[X4U] Implications of Boot Camp

[Kunga]

Wow Stroller You The Man!! Fantastic information. I found out this  
afternoon from Parallels that you will need two licenses to run two  
different copies of XP in both Dual Boot Camp style and Parallels  
Workstation 2.1 style. You seem to provide a way for one copy to have  
two different license numbers here. Seems kind of crazy this is the  
case due to the fact that both copies can't be run at the same time  
on one Mac.

Taylor

> On 6 Apr 2006, at 16:06, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>> The license is restricted to be purchased by System Builders ...  
>> or is Microsoft just putting stuff on paper that means nothing?

> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 PM, Stroller wrote:
> Yes. This is the nature of shrink-wrap software licenses.
>
> In any case where the software license terms you "agree to" in  
> opening the software packet are at odds with local law and  
> statutory consumer rights then local law will prevail.

> On 6 Apr 2006, at 16:06, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>>> We're starting to see PCs regularly at the local dump
>> So you are thinking that the average Mac user is going to go to  
>> the dump to get a number....

> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 PM, Stroller wrote:
> No, they're simply going to not throw away their old PC in the  
> first place and keep the license number off it. But really I was  
> just illustrating how cheap & plentiful OEM keys are.
>
On 6 Apr 2006, at 16:06, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>> so that they can call up Microsoft and say that they just upgraded  
>> a bunch of components of the computer and it is the same computer  
>> and Microsoft should authenticate their Mac?

> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 PM, Stroller wrote:
> The procedure when authorising an OEM copy of Windows XP is to  
> phone up, enter the 30 digit number on your telephone touchpad,  
> hear that the authorisation has failed, be put through to a service  
> representative (UK calls are router though to India) and read out  
> the 30 digit number again. Any CD key that has been authorised once  
> already will fail, in order to add a human being to the procedure  
> (and presumably discourage pirates) but that human being will  
> without fail authorise the installation as long as you answer "this  
> is the only computer on which the software is installed", "I just  
> reinstalled Windows because I got a virus" and "it was preinstalled  
> on the machine when I bought it"; if you have undertaken this  
> procedure it is quite clear that it is all a formality.
>
On 6 Apr 2006, at 16:06, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>> I'm thinking there is a hole here when Microsoft's XP  
>> authentication validator sees the MAC address as being from Apple.  
>> Kinda throws a monkey wrench in the works, don't you think?

> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 PM, Stroller wrote:
> The validator quite clearly does not asses that - indeed, you can  
> create more than one validation key from the same license key.  
> Demonstrate that for yourself by installing Windows XP then running  
> the activation wizard. Instead of activating it choose to change  
> the license key and enter the same one again - you will see a new  
> validation key is generated.
>
> It may be possible to determine the MAC address from the validation  
> key, but Microsoft are clearly not operating at that level.  
> Besides, if they blocked MAC addresses belonging to Apple computers  
> they'd get their asses sued off - the terms of the OEM license  
> clearly allow me to "build a system" by buying an Apple Mac and  
> adding memory to it for resale.
>
On 6 Apr 2006, at 16:06, Robert Ameeti wrote:
>> And o by the way, that license number on that computer at the dump  
>> was a OEM license as well so it will only install using the  
>> original disks that the manufacturer supplied with that computer.

> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 PM, Stroller wrote:
> No, it'll work with any OEM CD. Although Dell & Packard Hell add  
> software components (media players, antivirus software, additional  
> drivers) to the reinstallation CDs that they supply with their  
> computers Microsoft also sell OEM CDs to small system builders as  
> an off-the-shelf component; these all use the same OEM key and can  
> be purchased from any large vendor of PC components (some require  
> the purchase of a "validating" piece of hardware, such as a 50p  
> EIDE cable, but this is to keep on Microsoft's good side and  
> maintain a wholesale relationship, not because the licensing  
> conditions are legally enforceable).