Two XP installations

[William B. Lurie]

I added a second hard drive to my computer.
XP came with the PC.
I installed XP on the second hard drive.
Using simple changes in BIOS in bootup, I boot
up to whichever one I want.
It's my way of backing up my software and my
records. I copy from Master HD to Slave HD.
Am I doing something wrong? Something illegal?
Does putting it on a second hard drive in the same
physical machine violate the license agreement?

William B. Lurie

 

[William B. Lurie]

Thank you, Rick. I thought that's the way it would be, technically.
But, morally, as a rhetorical question, why should it be? Does
the purveyor really think it would be reasonable, to expect one
person, running one piece of hardware in one place, to buy and
pay for two identical sets of software, just so that he can make
them identical, using redundancy as a backup method?
Bill Lurie

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bill,

I don't know - it's a legal thing, and I ain't no lawyer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Mike Truitt [Microsoft]]

Hello all,

I found this a very intriguing question so did some research here at
Microsoft. Based on that research, it looks like this is not a supported
configuration. The EULA allows for only one copy of the software on one
computer. With a little more digging, I also found this information
regarding the backup question mentioned in the EULA; "Back-up Copy. You may
make a single back-up copy of the software. You may use one (1) back-up
copy solely for your archival purposes and to reinstall the software on the
computer."

I hope this helps to clarify somewhat.

Best regards,

Mike Truitt
Microsoft Corporation

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Mike,

I've always interpreted that to mean that I can make a backup copy of the CD
itself, but not of the installation (not as in imaging, but as in a second
installation as a "safety valve").

I know the legal eagles will never change their stand, and any change is
subject to interpretation by both sides, but I can see no harm in the
configuration that William is using. He is not installing it on more than
one machine, nor is he making use of both installations simultaneously (like
in a VM-Ware product).

Anyways, it's a losing battle but thanks for chipping in with the
information.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Danny Wareham]

I hope this helps. I am using an OEM version of XP Home. I installed
VM-Ware Workstation a few months ago. Now with my OEM version I don't need
an activation code, due to my OEM BIOS. With the VM-Ware Workstation, it
doesn't have my OEM BIOS, it has it's own virtual BIOS. So I installed XP
in VM-Ware Workstation, which was running on Windows XP. It required an
activation code. I called Microsoft for the activation code, I explained
the situation to them, they told me that it was OK since it was still on the
same machine, and gave me the activation code.


--
Kind Regards,


Danny Wareham, President
Waresoft Software
www.xp-smoker.com

SoftWrap 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support:

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[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Danny,

And this was the same OEM version that you were installing into the VM
workstation that was already on the system as the host?
Interesting......thanks.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Danny Wareham]

Yes it is.

--
Kind Regards,


Danny Wareham, President
Waresoft Software
www.xp-smoker.com

SoftWrap 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support:

Canada - 1 877 687 7166
United Kingdom (UK) - 0 800 917 2110
USA - 1 800 221 8984
Australia - 1 800 129 251
New Zealand - 0 800 441 133