Opinions about legality of this dual boot scenario

[Kari]

Having too musch time in my hands, just lying in the bed, I've started to think all possible things. This weekend my small brain was occupied with this scenario, and I would like to know your opinions.

To start, a quote from Windows 7 EULA:

...
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. [FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the "licensed computer." [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]...
[/FONT]

As the older geeks certainly remember, in earlier Windows versions it was possible to use different hardware profiles. You simply got a boot menu asking which hardware profile to boot.

In 7 this is not possible. You have to manually disable or enable the hardware components when the need arises.

What if I install all the software I need, activate Seven, then create a system image. Shut down the computer, disconnect the Windows 7 HD, attach an equal new HD, use recovery tools to return the said image to this HD number 2. Put HD 1 back, use BCEDIT or a third party tool to create a boot menu which at this point would include two absolutely identical Seven installations.

Then strip down Seven setup #2, disable all unnecessary devices etc. thus creating a Seven - Seven dual boot environment, with two different HW-profiles. The computer is the same, only one of the two Sevens could be used at any given time, and so on.

Against EULA or not? Or better, legal or not?

Kari

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Kari my friend, good to see you posting again.

 

[Barman58]

Kari,

as the EULA classes a VM as a computer for licensing terms, I would have to say that this scenario would also class as two computers, though it would of course depend on what you disabled - if they were items that could be changed without removing the case then technically it could be seen as the same computer

 

[Orbital Shark]

Windows 7 EULA Dual Boot Requires Full License

If you install Windows 7 on a different partition and dual boot with XP or Vista you need the Full version, or if you have 2 installs of Windows 7 you also need 2 licenses. Each partition on a hard drive is considered a separate computer.


Windows 7 EULA:

1. OVERVIEW .
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.

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

Source

 

[Kari]

I think this is not very kosher, if MS sees a second partition or a VM as second computer. I just figured this would be the only way to do this. I read a German PC magazine this weekend, and saw the question how to disable certain hardware devices from certain users in Seven, and was thinking what you need is two HW-profiles.

Good theory, not OK to do it I guess.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Kari.



There is another way to do the dual boot; don't use a Windows managed dual boot.


Install Windows to a HDD with only that HDD connected, power-down, disconnect the first HDD and connect the second HDD and install Windows to that HDD, power-down, reconnect the first HDD, set the OS/HDD that you want as default in the BIOS and when you want to boot the other OS/HDD use the one-time BIOS boot menu to select that one, every mobo/BIOS has a one-time boot menu.

That way both OS/HDD are totally independent of each other to come and go as you please.

 

[Kari]

That's even more flexible way to do that, Ted. Thanks for info.

Anyway, my point was this aboput the license, could this be done with only one license. EULA seems to very strict and clear in this issue. It's possible and quite easy to do, but it would need two licenses.

Kari

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here's another option as long as you don't mind reinstalling every 4 months.




Activation Trial Period - Extend Up to 120 Days

 

[Kari]

Not really, no need to play. I was more interested in the principle. Still am