VM/dual boot licencing

indidkid · 13 Aug 2014

Hi all!
First timer here :)

Let me get right to business, I've got a clock ticking.

I would need to enable a user with a W7 (Ultimate or Pro, can't ask now) laptop (OEM licence) to dual boot or use a VM for a certain problematic but inevitable application to run.

The tech support for that particular app suggested dual booting (yes, yes they did) if one would need this app, as well as some other similar ones to work on the same machine. The second solution they give is having two computers. Not joking here.
Anyway, the app's problem is maybe in certificates (which it confuses with other certificates of similar installed apps) or ports, or God knows what.
Literally - God knows - they don't.

So, after spending an hour on the internet, and realising that I would need a lot more to deeply delve into Microsoft's science of licensing, I've decided to join this forum, on which I've found salvation for a big number of problems :) (two thumbs!)

Also, as a sub-question, if the CPU would support virtualisation, would there any problems/differences in the licencing if I were to use Hyper-v or Virtualbox?

Thanx in advance!
Petar

NoelDP · 13 Aug 2014

My immediate response is to tell the provider to go jump.
If they are not prepared to support the most-used OS on the planet, they have a serious problem.
Having said that, what is their reason for the insistence on dual-boot?
What application are we talking about??

If it's a 'XP-specific' application, it's possible to run XP in a VM on Win7 and run the application within the VM (and still run Win 7 as main OS) - it depends on the installed OS, and the application as to how best to do it.

a LOT more detail is needed before we can hope to make a real recommendation (and you're probably in the wrong section of the forum for a fully-competent answer, but I'll ask a few guys to look in).

indidkid · 14 Aug 2014

Hi NoelDP,
Actually it’s not the OS. This app, used for tax reports, works great on W7. But installed next to apps used for bank transfers, it misbehaves in such a manner that even the support staff has no solution. Also, the apps for bank transfers work good on W7. The problem, as per the suggestion of the tax app support staff, might even be related to the CA software.
The answer I’m looking for is, does one need another W7 license for another installation of W7 on the same machine?
Would you need it if it is on a separate partition – dual booting?
What if it’s running in a VM?

Thanx
P

NoelDP · 14 Aug 2014

EVERY installation of Windows requires a separate license - unless you have a Volume License agreement.
SO either dual-boot, or a VM would require two licenses.

In a computerised office situation with more than 5 machines, you may want to consider Volume Licensing - which would require that the machines these licenses are applied to have pre-existing licenses for Professional anyhow (the advantage comes in being able to produce and use a consistent image between all machines).
I'm not sure how Volume Licensing copes with VMs (which in my opinion would be your best option, as you could then have both/all apps open at the same time). You'd need to discuss that with a distributor.

whs · 14 Aug 2014

The way I understand it is that your tax program does not operate properly next to the banking program. Those things can happen.

You can install a seperate OS in virtual and run one of the programs from there but you MUST have a seperate license key for that OS. A virtual machine has the same status as a real machine when it comes to licensing.

One thing to check is whether your banking program cannot run under Linux. Then you could install a Linux system in virtual (which is free) and seperate it from the tax program.