Windows Licensing

[Mercutio]

Anyone know of a human-readable resource regarding Windows licensing?

The basic question: I'm looking at filling a lab with computers that have either/or Windows XP/Windows 2000. Which would be fine, except my customer wants to dual boot all 32 computers.

In the past I thought dual licenses required that the older product be deleted if not in use, but I don't know if that continues to apply for the desktop OS.

Nothing on Microsoft's site has any info related to dual-boot configs.

 

[Mercutio]

Egads this stuff gives me a headache!

 

[Cliptin]

Use of Previous Version of Software (Windows XP Professional only). This OEM EULA consists of a license to use one copy of Windows XP Professional. If you acquire PCs licensed for Windows XP Professional, then you are licensed to use identified previous versions of Windows Operating System Product(s) in lieu of Windows XP Professional (Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional, Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0 or Microsoft® Windows® 98 (Second Edition).

You may only use one copy of Windows XP Professional or one copy of one of the identified previous versions.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/downloads/OEM_EULA.doc

Special license deal if purchased before 7/31/02
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/officexp/howtobuy/licensing.asp

 

[Sol]

Maybe you could do it with some sort of image program like DynaWizzard -don't know who makes that one-. Then you'd only have aone OS on the PC at a time but could reboot and refresh the HD to the other OS.
Don't know how practical that would be though.

 

[Cliptin]

Microsoft licensing

It looks like they will have to purchase licenses for all of the OSs. What might be beneficial for them in the long run is to purchase two XP licenses for each computer which will allow them to run any previous OS version, as meantioned above, but transfer the licenses to another computer when the dual boot is no longer needed. They should get academic pricing as well.

 

[Mercutio]

That's what I thought from my reading as well.

In the past, "Server" licenses used to include a provision that if you used the new version's license for the old versions of "Server" (backoffice products, whatever), then LATER switched to the latest, you HAD to delete the old version. Basically a very strong wording that prohibited dual booting or dual use.
Since I didn't see that I wondered if MS changed its mind.

 

[P5-133XL]

Mec,

That was for upgrades only and applies to all the MS products that are upgraded. If you are just buying a new license, it will not require you to destroy old licenses, even on the same computer.

 

[Mercutio]

Yeah, but in this case I have one license, one computer, and two OSes. To me, common sense says that I'm only using one of the two OSes at a time, and therefore should be OK.

However, I know better than to think that common sense and Microsoft licensing belong in the sentence together.

 

[P5-133XL]

You can get ahold of a MS licensing specialist at 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4) to ask your specific question.

Because I was curious, I called and asked your specific question and He said that one has to have a license for both OS's even though only one was in use.

I do note that by calling MS for the answer produces a strong bias towards maximizing licensing fees. I also note that by my read the EULA does not address the issue at all and thereby it may be a matter for courts to decide rather than us mere mortals.

If one wants to be conserative then buy the extra licenses. If one wants to take a risk for some potential savings then don't: After all, what can MS do as a penalty but force the purchase of the extra licenses.

 

[Mercutio]

Thanks Mark!