FAQs
Here are the questions that we get asked regularly. You can actually answer most licensing questions by reading your Software Licence Terms.
If you're a small business, not a home user, please visit this FAQ page.
Q. How do I find my Software Licence Terms?
A. Your licence terms are available electronically whenever you buy or download software. Click here to look up licence terms for boxed software. To find licence terms for pre-installed software, run a search for "software licence terms" or "EULA" on your machine, or contact your retailer.
Q. How do I know I'm paying a fair price for my software?
A. We sell through retailers who sell at the price they choose. Legally, we can't influence them. However, you can buy Microsoft software direct from us at Microsoft Store. To check you're getting a competitive quote, compare prices from different sources and get as much information as you can. Bear in mind that if a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Q. Can I transfer my pre-installed Windows software to my new PC?
A. No, pre-installed software is "married" to the PC that is installed on.
Q. I bought Office 2007 pre-installed on a PC. Can I install a second copy on my laptop PC?
A. No, pre-installed Office is tied to the original PC and does not have what we call "portable use rights". These are only available with boxed software (or through Volume Licensing).
Q. Can I install my pre-installed copy of Windows on more than one PC?
A. No, Windows is licensed per device (or machine). This means you need one licence for each device that it is installed on. If you want to install Windows on a second machine, you would need to buy boxed software or buy a new machine with Windows 7 pre-installed.
Q. How many times can I activate my software?
A. You can activate your licence as often as you like, as long as you have a genuine reason for doing so.
Q. I’m having problems activating my copy of Windows. Where can I find information about product keys and a troubleshooting guide?
A. On our troubleshooting activation problems page.
Q. Can I reinstall Microsoft Windows Vista or XP if I have lost my recovery media/partition?
A. If you’ve lost your media, your first port of call should be your PC manufacturer. They may give you media that allows you to re-install Windows Vista or XP. If they are unable to supply replacement media, please call the Microsoft UK customer helpline on 0844 800 2400, and select option 2, then option 4. You’ll be connected to a customer service agent who will talk to you about your specific situation and advise you on your best option for getting replacement media.
Q. What support does Microsoft offer me if I buy Windows or Office as boxed software as opposed to pre-installed?
A. Please visit this page for more information.
Q. If my computer came with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition pre-installed, can I downgrade to a previous version of Windows?
A. No, only pre-installed (OEM) versions of Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate editions allow you to downgrade to previous versions of Windows. None of the other editions of Windows 7, including the Home Premium edition, give you any downgrade rights.
Q. How do I transfer games or content I downloaded from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace from an old Xbox 360® console to a new one?
A. With our licence transfer tool, you can easily transfer the licences from your old console to the new one.
