John,
Minor correction.
I presently have WinXP Pro, Vista x86 and Vista x64 all installed on one
system right now - and all are activated. WinXP with its own license and
both Vista Ultimate installs using the one product key. I initially
installed (dual-boot config) Vista x64 and activated it via the net. Found
that some drivers and app's I use are not ready for prime time (64 bit
versions). Installed Vista 32 bit and activated by phone just fine. Asked
tech if I can have all these active and got the one PC, one license, one
active OS - speech ( it sounded like it was read from a script) which the
above configuration meets - so yes you can.
Read the EULA for Vista Ultimate (it differs from other variants) and you
will see that with Vista Ultimate (either 32/64 bit, upgrade or full) you
can run in a virtual PC mode also -and- there are no restrictions in the
EULA that disallow this that I could find. But I'm not using a virtual mode,
rather a multi-boot configuration with each system on a different drive. (it
could as well just be on a separate partitions on the same drive if you have
the room).
Used no work-around or technical slight-of-hand tricks. Also, the now well
documented, "undocumented" feature of being able to use an upgrade version
to do a clean install has been published so no need to purchase the "full"
version ($400) you get the same functionality in the "upgrade" ($250)
version and you get both DVD's for the 32/64 bit versions.
If you are running both products at the same time and both are being used by
an operator, then by the EULA requires a second license but... the EULA
allows Vista Ultimate to be run under a virtual PC scenario and they the
EULA does not state a second license is required for that. I believe this
is their concession to the developers so they can legally test compatibility
of the same hardware/software etc., on the same machine and verify
interoperability.
May be wrong but I've done a fair amount of research on this and I've heard
others say "no" but no one can show a reference to back that up so far.
So if anyone has solid proof and references (and not out of context blurps
or their interpratations...) that state you cannot legally do the above, I'd
like to know and I'll abide accordingly. But so far, nothing say's I can't.
I'll add that I did retire one WinXP license since I purchased the upgrade
package. If you get the full package, then you would not need to do even
that.
Technically - it certainly works. And if you don't want to activate Vista
right away - you don't have to and can stretch the evaluation period out to
120 days if you want using a built-in feature of Vista that allows for 3
more 30 day trial periods for a total of 120 days. Search the net for that
one if you chose to use it.
Bob S.
