MSDN: Do the licenses last forever?

[ohla313]

I recently downloaded Windows 7 via my school's MSDN program. I was wondering if over time, my license will be null and Windows 7 will stop working on my computer?

I mean I downloaded Windows 7 so is this a full license and I'll be able to continue using Windows until my machine dies or whichever? I thought I heard the licenses through MSDN only last one year...

 

[fhall1]

Whatever you download during your year subscription is good forever (at least it won't deactivate - not sure about your legal "right to use it") - make sure you keep the product keys safe. After your subscription expires you won't be able to download products or keys any more.

 

[DustinT]

Its been a little while since I had an active MSDN Subscription but Microsoft was making those perpetual licenses, ie. no expiration date. I've been using a few 7 licenses for years and they are working great.

 

[Phil A.]

Your license to use the software expires if and when your MSDN subscription does and if you check the small print you'll see that you are supposed to uninstall any software installed under the MSDN license.
AFAIK, the software won't actually stop working (but may not activate in future if you re-install with an expired license)

 

[ohla313]

Thanks everyone for your answers!

So basically the product keys that MSDN gives me is the full one and I can use Windows 7 freely for as long as I want but I have a expiration date for the MSDN account to download more software. Is that correct?

A bit unrelated though but I currently have Windows Vista on my MBP via Boot Camp and want to uninstall it and install Windows 7 on it. How would I erase the current partition and make a new one (I want to re-allocate space) for Windows 7?

Do I open up Boot Camp Assistant and remove the Windows partition that way or do I need to go to Disk Utility? I am using 10.7.1

 

[Bob Coxner]

Correct. Once your subscription expires you won't be able to download any more files but the license keys are still good. My subscription expired about two years ago but I used one of the Win 7 Pro keys just a few days ago to do a boot camp install. I have a couple of PCs that have been running with MSDN keys for years and nothing happened to them when the subscription expired.

Also, you can use license keys for foreign languages and 32/64bit interchangeably. For example, on my boot camp install I used a 32bit Win 7 Pro ISO (English language). But the license key I used was for 64bit Win 7 Pro Chinese. It worked fine. You do have to have a Win 7 Pro installation, though. You can't use Win 7 Pro keys to install Win 7 Ultimate or Home Premium, etc. Only Win 7 Pro.

So, be sure to download and store all the keys available to you. When I was a subscriber there were 8 keys available in various languages and 32/64 bit formats. I don't know about today.

 

[ohla313]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I wanted to confirm that the programs you get through MSDN last forever its just the MSDN subscription lasts 1-2 years. Meaning you can download new software and have it running forever but you can't go back and download new software from the MSDN site forever.

 

[blevins321]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I wanted to confirm that the programs you get through MSDN last forever its just the MSDN subscription lasts 1-2 years. Meaning you can download new software and have it running forever but you can't go back and download new software from the MSDN site forever.

I believe so, yes. I just activated Windows Vista (ugh) for my mom that I got from a college subscription (student MSDN) a few years back. Worked fine (activation did anyway..Vista didn't haha).

 

[fhall1]

As said earlier....the software won't deactivate when your MSDN subscription expires, but according to your licensing agreement your legal "right to use" the software ends.