XP OEM and Bootcamp

[Guest]

Hi,
I was wondering if it is legal to buy and install a "system builder" OEM
version of Windows XP professional on a macbook pro using apple's bootcamp
software. I've been researching this topic for a while now, and there seems
to be no definitive answer, as people argue back and forth as to whether this
type of install classifies the purchaser/installer as a "system builder". Any
help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I was wondering if it is legal to buy and install a "system
builder" OEM version of Windows XP professional on a macbook pro
using apple's bootcamp software. I've been researching this topic
for a while now, and there seems to be no definitive answer, as
people argue back and forth as to whether this type of install
classifies the purchaser/installer as a "system builder". Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If the OEM license has never been used - you can install it on a TRS-80 if
you can figure out how.
In other words - yeah - you can purchase and install an OEM license in the
manner you laid out and be perfectly legitimate.

 

[norm]

If the OEM license has never been used - you can install it on a TRS-80 if
you can figure out how.
In other words - yeah - you can purchase and install an OEM license in the
manner you laid out and be perfectly legitimate.

Shenan, a couple other mvps had a different take on this in a previous
post that segued into the same question. It would be nice to get a
definitive answer. Here are the pertinent replies (please read the
thread for the total picture):
Subject: Windows XP SP2 - OEM and Boot Camp (from 3/21/07 in this group)
from Leew:
There are multiple licenses - OEM, Retail, Upgrade - you can absolutely
use Retail... but not OEM.
Your link to Microsoft seems to say essentially the same thing as the
blog entry (partially quoted below). Though it does look like the
trimmed a few words, I still read it as essentially the same. Meaning it
is not legal to put an OEM copy of Windows on a Mac - Apple has to do it
for you (and I don't think they are).
My source:
http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2005/09/07/461950.aspx

from Carey:
Not only that, but I believe you would be violating the licensing by
installing an OEM copy on a Mac - OEM copies are to be sold only
with/for full systems which have never had an operating system. Apple
would have to sell the XP license with the Mac for it to be legal to use
on the Mac. (I could be mistaken, but I'm reasonably certain about this)

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Hi,
Thanks for the quick responses! It seems the debate over this
continues....does anyone know how to get a definitive answer on this? Thanks!

 

[norm]

Hi,
Thanks for the quick responses! It seems the debate over this
continues....does anyone know how to get a definitive answer on this? Thanks!

I would personally go for it. The terms for oem installation (as I
understand them) require that the installation live on its own partition
and is a clean install. Both these criteria seem to be met. Seems no
different that any other dual boot. One can buy a legitimate
shrinkwrapped oem disk and license and install it without any apple
participation. The info can be found here:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

"Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data,
though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple
Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows.(1) Boot Camp will
burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to
scrounge around the Internet looking for them."

"Once you’ve completed Boot Camp, simply hold down the option key at
startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. (That’s the “alt” key
for you longtime Windows users.) After starting up, your Mac runs
Windows completely natively. Simply restart to come back to Mac."My guess is that there will not be a definitive answer.