XP on 2 hard drives

[Crhoff]

I have one computer with no internal HD, but with one HD bay. I have 2 HD's
and can only use one at a time. If I put the same copy of XP on each HD
will Microsoft say one is not genuine when I go to update, since their
program looks at HD serial numbers?

Thanks

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

A Windows XP license can only be used once on one
(1) computer. A second installation requires a second
license, even if its installed on the same computer.

From the Windows XP EULA:

1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Software on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other
device ("Workstation Computer"). The Software may not
be used by more than two (2) processors at any one
time on any single Workstation Computer.

Please read your End-User License Agreement by going
to Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter. Then
click on "End-User License Agreement".


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------*---------------------------------

"Crhoff" wrote:

|I have one computer with no internal HD, but with one HD bay. I have 2 HD's
| and can only use one at a time. If I put the same copy of XP on each HD
| will Microsoft say one is not genuine when I go to update, since their
| program looks at HD serial numbers?
|
| Thanks

[Gordon]

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:

> A Windows XP license can only be used once on one
> (1) computer.

Since when, Carey, is a Hard Disk Drive A COMPUTER? A HDD is a DATA STORAGE
DEVICE, not a COMPUTER.

JEEZE if you don't know that, then you must have got your MPV in a lucky
dip, or from Santa Claus......

--
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Systems and Management Accounting
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

[Ghostrider]

Gordon wrote:
> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>
>
>>A Windows XP license can only be used once on one
>>(1) computer.
>
>
> Since when, Carey, is a Hard Disk Drive A COMPUTER? A HDD is a DATA STORAGE
> DEVICE, not a COMPUTER.
>
> JEEZE if you don't know that, then you must have got your MPV in a lucky
> dip, or from Santa Claus......
>

Read the entire thread as well as Carey's entire response.
The same-licensed Windows XP might be placed on 2 separate
hard drives but only one of these HD's is being used on one
computer at any given time. The second HD (with its Windows
XP) has no relevance here.

[Gordon]

Ghostrider wrote:


> Read the entire thread as well as Carey's entire response.
> The same-licensed Windows XP might be placed on 2 separate
> hard drives but only one of these HD's is being used on one
> computer at any given time. The second HD (with its Windows
> XP) has no relevance here.

I did read the entire thread. Carey's response to the OP who asked (quote)"I
have one computer with no internal HD, but with one HD bay. Â*I have 2 HD's
and can only use one at a time. Â*If I put the same copy of XP on each HD
will Microsoft say one is not genuine when I go to update, since their
program looks at HD serial numbers?" (unquote) was to quote his usual drivel
about only being able to install one copy of XP on one computer, hence my
comment that a HDD is NOT A COMPUTER. perhaps YOU ought to re-read the
thread - all two posts.


--
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Systems and Management Accounting
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

[Timothy Daniels]

"Gordon" wrote:
> Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
>
>> A Windows XP license can only be used once on one
>> (1) computer.
>
> Since when, Carey, is a Hard Disk Drive A COMPUTER?
> A HDD is a DATA STORAGE DEVICE, not a COMPUTER.
>
> JEEZE if you don't know that, then you must have got your
> MPV in a lucky dip, or from Santa Claus......


Carey Fischer just spews the Microsoft line. She doesn't
offer legal advice or knowledge. Whatever she says about
the Microsoft EULA can be ignored. In this case, she didn't
even interpret the EULA, she just quoted it for you to interpret
as you see fit.

*TimDaniels*

[Ghostrider]

Gordon wrote:
> Ghostrider wrote:
>
>
>
>>Read the entire thread as well as Carey's entire response.
>>The same-licensed Windows XP might be placed on 2 separate
>>hard drives but only one of these HD's is being used on one
>>computer at any given time. The second HD (with its Windows
>>XP) has no relevance here.
>
>
> I did read the entire thread. Carey's response to the OP who asked (quote)"I
> have one computer with no internal HD, but with one HD bay. I have 2 HD's
> and can only use one at a time. If I put the same copy of XP on each HD
> will Microsoft say one is not genuine when I go to update, since their
> program looks at HD serial numbers?" (unquote) was to quote his usual drivel
> about only being able to install one copy of XP on one computer, hence my
> comment that a HDD is NOT A COMPUTER. perhaps YOU ought to re-read the
> thread - all two posts.
>
>

My understanding of how WGA works is that the "hash" value
is not a factor in determining how "genuine" is the version
of Windows XP. If this is correct and the hash sequence in
the PID has no role in WGA, then WGA ahould not be able to
determine that one HD is genuine whilst the other HD is not
(because the HD's ID no longer factors). By the same token,
if one HD is not genuine, then neither would be the other.
This makes important the checksum that is generated by just
the Product Key itself in combination with some algorithm,
resulting in the PID, which is then compared to a database
of those generated by valid PK's (or of their own checksums).
It can also explain the double-talk in the legalese language
of the EULA.