[Solved] 2 Windows 7's on one machine...legal or not?

Best answer selected by blackhawk1928.

Hi windows7guy, I really appreciate the help but my question was weather I can use one key for both OS's on my machine, not weather I can dual boot them.

My understanding of the activation process is this: A new internal license hash is generated each time you activate windows. The license hash is based on the hardware but also includes randomization. Even if you were to install Windows on two different but identical drives and disconnect / reconnect the drives prior to booting so that the hardware appeared to be identical for both copies of Windows, the license hashes will be different. This will prevent both copies from working with the same key. There may be a grace interval that lets you switch back and forth a few times, but eventually one of them will report that it's "not genuine".

Well a person from Microsoft client support, outreach, and a forum addict with 3,000+ posts do.

With all due respect to the MS client support people, I have seen them and other official MS sources both get it wrong outright and contradict each other on other occasions. Its not a problem with these individuals in particular. MS just has issues keeping their message consistent. Especially on licensing.

The forum addict didn't even address licensing. Just his understanding of activation. How the software activates has little to do with whether this use is consistent with the EULA.

I will take a closer look. I didn't have time earlier.

I'm guessing I'm the "addict" in question, and if so you're quite right - I didn't discuss the licensing terms. Here's a link to the Windows 7 licensing document: http://download.microsoft.com/Docu [...] 9a0497.pdf

Section 2(a) states: One Copy per Computer. You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”

So in licensing terms, putting copies of Windows 7 on two different disks using the same license key is not permitted.

Right then , my two cents, I have Windows 7 installed, and multi boot to 4 Windows 7 systems including other OS systems at the same time, some using Bootloader some by HDD boot sequence, And to heck if I am paying for 4 windows Licences for the same CPU to use Windows 7 when i have already paid for the licence! i reinstall often enough that i end up calling for activation anyways and have done so since XP days! i dont run Hooky copies of Windows, I only sell legit machines with Licence sticker attached and Activated, but to heck am i paying for each Windows partition on my own home system, hell no!!!! i purchase around 120 licences a year for builds never mind the Office installations needed to go with!

Its no small reason i try install Linux where ever possible and Openoffice as alternative to MSOffice where people agree!

If it is the same system, clone the activated windows system and change boot sequence to boot into second windows system on second HDD, its only been activated once so there, or use HyperOs and clone your windows 7 system as many times as you want on 1 activation, so there...

www.hyperossystems.co.uk

now these guys would not be running for as many years as they have if it were illegal would they, have used them since 2003!!!!

Jeesh have you given Microsoft your address and asked them to come check you are doing things right.... You own a licence, they have your money, you are not installing it on every mate and familys PC,You are not making illegal copies and distributing it willy nilly you are installing it on your own machine, run as many copies of it as you want on your own machine, this rubbish that you don't own your software has to stop, come on EU, you have done it before to MS do it again and get consumers a fair deal!

I hate piracy, I hate rubbish infected crap software, but seriously, if I buy a retail Licence I should be able to install it as many time as I want on a machine as long as only 1 System is running at a time!!!!!!!!

You can install it on a different partition of the same machine, if you have a activation issue, you can call Microsoft and tell them that you doing a re-install on the same machince and get a manual activation key. This is only true of non-oem versions, since the product key on the oem version lable cannot be used. Instaling the OS on two partitions of the same machince does not violate the EULA.

Well there you go BlackHawk, you have made your mind up, have fun with your two licenses.

If you use your windows 7 Install key to run on VMware, then you will need a license for each one, because you will be running each one at the same time.

I only boot into a windows system one at a time, not all at the same time, very big difference, One license, one set of hardware, one instance running, just installed several times on different partitions with key only activated once due to clone of first activated system, It is a clone, undetectable as it has already been activated before cloning!

Im not going to tell you your wrong buying a second license. But your positon here is a little paranoid. MS just isn't that concerned about a guy dual booting on the same system no matter what the EULA says. You make it sound like the EULA police are going to come for you.

Is this system a homebrew or big OEM?

I use VMware for two OS's and want to get three so I will have linux also. I don't really need it, I just do it for fun and because I can I use different OS's for different purposes.

Interesting. I mainly use my primary windows 7 OS (64-bit) for my main stuff...email, applications, games, internet...etc. My secondary OS which is Vista 32bit for things like virus scanners, performance tools, encryption tools...etc...mainly security, oh and system monitors. when I scan my Win7 for viruses...i open up vista and scan from there as none of the files are in use resulting in the best possible scan.

I know
There are bootable CD's.