win7 32/64 bit dual boot same machine

[npx]

I have Win 7 Home Premium with 32 bit and 64 bit CDs, but only one
activation key. Can I have, on just one computer, a w7 32 bit
partition, and a w7 64 bit partition, dual boot system, using just one
activation key? That would save buying another copy.

I could ask Microsoft, but I thought I'd ask here first.

 

[neil]

I wouldn't think a single key would allow you to activate more than one copy
of Windows.
Neil

 

[relic]

I have Win 7 Home Premium with 32 bit and 64 bit CDs, but only one
activation key. Can I have, on just one computer, a w7 32 bit
partition, and a w7 64 bit partition, dual boot system, using just one
activation key? That would save buying another copy.

I could ask Microsoft, but I thought I'd ask here first.

If you have the "Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack Upgrade 3-User" version,
yes. Even a 3rd system.

 

[Joel]

I have Win 7 Home Premium with 32 bit and 64 bit CDs, but only one
activation key. Can I have, on just one computer, a w7 32 bit
partition, and a w7 64 bit partition, dual boot system, using just one
activation key? That would save buying another copy.

I could ask Microsoft, but I thought I'd ask here first.

No. You can switch between them, but only in the form of having one
installed at a time (if you just want to try the version you don't
currently have installed, though, you can install it with no key, and
get a 30-day trial to see if it's better, and if so delete the first
installation, and activate the new one with your key in Control
Panel).

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have Win 7 Home Premium with 32 bit and 64 bit CDs, but only one
activation key. Can I have, on just one computer, a w7 32 bit
partition, and a w7 64 bit partition, dual boot system, using just one
activation key? That would save buying another copy.

No. You have two DVDs because you have the choice of using one *or*
the other. However you bought only a single license, and you may not
use both.

 

[Andrew]

No. You have two DVDs because you have the choice of using one *or*
the other. However you bought only a single license, and you may not
use both.

I am going to test this out this week.
I believe it can be done and both can be activated.
The install makes a hash from the hardware inventory of the machine.
Since both the 32 and 64 bit versions will make the same hash, the machine
should be ID'd the same.
It then sends the hash to the activation servers. As long as the hash is
the same it will see that the machine is the same and allow activation. If
the hash is different then it won't allow it.
Since you can only have 1 install running at one time, I don't believe it is
in violation of the license. You don't have it installed on 2 different
machines, and you are only running 1 version at a time.
I've done this before, but all my installs were Enterprise and on Corpnet
where there were license servers so I never even had to type in an
activation code.
I haven't tried it at home.

 

[Joel]

I am going to test this out this week.
I believe it can be done and both can be activated.
The install makes a hash from the hardware inventory of the machine.
Since both the 32 and 64 bit versions will make the same hash, the machine
should be ID'd the same.
It then sends the hash to the activation servers. As long as the hash is
the same it will see that the machine is the same and allow activation. If
the hash is different then it won't allow it.
Since you can only have 1 install running at one time, I don't believe it is
in violation of the license. You don't have it installed on 2 different
machines, and you are only running 1 version at a time.
I've done this before, but all my installs were Enterprise and on Corpnet
where there were license servers so I never even had to type in an
activation code.
I haven't tried it at home.

Get ready to become very frustrated with your computer.

 

[Andrew]

Get ready to become very frustrated with your computer.

Worse things have happened
[/QUOTE]

 

[Joel]

Worse things have happened

No doubt, but it just seems needless. You paid for it, and this will
flag your key as being used in more than one place at once, and both
installations will turn into crapware as punishment. If you really
need both versions, you could just get a less expensive System Builder
OEM copy to obtain the other one.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am going to test this out this week.
I believe it can be done and both can be activated.

The issue is not what *can* be done, it's what *may* be done. Doing
this is a violation of the EULA.

Can *you* do it and get away with the violation? I don't know; perhaps
you can. Perhaps you can get away with robbing a bank too. That
doesn't make it OK to do it.

 

[Andrew]

No doubt, but it just seems needless. You paid for it, and this will
flag your key as being used in more than one place at once, and both
installations will turn into crapware as punishment. If you really
need both versions, you could just get a less expensive System Builder
OEM copy to obtain the other one.

I get the Employee copies from the company store, they're super cheap.
Being an MS Alumni has it's benefits.

 

[Andrew]

The issue is not what *can* be done, it's what *may* be done. Doing
this is a violation of the EULA.

I'm not so sure about that. I will have to read it. I think installing the
OS on more than 1 machine is a violation of the EULA.

Can *you* do it and get away with the violation? I don't know; perhaps
you can. Perhaps you can get away with robbing a bank too. That
doesn't make it OK to do it.

I wouldn't ever rob a bank, and I won't do it if the EULA explicitly states
that more than 1 installation on the same machine is in violation. I don't
think it says that though, so I will research it.

 

[Andrew]

The issue is not what *can* be done, it's what *may* be done. Doing
this is a violation of the EULA.

Can *you* do it and get away with the violation? I don't know; perhaps
you can. Perhaps you can get away with robbing a bank too. That
doesn't make it OK to do it.

From the EULA

a. Software. The software includes desktop operating system software. This
software does not include Windows Live services. Windows Live is a service
available from Microsoft under a separate agreement.
b. License Model. The software is licensed on a per copy per computer basis.
A computer is a physical hardware system with an internal storage device
capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered
to be a separate computer.

[I'm ok here...the same drive with 2 different partitions...not hardware
partitions.)



2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. You may install one copy of the software on one
computer. That computer is the "licensed computer."

[Ok, here is an issue with doing it.]

b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on
the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these
license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.

[Well, I'm glad I'm not using a triple or quad core machine ]

c. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only
one user may use the software at a time.

[this one makes no sense, sure only 1 user can log in at a time unless it's
Server, but this stops me and my son from sitting in front of the computer
at the same time and doing something.]

d. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version,
such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one
time.

[There's the clincher. it is forbidden in the EULA.]

Oh well I guess I can't try it, but I think it will work.

 

[Joel]

d. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version,
such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one
time.

[There's the clincher. it is forbidden in the EULA.]

Oh well I guess I can't try it, but I think it will work.

You can always get both activated by lying to the employee on the
activation line, but it won't be worth it. Activation is *not* the
primary way this is tracked - inevitably, the first installation will
get booted up, and transmit your key to MS for one reason or another,
and it will be undeniable that you didn't delete the first
installation.

 

[Joel]

I get the Employee copies from the company store, they're super cheap.
Being an MS Alumni has it's benefits.

Heck, I'd buy two copies at what appear to be the prices they charge.
Someone posted on a blog that a copy of Vista Ultimate (current OS at
the time of the post) was only $45 for the full version. And to think
I paid $140 for my desktop's OEM of Win7 Pro, and $100 for this
laptop's OEM of Home Premium. Not that I mind, of course - it's the
greatest OS I've ever used.

 

[Char Jackson]

The issue is not what *can* be done, it's what *may* be done. Doing
this is a violation of the EULA.

Just wondering out loud, I wonder what percentage of people care what
the EULA says? I suppose we'll never know, but I suspect that most
people don't read EULA's very closely and simply rely on their own
morals to decide right from wrong.

Can *you* do it and get away with the violation? I don't know; perhaps
you can. Perhaps you can get away with robbing a bank too. That
doesn't make it OK to do it.

Violating a sentence in a EULA is hardly on a level with robbing a
bank.

 

[Joel]

Just wondering out loud, I wonder what percentage of people care what
the EULA says? I suppose we'll never know, but I suspect that most
people don't read EULA's very closely and simply rely on their own
morals to decide right from wrong.


Violating a sentence in a EULA is hardly on a level with robbing a
bank.

Debating whether the rules are reasonable may be worth doing,
intellectually, but it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks of
them - the reality is, they do keep track of product keys' usage. As
soon as the first installation transmits the key, it proves that it
wasn't deleted before the new installation was activated, and that
will suck ass for the user. It's just not worth it.

 

[Doum]

"Andrew" <[email protected]> écrivait

b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors
on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in
these license terms, you may not use the software on any other
computer.

[Well, I'm glad I'm not using a triple or quad core machine ]

A quad core processor is ONE processor as far as EULA is concerned.

You can have a machine with up to two quad core processors or whatever the
number of cores the processor has.

 

[Andrew]

"Andrew" <[email protected]> écrivait

b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors
on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in
these license terms, you may not use the software on any other
computer.

[Well, I'm glad I'm not using a triple or quad core machine ]

A quad core processor is ONE processor as far as EULA is concerned.

You can have a machine with up to two quad core processors or whatever the
number of cores the processor has.

Yeah I thought about the difference between cores and processors after I
posted.

 

[Andrew]

Heck, I'd buy two copies at what appear to be the prices they charge.
Someone posted on a blog that a copy of Vista Ultimate (current OS at
the time of the post) was only $45 for the full version. And to think
I paid $140 for my desktop's OEM of Win7 Pro, and $100 for this
laptop's OEM of Home Premium. Not that I mind, of course - it's the
greatest OS I've ever used.

I think it is $50.00 for Ultimate, although there might be a $45.00 Upgrade
package, I don't recall.