Dual boot XP Pro - any license issues?

[Guest]

Hi,

I have a PC that runs XP Pro. I would like to re-configure this PC with a
dual-boot setup, so that it has two separate XP installations. Of course,
only one of these installations can be running at a time.

If I do this, will I run into any licensing problems? Any input will be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[kurttrail]

Hi,

I have a PC that runs XP Pro. I would like to re-configure this PC
with a dual-boot setup, so that it has two separate XP installations.
Of course, only one of these installations can be running at a time.

If I do this, will I run into any licensing problems? Any input will
be appreciated.

Technically, the way the EULA is written, maybe, when pigs fly, and
somewhere other than at a Pink Floyd concert.

Realistically, there is no licensing issue at all.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Yves Leclerc]

I believe you may require a "second" Pro license, since the "first" license
is considered to still be in use.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have a PC that runs XP Pro. I would like to re-configure this PC with a
dual-boot setup, so that it has two separate XP installations. Of course,
only one of these installations can be running at a time.

If I do this, will I run into any licensing problems? Any input will be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

Technically, the EULA specifies that you may install and run a *single*
copy on a single computer. Can't say as I like it, but that's the
wording. From one point of view, however, there's some ambiguity.
After all, the conjunction "and" is used, and while multiple
installations are possible, it's obviously only possible to run one
installation at a time.

To further complicate the issue, Microsoft often advices the violation
of this particular clause as a supported troubleshooting tool for some
problems. Granted, it's plainly intended as a temporary measure, but it
does help cloud the issue. It's called a parallel installation.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[LabiaLicker]

Technically, the EULA specifies that you may install and run a *single*
copy on a single computer. Can't say as I like it, but that's the
wording. From one point of view, however, there's some ambiguity.
After all, the conjunction "and" is used, and while multiple
installations are possible, it's obviously only possible to run one
installation at a time.

To further complicate the issue, Microsoft often advices the violation
of this particular clause as a supported troubleshooting tool for some
problems. Granted, it's plainly intended as a temporary measure, but it
does help cloud the issue. It's called a parallel installation.

Interpretation: I haven't the balls to do such a thing in my own home,
because I support the M$ KKKops!

 

[Guest]

To further complicate the issue, Microsoft often advices the violation

of this particular clause as a supported troubleshooting tool for some
problems. Granted, it's plainly intended as a temporary measure, but it
does help cloud the issue. It's called a parallel installation.

Troubleshooting is the reason I want to attempt this. I have a friend whose
son went a little crazy loading free software from the internet, ended up
getting alot of spyware and other junk, and now the computer is really acting
weird. I'd like to do a clean install on another partition and get the basic
stuff working - mainly the Internet connection and Microsoft Office. At this
point, the son will be still be able to access the original installation if
there is anything that he absolutely needs use, but I will tell him to decide
what in fact he does need, and we will install it on the good installation -
this time being more careful. Once he is happy, we will delete the old
installation.

It sounds like it is open to interpretation as to whether this violates the
EULA, but from what you say, it sounds like it is technically possible to set
this up. I was wondering if I already had Windows XP installed and
authorized on one partition, and then installed it again on another
partition, whether I would have a hard time authorizing the new installation.
Does anyone know whether I would be able to authorize the new install
without un-authorizing the original install?

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[kurttrail]

Troubleshooting is the reason I want to attempt this. I have a
friend whose son went a little crazy loading free software from the
internet, ended up getting alot of spyware and other junk, and now
the computer is really acting weird. I'd like to do a clean install
on another partition and get the basic stuff working - mainly the
Internet connection and Microsoft Office. At this point, the son
will be still be able to access the original installation if there is
anything that he absolutely needs use, but I will tell him to decide
what in fact he does need, and we will install it on the good
installation - this time being more careful. Once he is happy, we
will delete the old installation.

It sounds like it is open to interpretation as to whether this
violates the EULA, but from what you say, it sounds like it is
technically possible to set this up. I was wondering if I already
had Windows XP installed and authorized on one partition, and then
installed it again on another partition, whether I would have a hard
time authorizing the new installation. Does anyone know whether I
would be able to authorize the new install without un-authorizing the
original install?

By authorizing, I assume you mean activating. Yes you can activate the
second install. There is no unauthorizing, or deactivation as part of
Product Activation.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

By authorizing, I assume you mean activating. Yes you can activate the
second install. There is no unauthorizing, or deactivation as part of
Product Activation.<

I guess what I mean is, if I add the second install, which of the following
will happen...

1. The second install will be automatically activated because when I get
the PC online, MS will notice that my copy of Windows XP has already been
activated, and the hardware on my PC is exactly the same, even though it is a
new install of the OS.

2. The second install will require me to activate it, either by Internet or
over the phone. If I have to do this, will MS notice that I have already
activated this copy of Windows XP and complain?

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[kurttrail]

second install. There is no unauthorizing, or deactivation as part of
Product Activation.<

I guess what I mean is, if I add the second install, which of the
following will happen...

1. The second install will be automatically activated because when I
get the PC online, MS will notice that my copy of Windows XP has
already been activated, and the hardware on my PC is exactly the
same, even though it is a new install of the OS.

If you are talking about a retail or generic OEM copy of XP, you will
still have to initiate activation, but it should go through over the
internet

If you are talking about a OEM copy that came with the PC, and is
BIOS-Locked, then activation shouldn't be necessary.

2. The second install will require me to activate it, either by
Internet or over the phone. If I have to do this, will MS notice
that I have already activated this copy of Windows XP and complain?

This shouldn't happen since you are installing on the same hardware, but
PA is a bit flakey, and seems to work differently than it is supposed
to, on occasion.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

If you are talking about a retail or generic OEM copy of XP, you will
still have to initiate activation, but it should go through over the
internet

If you are talking about a OEM copy that came with the PC, and is
BIOS-Locked, then activation shouldn't be necessary.


This shouldn't happen since you are installing on the same hardware, but
PA is a bit flakey, and seems to work differently than it is supposed
to, on occasion.

True, but I've had to do this a couple of times and it has worked without a
hitch when I have done it. Once I had to call MS for the activation, not sure
why, but they seemed ok with it when I told them what I was doing.
You may want to change the drive letters in Disk Management after you have
completed your second install so your clean copy is running on the primary
partition. Or not, it will work both ways.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Troubleshooting is the reason I want to attempt this. I have a friend whose
son went a little crazy loading free software from the internet, ended up
getting alot of spyware and other junk, and now the computer is really acting
weird. I'd like to do a clean install on another partition and get the basic
stuff working - mainly the Internet connection and Microsoft Office. At this
point, the son will be still be able to access the original installation if
there is anything that he absolutely needs use, but I will tell him to decide
what in fact he does need, and we will install it on the good installation -
this time being more careful. Once he is happy, we will delete the old
installation.

Your purpose certainly falls within the realm of what Microsoft
considers and acceptable "stretch" of the EULA. While these KB Articles
were written with WinNT in mind, the principle and techniques remain the
same:

How and Why to Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows NT 4.0
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q259003

System Cleanup After a Parallel Installation of Windows NT 4.0
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q244378

It sounds like it is open to interpretation as to whether this violates the
EULA, but from what you say, it sounds like it is technically possible to set
this up.

I suppose it's a technical violation of the strict letter of the EULA,
but your stated intent complies with the intent of the EULA. It's the
one "violation" that Microsoft allows and supports, to the best of my
knowledge.

I was wondering if I already had Windows XP installed and
authorized on one partition, and then installed it again on another
partition, whether I would have a hard time authorizing the new installation.
Does anyone know whether I would be able to authorize the new install
without un-authorizing the original install?

There probably won't be any problem here. If it's been more than 120
days since that specific Product Key was last activated, then you'll
most likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If
it's been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Alex Nichol]

It sounds like it is open to interpretation as to whether this violates the
EULA, but from what you say, it sounds like it is technically possible to set
this up.

The EULA is in some places very wooly; this is one. MSoft people
posting tend to 'cover' themselves by taking the most conservative
position. My own view on this is that it could be taken to cover having
two copies in separate partitions on *the same machine* - there is then
the crucial difference that they cannot be used simultaneously. And I
think it would be difficult to question if you install to one partition
(only one installation) and then 'clone' that to another partition.
Microsoft indeed suggest something like that for troubleshooting - and
without they would lose many Beta testers.