Is it possible to dual install XP?

[+c0re-]

My system has a removable hard drive caddy, which I have 2 identical hard
drives for.

I want to get windows XP pro (oem with hardware) and ideally I want to
install it on both hard drives, so that I can swap between them in the same
computer. I need this this way so that I can have one install for important
work stuff and one for messing around with things on.

I don't understand how the activation will be affected by me trying to do
this. Is there any way I can do this and it'll work? Will it let me
reactivate it, and then the first one will be "deactivated"? I guess it
would be kinda similar to if your hard disk failed and you got a new one and
needed to reinstall. The drives will not be in the computer simultaneously
ever)

Any help would be very greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[Nicholas]

The Windows XP End-User License Agreement (EULA) states you
can install one copy of XP on one computer or drive. So you'll need
to purchase a second copy (Product Key - license) for a second
installation, even though the same computer is being used.

Read your Windows XP End-User License Agreement:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

Also, open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and click on "Questions and Answers about the
End-User License Agreement".



--
Nicholas

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My system has a removable hard drive caddy, which I have 2 identical hard
| drives for.
|
| I want to get windows XP pro (oem with hardware) and ideally I want to
| install it on both hard drives, so that I can swap between them in the same
| computer. I need this this way so that I can have one install for important
| work stuff and one for messing around with things on.
|
| I don't understand how the activation will be affected by me trying to do
| this. Is there any way I can do this and it'll work? Will it let me
| reactivate it, and then the first one will be "deactivated"? I guess it
| would be kinda similar to if your hard disk failed and you got a new one and
| needed to reinstall. The drives will not be in the computer simultaneously
| ever)
|
| Any help would be very greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
|
|

 

[+c0re-]

Ok, thanks.. I can't read the EULA because I haven't bought it yet...
Does this apply for the OEM and retail versions? or OEM only?

also one other quick question .. can you do a reinstall of XP easily
enough if it starts to get slow etc?
or is the activation a problem 2nd time around?

thanks again


The Windows XP End-User License Agreement (EULA) states you
can install one copy of XP on one computer or drive. So you'll need
to purchase a second copy (Product Key - license) for a second
installation, even though the same computer is being used.

Read your Windows XP End-User License Agreement:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

Also, open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and click on "Questions and Answers about the
End-User License Agreement".



--
Nicholas

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------


| My system has a removable hard drive caddy, which I have 2 identical hard
| drives for.
|
| I want to get windows XP pro (oem with hardware) and ideally I want to
| install it on both hard drives, so that I can swap between them in the
same
| computer. I need this this way so that I can have one install for
important
| work stuff and one for messing around with things on.
|
| I don't understand how the activation will be affected by me trying to do
| this. Is there any way I can do this and it'll work? Will it let me
| reactivate it, and then the first one will be "deactivated"? I guess it
| would be kinda similar to if your hard disk failed and you got a new one
and
| needed to reinstall. The drives will not be in the computer simultaneously
| ever)
|
| Any help would be very greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
|
|

 

[Nicholas]

OEM versions of Windows XP:

-- cannot upgrade over an existing Windows installation
-- cannot be transferred to a different computer in the future
-- the license cannot be sold or transferred to another user
-- are not eligible for free Microsoft technical support
-- must be purchase with some type of computer hardware
-- cost less due to the above limitations

Whether you install an OEM or retail version, only one
installation per drive is permitted. Also, you can reinstall
XP as many times as you wish, as long as the reinstallation
occurs on the same computer.

HOW TO: Activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307890

Everything you need to know is in the following article:

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
on Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

[Courtesy of Alex Nichol, MS-MVP]


--
Nicholas

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Ok, thanks.. I can't read the EULA because I haven't bought it yet...
| Does this apply for the OEM and retail versions? or OEM only?
|
| also one other quick question .. can you do a reinstall of XP easily
| enough if it starts to get slow etc?
| or is the activation a problem 2nd time around?
|
| thanks again

 

[+c0re-]

Thankyou


OEM versions of Windows XP:

-- cannot upgrade over an existing Windows installation
-- cannot be transferred to a different computer in the future
-- the license cannot be sold or transferred to another user
-- are not eligible for free Microsoft technical support
-- must be purchase with some type of computer hardware
-- cost less due to the above limitations

Whether you install an OEM or retail version, only one
installation per drive is permitted. Also, you can reinstall
XP as many times as you wish, as long as the reinstallation
occurs on the same computer.

HOW TO: Activate Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307890

Everything you need to know is in the following article:

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
on Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

[Courtesy of Alex Nichol, MS-MVP]


--
Nicholas

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----


| Ok, thanks.. I can't read the EULA because I haven't bought it yet...
| Does this apply for the OEM and retail versions? or OEM only?
|
| also one other quick question .. can you do a reinstall of XP easily
| enough if it starts to get slow etc?
| or is the activation a problem 2nd time around?
|
| thanks again

 

[Norm]

Well I disagree. If you install and activate XP on your computer, you can
then image it to another disk drive and that disk will work fine. There is
no mention in the EULA of not being able to install XP on another disk, in
fact the words disk or drive does not appear anywhere in the EULA. I firmly
believe the intent of the EULA and activation is software piracy and not
keeping someone like yourself from switching between the exact same copy of
the same OS on the same computer.
Here is an excerpt from the 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"). [a1] The Product may not
be used by more than one (1) processor at any one time
on any single Workstation Computer.

Seeing as you are using it on the same computer and obviously not using it
by more than 1 processor at any one time, I would say go for it and have a
ball.

 

[Bob Eyster]

WindowsXP can be installed/Re-installed on the same PC and activated with no
problem.

Bob Eyster

 

[Alex Nichol]

My system has a removable hard drive caddy, which I have 2 identical hard
drives for.

I want to get windows XP pro (oem with hardware) and ideally I want to
install it on both hard drives, so that I can swap between them in the same
computer. I need this this way so that I can have one install for important
work stuff and one for messing around with things on.

I don't understand how the activation will be affected by me trying to do
this. Is there any way I can do this and it'll work? Will it let me
reactivate it, and then the first one will be "deactivated"?

It should work. The two configurations would be seen as 'substantially
the same' (And can be made more exactly the same if you consult
www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm and use the Hint in 'Format Hard drive')

So install separately to each drive and proceed to activate on the net
in the normal way. There is discussion on the exact interpretation of
the license in such cases, and a pedantic one might say it was not
allowed, but the wording seems to have been written without fully
thinking matters through, and I can see no *real* grounds for objection