VISTA, XP and Virtual Machines??

[Al Dykes]

What is the deal with running XP under VM legally. If I buy a copy of
XP/Pro (EOM) as part of a complete system, can I run it under VM if I
install Linux or Vista as a host OS?

Would getting a legal XP/Pro Retail make any difference?

 

[Mick Murphy]

One licence, one install.
If you have the OS installed on your computer, you need another licence to
install that same OS on a VM on that computer, or another computer.

 

[Gilgamesh]

One licence, one install.
If you have the OS installed on your computer, you need another licence to
install that same OS on a VM on that computer, or another computer.

Actually the Vista licence agreement says One Licence - One Device.
Though it does expresly forbid using the licence in a virtualised
environment (at lease Vista Home Premium which is my licence)
Given this exclusion if you were to buy a second licence would you actually
be able to install it?
(I wanted to install it today and found this little clause)

Through a set of twisted arguments you could argue that a VPC is different
to the real PC which is what MS does to justify ripping you off for a second
licence.

However if you have a second HD installed on your PC you could install it on
a partition there as well as the core install on the other desk - Then use
the PCs BIOS to go into a boot menu and choose which one you want.
There is no virtualisation involved and it is still the One PC Device.