Daniel said:
Quick question. I have recently purchased Windows XP
Professional and am getting my 2 computers here updated. My own,
and the family computer. After getting my computer up and running
I then moved on to the family computer. Now, before doing anything
to the family computer I called Microsoft Support, and asked them
if all was good to use the same Windows XP I used on my computer to
get it updated. They asked me what I had, I said XP Pro, and they
said "Yes, not a problem. You can use the same one." So, after
that I completely erase all info on the hard drives and start the
install. And then the problem. Its telling me now that I cant use
the same disk twice. What the heck? How do I get this to work.
You recently purchased Windows XP Professional....
Okay. How many licenses did you buy?
You installed it (got 'up and running') *your computer* and you were about
to install Windows XP Professional on the other (family) computer but you
(for no apparent reason? just randomly? or were you concerned about
something you had read/remembered?) called Microsoft and asked, "... if all
was good to use the same Windows XP I used on my computer to get it updated.
They asked me what I had, I said XP Pro, and they said "Yes, not a problem.
You can use the same one."" <-- hah you said exactly what?
Somewhere you are leaving out something.
The End-User License Agreement (that long amount of text you probably just
clicked 'Agree' to when you installed it both times...) stated the
following:
"1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following rights
provided that you comply with all terms and conditions of
this EULA:
* Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Product on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device
("Workstation Computer"). The Product may not be used
by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any
single Workstation Computer. You may permit a maximum
of ten (10) computers or other electronic devices (each
a "Device") to connect to the Workstation Computer to
utilize the services of the Product solely for File and
Print services, Internet Information Services, and remote
access (including connection sharing and telephony
services). The ten connection maximum includes any
indirect connections made through "multiplexing" or other
software or hardware which pools or aggregates
connections. Except as otherwise permitted by the
NetMeeting, Remote Assistance, and Remote Desktop
features described below, you may not use the Product
to permit any Device to use, access, display or run other
executable software residing on the Workstation Computer,
nor may you permit any Device to use, access, display,
or run the Product or Product's user interface, unless
the Device has a separate license for the Product."
and...
" * Storage/Network Use. You may also store or install a copy
of the Product on a storage device, such as a network
server, used only to install or run the Product on your
other Workstation Computers over an internal network;
however, you must acquire and dedicate an additional
license for each separate Workstation Computer on or
from which the Product is installed, used, accessed,
displayed or run. A license for the Product may not be
shared or used concurrently on different Workstation
Computers."
In other words - no matter how you phrased it on the phone or how the person
on the other end misunderstood what you said/meant and no matter what they
told you about being able to install/utilize the 'same copy' on two
computers - you need an additional license for each computer you plan on
installing Windows XP Professional on *if* you want to be considered to be
using the product in a legitimate way - as you agreed to as you installed it
each time.
