Dual-boot and its license issue

@MisterEd

It's noticed that your computer runs dual-boot. I would like to know how you to deal its license issue.

1. MSFT OS: requests two licenses. usually not a big problem as computer manufacturer can help.
2. MSFT Office: requests two licenses too. that causes to double expense. If one OS without Office, then it's NOT useful while taking much OS partition room. no worth.

Any way run a dual-boot computer with one Office license? In reality, only one OS in use on dual-boot computer anytime.

In practice, within one of dual-boot OS, I installed an out-of-date copy of Office. but still NOT very useful. just better than nothing.

MisterEd said:

Over the the last week I changed the motherboards on two computers Note the 1st was dual-boot. Computer #1 (dual-boot)
Computer #1a:

• Windows 10 Pro
• Office Pro 2010

Computer #1b:

• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Office Standard 2007

Update

My Office 2010, activated once this week, is presently running on dual-boot computer. W11/W10.

This was an old issue. my computer was running W7/W11 dual-boot. Office2010 was activated and running on W7. W11 couldn't run Office2010 as no license (my post#1).

This week, I changed OS W7 to W10. new dual-boot computer with W10/W11. and installed Office2010 but it was NOT working on either OS, W10 or W11. it requested activate.
I rang Microsoft Office and got it activated on W10. (input 6x9 digit blocks. reply/re-fill 6x8 digit blocks).

When test, it's noticed that the Office 2010 is presently activated and running on both OS. W11/W10.
Microsoft server must have changed its activation registration management.

on Windows 11


on Windows 10

siliconbeaver said:

This was an old issue. my computer was running W7/W11 dual-boot. Office2010 was activated and running on W7. W11 couldn't run Office2010 as no license (my post#1).

This week, I changed OS W7 to W10. new dual-boot computer with W10/W11. and installed Office2010 but it was NOT working on either OS, W10 or W11. it requested activate.
I rang Microsoft Office and got it activated on W10. (input 6x9 digit blocks. reply/re-fill 6x8 digit blocks).

When test, it's noticed that the Office 2010 is presently activated and running on both OS. W11/W10.
Microsoft server must have changed its activation registration management....

No, it's not that. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 identify themselves as version 10.0.mmmmm.nnnn.
Your Office 2010 cannot tell the difference between W10 and W11, for licensing purposes it sees W11 as just a higher build of W10.



Your Windows 7 on the other hand was version 6.1.7601, a completely different OS as far as Office 2010 licensing was concerned.

You can be right.

But I just reiterated my Office2010 license status. Didn’t reiterate it as a Rule or a legal method on dual-boot computer.

One thing I believe, Microsoft server must have changed its activation registration management.
In past, when I upgraded SSD from smaller size to bigger size. restored image then it would be running. No need to re-activate Office2010 (please read my old posts, it’s was part of my re-install practice).

But this time (after Feb 2025), it didn’t go this way. Indeed the W10 was imaged back onto a new SSD with dual-boot setup. It’s noticed its Office2010 requested re-activate. (by Feb 2025 or early, my log showed Office2010 was running without re-activation on same computer but different SSD).

btw, the dual-boot W10/W11 is Windows 10 22H2/Windows 11 24H2.

Sorry I missed your post...Dual-boot computers are treated like two computers. Each computer has to have its own set of licenses. The same goes for virtual machines. Each virtual machine has to have its own licenses for Windows and other software.

I have enough Windows and Office licenses for all my dual-boot computers. However, I don't have enough for my virtual machines. I usually let Windows 7, 10, and 10 go unactivated. The only downside is that I can't personalize the logins. Windows XP is special in that it won't let you log in if you don't activate it within 30 days. I have licenses for it but but it is not worth the time to call Microsoft for this. Instead I use an offline method as a workaroud. Normally this is frowned upon on these forums but does anyone, even Microsoft, care about Windows XP anymore?

As best I remember here are the Windows and Office licenses I have:

siliconbeaver said:

@MisterEd

It's noticed that your computer runs dual-boot. I would like to know how you to deal its license issue.

1. MSFT OS: requests two licenses. usually not a big problem as computer manufacturer can help.
2. MSFT Office: requests two licenses too. that causes to double expense. If one OS without Office, then it's NOT useful while taking much OS partition room. no worth.

Any way run a dual-boot computer with one Office license? In reality, only one OS in use on dual-boot computer anytime.

In practice, within one of dual-boot OS, I installed an out-of-date copy of Office. but still NOT very useful. just better than nothing.

Looks you have a big warehouse for computers (some are really old ) and hardware as well.
And a stockroom for MSFT software, Windows and Office.

Frankly, my problem on them is similar. My solution has taken an easy way.

• Windows XP. My OS selects the released VL iso. Its activation is waived as the MSFT XP server gone. my post on XP [Solved] Activate XP on VirtualBox | My Digital Life Forums
• Windows 7/10/11. It’s NOT easy to obtain Windows 7 CD-key any more. My computers are mainly selecting HP computers. HP computer when HP install media, no need of OS activation (no matter W7/10/11). An easy solution for me. A big saving in CD-key and W7 activation procedure.
• Office. It’s a headache. Have to deal with it. Office2013 or higher are all cloud-based. Bulky and sluggish. I gave up them after test (according to test time). My main Office are Office2010, Office97 (fastest. But nearly extinct. No support). Some Office2013/07/03/365 but seldom in use. My tasks on RTD and excel macro need Office. And hope to run as quick as possible.

MisterEd said:

Sorry I missed your post...
I have enough Windows and Office licenses for all my dual-boot computers. However, I don't have enough for my virtual machines. I usually let Windows 7, 10, and 10 go unactivated. The only downside is that I can't personalize the logins. Windows XP is special in that it won't let you log in if you don't activate it within 30 days. I have licenses for it but but it is not worth the time to call Microsoft for this. Instead I use an offline method as a workaroud. Normally this is frowned upon on these forums but does anyone, even Microsoft, care about Windows XP anymore?

siliconbeaver said:

Looks you have a big warehouse for computers (some are really old ) and hardware as well.
And a stockroom for MSFT software, Windows and Office.

I actually live in a small house (~900sqft). I store some things in a detached garage. I have a spare bedroom set up for my 3 desktop computers. Until 6 months ago it was 5 desktop computers. I retired the 2 desktops with Windows XP Pro. I really didn't use them much anymore. At my age 3 desktop computers is more than enough to keep up with.

I have had home computers since 1979. However, I did not buy a PC compatible one until 1995. I had or built several computers between 1995 and 2002. They all became obsolete so ended up in my garage. I threw them all in the garbage after some encouragement from my wife to do so. All the computers I have now are ones I either bought or built since late 2002.

BTW, since 2018 I have also bought 3 Raspberry Pis. They are a Raspberry Pi 3B+, a Raspberry Pi 4B, and a Raspberry Pi 5.

siliconbeaver said:

Frankly, my problem on them is similar. My solution has taken an easy way.

• Windows XP. My OS selects the released VL iso. Its activation is waived as the MSFT XP server gone. my post on XP [Solved] Activate XP on VirtualBox | My Digital Life Forums
• Windows 7/10/11. It’s NOT easy to obtain Windows 7 CD-key any more. My computers are mainly selecting HP computers. HP computer when HP install media, no need of OS activation (no matter W7/10/11). An easy solution for me. A big saving in CD-key and W7 activation procedure.
• Office. It’s a headache. Have to deal with it. Office2013 or higher are all cloud-based. Bulky and sluggish. I gave up them after test (according to test time). My main Office are Office2010, Office97 (fastest. But nearly extinct. No support). Some Office2013/07/03/365 but seldom in use. My tasks on RTD and excel macro need Office. And hope to run as quick as possible.

Since it got to be such a hassle to call Microsoft to activate Windows XP I have been using an offline method to activate Windows XP. It is discussed in this Windows XP Forums thread: Windows XP activation algorithm cracked

The online supply of Windows 7 keys dried up about the time free upgrades of Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 ended in September 2023. I don't think that was a coincidence.

I still have to deal with Windows activation on my two main laptop computers. The embedded keys are for Windows 10 and 11 Home but I upgraded each to Windows Pro which required activation using the keys I got with them.

This forum hardly has any activity now. I guess most people have moved on from Windows 7 like they did with Windows XP.

Why do you say that Office is all cloud-based? That is only true if you have a subscription to Microsoft 365 or are using the free version of Office called Office on the Web (includes web applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

I use Office 2019 Pro Plus and Office 2021 Pro Plus most of the time. They have perpetual licenses just like Office 2003 - Office 2016. They are installed on my computers and do not require web access. Note in each I can log onto my Microsoft account but that is not required.

Salute the veteran in computer/IT.