrade Disc

[Freedom Kira]

Hmm, so... I'm kind of curious. How many times is a Windows 7 upgrade disc allowed to be used?

More than once is clearly possible, because I have three anonymous friends that shared the same disc and the same key (though two had to call in to MS to activate it because the key was expired). Not sure if it's legal though.

But the thing is, if an upgrade key has to be paired with a valid XP/Vista key, I don't see why it can't be used multiple times, since the user already has to be using Windows. But then again, a Windows 7 upgrade disc comes with its own key and price.

My reason for asking - I have a long list of old Windows XP keys that I copied down from machines that were wiped at a computer refurbishing plant I worked at for a few months. I'm not sure if I can end up using those keys as I haven't tried it yet, but they came from machines that, as far as Microsoft is concerned, don't exist anymore.

So, thoughts?

[morrefule]

There are Two window 7 upgrade disk, the single use and the family pack.  The family pack can be used 3 times.

As for windows XP if you reformat a computer that you own, and it came with a windows xp license, and still have the same license you can reuse it.  Ethically what you are talking about doing is wrong.  I wouldn't do it because you don't own it.  But that's part of my moral code.

[flynn]

Unlimited??

The people at Microsoft call center who handle activation (Bangladesh??)

Couldn't care less, at first I thought it was an automated line XD

-speak the numbers on screen.
- type the numbers
- call is ended. (Before you even get to thank them!! >_<)

Had this rapid service 4 times now and been the same everytime xd.

[NaRu]

If you have a developer key you get 10 keys for windows 7 and you can use each key 9 times. This is what I got

[Freedom Kira]

There are Two window 7 upgrade disk, the single use and the family pack.  The family pack can be used 3 times.

As for windows XP if you reformat a computer that you own, and it came with a windows xp license, and still have the same license you can reuse it.  Ethically what you are talking about doing is wrong.  I wouldn't do it because you don't own it.  But that's part of my moral code.

Pretty sure it's the single use one, because this is the one that came free for a friend who had gotten a Vista system within the timeframe that qualifies for a free upgrade disc.

No, I don't, but really nobody owns the keys anymore. The computers were donated, the stickers that they were on are now covered with some special refurbish license (can't remember exactly what it was called), and the drives were taken out, wiped, and replaced with a new XP image, joined with the new key.

It probably is illegal, I don't think you're wrong about that.

Unlimited??

The people at Microsoft call center who handle activation (Bangladesh??)

Couldn't care less, at first I thought it was an automated line XD

-speak the numbers on screen.
- type the numbers
- call is ended. (Before you even get to thank them!! >_<)

Had this rapid service 4 times now and been the same everytime xd.

That's exactly what my friends did! Used the same upgrade disc three times on three different computers (Vista), using that procedure, with no problems. Question is, is there a limit on how many times you can do that before they start screwing you over? I mean, it's possible that Microsoft will blacklist the upgrade key...

If you have a developer key you get 10 keys for windows 7 and you can use each key 9 times. This is what I got

I don't think that's my situation, but I do have two keys for Windows 7 from the MSDNAA (not related to my current question). Is this what you're talking about? And are you certain on the 9 times?