installing multiple versions of XP on one computer...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scott
  • Start date Start date
S

Scott

Is it possible to have a dual/multi boot system with
multiple copies of XP? If so, is it perfectly legal to do
so. I know you are not allowed to install the same copy
of XP on multiple machines but how about the same copy on
the same machine multiple times?
 
Hi Scott,

Short version:
Yes you can and no it isn't.

Long version:
Yes, you can reinstall it to many different partitions and create a
multiboot environment. Reactivating on the same hardware is perfectly fine.
However, the EULA states that you are only supposed to install one copy on
one machine, so doing this is not in keeping within those guidelines. But,
there is nothing to really prevent you from doing it, nor will the black
helicopters land on your roof, or will they??????

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
Multiple installs are ok however not on the same hd,install to
a slave,or on another hd #2 IDE cable.
 
Hi, Andrew.

Sounds like you've never actually tried this. So long as they are in
separate volumes (primary partitions or logical drives in an extended
partition) there is no problem. I've had three versions of Windows running
in three logical drives in one extended partition. Each volume, of course,
has a separate "drive" letter, so I had MS-DOS in Drive C: (a primary
partition), plus Win98 in D:\Windows, Win2K in E:\WinNT, plus WinXP in
X:\Windows. No, wait, X: was a logical drive on a second HD. Right now I
still have MS-DOS in C:, and WinXP in D: on the first HD; WinXP (different
license number) in X: on the second drive, and Windows Server 2003 and
Longhorn (PDC version) in separate logical drives on the third HD. And I
did have two copies of the same license installed for a while until someone
suggested it might not be legal. As Rick said, both copies activated
without a problem.

But I've never been brave enough to put two Windows installations in the
same volume.

As to the legality of multiple copies of the same WinXP license on the same
computer: I've read the EULA and it sounds ambiguous to me. I've asked in
a few newsgroups and had no definitive answers. My gut feeling is that
there should be no problem. I could never be booted into both copies at
once, and this IS the same computer, so I see no way that MS is being
harmed. And a second installation comes in mighty handy sometimes for
repairs to the first installation, like editing bad Registry hives - which
is what got me into dual-booting in the first place a few years ago with
WinNT4. I don't speak for Microsoft, of course, so this opinion is just
mine, and not official at all.

RC
 
In
Andrew E said:
Multiple installs are ok however not on the same hd,install to
a slave,or on another hd #2 IDE cable.
Click to expand...


Sorry, that's not correct. The issue is whether they are
installed on the same partition, not on the same physical drive.
Putting a second installation on a second partition on the same
drive is perfectly acceptable.
 
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