XP Pro Activation Question / VPC 2007

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff Lloyd
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeff Lloyd

I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
"Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.

So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
was installed from the same disk.

Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it is
installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual machine, but
the same computer??

Many thanks in advance.

JBL
 
You are posting to user-to-user newsgroups. And yes according to the
licencing agreement, the VPC is a second install, and requires a second
license. I would suggest you get a Retail XP pro license for this project.

Jeff Lloyd wrote:

> I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
> "Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
> them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.
>
> So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
> machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
> the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
> was installed from the same disk.
>
> Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
> something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
> beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it is
> installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual machine, but
> the same computer??
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> JBL
>
>
 
On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 12:50:33 -0500, Jeff Lloyd wrote:

> I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
> "Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
> them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.
>
> So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
> machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
> the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
> was installed from the same disk.

It more than likely would not have activated anyways. Since your computer
is from Dell your XP install disk is likely BIOS locked and will only
activate on a Dell BIOS. The VPC does not have a Dell BIOS.

>
> Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
> something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
> beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it is
> installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual machine, but
> the same computer??

You are licensed for a single install, you may not like it, but that's the
way Microsoft's licensing works and that's what you agreed to when you
setup your Dell in the first place.

I've set follow-ups back to virtualpc.
--
Paul Adare
MVP - Virtual Machines
http://www.identit.ca
Real time: Here and now, as opposed to fake time, which only occurs there
and then.
 
Jeff Lloyd wrote:
> I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
> "Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
> them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.
>
> So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
> machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
> the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
> was installed from the same disk.
>
> Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
> something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
> beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it is
> installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual machine, but
> the same computer??

You need a valid license for any operating system installed on a virtual
machine. Operating systems created in a VM are just as real as operating
systems running on a real, standalone computer. If you want to use a
Microsoft operating system in a VM, you need to purchase a copy exactly
the same as if you were installing it on a separate computer. For all
intents and purposes, a VM *is* a separate computer. "Fair" doesn't
enter into it. The Dell version of XP is tied to the original hardware
(the Dell computer) on which it is installed and can't be used for a VM.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
 
Difficult situation. Technically speaking the VPC is itself a different
set of hardware from the host computer. Even though the actual
CPU is the same for both Host and Virtual machine. The one
"Gotcha" is that the software must not be used on more than a single
PC simultaneously. That's the issue since both Host and VPC would
be running ( the same copy of) XP at the same time.

There are programs that perform a "Sandbox" function, allowing
you to test out changes before committing them to your system as
a permanent change. For me I use Acronis True Image and always
take an image before "Any" type of change ( including driver updates
and hotfixes/patches ). If something doesn't work out, I just apply
the last image and continue on.

The problem with any posting about licensing tends to start a long
running argument and brings up the Product Activation/WGA issues
that many participants like to debate about.

"Jeff Lloyd" <jefflloyd@att.net> wrote in message
news:eYo%23Wd2NIHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
>"Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
>them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.
>
> So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
> machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
> the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
> was installed from the same disk.
>
> Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
> something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
> beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it
> is installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual
> machine, but the same computer??
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> JBL
>
>
 
From my XP Pro (retail) EULA:

"1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display and run ONE
copy of the Software on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal
or other device ("Workstation Computer")."

One copy is one copy.

"Jeff Lloyd" <jefflloyd@att.net> wrote in message
news:eYo%23Wd2NIHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I have discovered the value to VPC 2007 and would love to use it as a
>"Guinea Pig" installation for software installs before I actually install
>them to my host PC to see what adverse effects may result.
>
> So, I took my Dell reinstallation disk and did an install to a VPC virtual
> machine and XP wanted to activate - I stopped short because if I activated
> the VPC install I was afraid I would compromise my Host machine because it
> was installed from the same disk.
>
> Basically, it looks like I would have to buy another license at $260 or
> something and that is just not an option, and an unfair one at that I
> beleive. Is there any way this could be allowed free of charge since it
> is installed on the same computer technically, albeit in a virtual
> machine, but the same computer??
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> JBL
>
>
 
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