Can I Activate The Same Copy on Three CPUs

Ken Blake wrote:
....
Unfortunately the message you get is erroneous. It *does* say "too many
times," but that's not the way it works. You have to reactivate if you make
too many hardware changes.

I don't know why the error message is erroneous, but my guess is that it was
originally planned to be "too many times," but when they changed the plan,
they forgot to change the error message.

When I encountered that error message it was on the same PC, same
hardware, trying to activate during a faulty install.

Besides, it's irrelevant. The issue isn't whether you can activate over the
internet or have to do it by phone, the issue is whether you can activate it
as many times as you want to. And the answer to that question is, quite
simply, yes.
....

Good call. It needed to be summarized. Activate automatically... there
are conditions controlling that. Over the phone, it's the person's call
to accept it.

Then, the answer to the original question is still, Yes. He can
"activate on one computer and on another at the same address."

One can quibble over ethically is it Yes or No. So the answer becomes,
"Yes. But you are not supposed to according to a license agreement
which may or may not be relavent depending upon local, sate or federal
law."

Donald L McDaniel wrote:
Sorry, folks, but the XP license says EXPLICITLY that it is licensed
to only be installed on TWO CPUS. Whether this means it may be
installed on two separate MACHINES (each with ONE CPU) is kind of up
to the courts to decide.

How about Virtual PC? May I install several instances of XP on the same
PC, or does Microsoft demand that I shell out for each additional instance?

Donald L McDaniel wrote:

Sorry, folks, but the XP license says EXPLICITLY that it is licensed
to only be installed on TWO CPUS. Whether this means it may be
installed on two separate MACHINES (each with ONE CPU) is kind of up
to the courts to decide.


First, that's only for XP Professional, not Home.


Personally, I lean to the interpretation that it may be installed on a
SINGLE machine which has UP TO TWO CPUs


I'm running on my laptop, at the moment, which is XP Home, so I can't check
the Professional EULA right now, but as I recall, that's very clearly what
it says. Can you cut and paste the relevant sentence/paragraph here?


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

(probably, the Microsoft
lawyers meant a SINGLE machine which has a floating point processor,
and an integer processor (the license is THAT ancient).

==

Donald L. McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread.
================================================== ========

wrote:

Ken Blake wrote:
...
Unfortunately the message you get is erroneous. It *does* say "too
many times," but that's not the way it works. You have to reactivate
if you make too many hardware changes.

I don't know why the error message is erroneous, but my guess is
that it was originally planned to be "too many times," but when they
changed the plan, they forgot to change the error message.

When I encountered that error message it was on the same PC, same
hardware, trying to activate during a faulty install.

Besides, it's irrelevant. The issue isn't whether you can activate
over the internet or have to do it by phone, the issue is whether
you can activate it as many times as you want to. And the answer to
that question is, quite simply, yes.
...

Good call. It needed to be summarized. Activate automatically... there
are conditions controlling that. Over the phone, it's the person's
call to accept it.

Then, the answer to the original question is still, Yes. He can
"activate on one computer and on another at the same address."

One can quibble over ethically is it Yes or No. So the answer becomes,
"Yes. But you are not supposed to according to a license agreement
which may or may not be relavent depending upon local, sate or federal
law."


There are two different questions he can you? and may you? Unfortunately
not everyone properly differentiates between the two words. However I
interpreted his question as very clearly meaning "may I?" That's because he
used the phrase "at the same address."

As far as the "can you?" question, yes, there are ways around almost any
restriction. You *can* rob banks too. That doesn't make it legal. You may
not rob banks and you may not use a single Windows license on more than one
computer.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Clearly you have not read the EULA.

As for your source, you misunderstood or were misunderstood.
Or possibly had an incompetent tech.
Or can you give a verifiable source?
I did, but you continue to disregard my source as well as you can not
provide a source.
"one of the Activation people" is not a source.
Without a name and other relevant information, it is no better than hearsay.
And hearsay is all you are spreading.

The EULA is more than "just a piece of paper".
For me, it is an agreement I freely accept or not.
I honour agreements I accept, apparently you prefer to remain ignorant of
agreements you accept.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


wrote in message
oups.com...
What is stated in the EULA has nothing to do with how Windows
Activation actually works.

My "source" for 3 is actually testing and being told that by talking to
one of the Activation people.

I called and discussed with them because I had one installation on one
computer with a hardware problem fail on activation three times. The I
smartened up and got a new HDD which enabled me to get a finished
install, but activation said, "XP has exceeded it's activation limit"
and I CALLED AND ASKED WHAT THAT MEANT.

Just last week, I installed an XP CD for the SECOND TIME and on a
different PC and it Activated AUTOMATICALLY.

The hell with your EULA! It is just a piece of paper!

Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:
As has already been suggested, read the EULA you have already agreed.

What is your source for 3?
Just because you called Microsoft does not mean you can not activate
unlimited $ of times.
Did they activate the computer?

As for "unlimited"
Again, read the EULA, it is in there as well the other links you seem to
ignore.

As for the other hardware, that only proves one of 2 things:
1. You did not read or make an attempt to understand the EULA, most
probable since it seems you have no understanding of the EULA.
2. You have no regard for agreements you accept since the EULA clearly
states the limitations of your license to use Windows XP.

Now if you are going to ignore the agreement already agreed and attempt
to
bypass legitimate use, anything is possible.
Whether it is honest is another thing.

Finally it is noted you failed to provide a source for the information
you
gave.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org

--
A fool and his XP is soon an expert

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
...
Donald L McDaniel wrote:

Sorry, folks, but the XP license says EXPLICITLY that it is licensed
to only be installed on TWO CPUS. Whether this means it may be
installed on two separate MACHINES (each with ONE CPU) is kind of up
to the courts to decide.


First, that's only for XP Professional, not Home.


Personally, I lean to the interpretation that it may be installed on a
SINGLE machine which has UP TO TWO CPUs


I'm running on my laptop, at the moment, which is XP Home, so I can't
check the Professional EULA right now, but as I recall, that's very
clearly what it says. Can you cut and paste the relevant
sentence/paragraph here?

This is what it says in the Pro 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.


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

(probably, the Microsoft
lawyers meant a SINGLE machine which has a floating point processor,
and an integer processor (the license is THAT ancient).

==

Donald L. McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread.
================================================== ========

Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:
Clearly you have not read the EULA.

As for your source, you misunderstood or were misunderstood.
Or possibly had an incompetent tech.
Or can you give a verifiable source?
I did, but you continue to disregard my source as well as you can not
provide a source.
"one of the Activation people" is not a source.
Without a name and other relevant information, it is no better than hearsay.
And hearsay is all you are spreading.

I wasn't clear. I apologize. The "three times" was not in reference to
the EULA, at all, but with regard to the technical aspects of the
installation process during which the computer activates itself over
the Internet. Technically, as is how Windows actiavtes itself, has
nothing to do with the EULA. Obviously, I was not clear.

The EULA is more than "just a piece of paper".
For me, it is an agreement I freely accept or not.
I honour agreements I accept, apparently you prefer to remain ignorant of
agreements you accept.

Tell me, my noble friend, what do you do if the "agreement" turned out
to be improper, giving one party undo rights over the other, without
that other party's knowledge, forcing that party of accept hidden and
illegal terms?

Oh, but Microsoft would never do anything wrong. In all those court
battles MS was innocent. What was it that MS was found guilty of?

I find no sympathy with you. Some guy making a 2nd copy of XP, say for
his kid's old Win98 box, and I should feel a lack of "honor?"

*sigh*

I want to apologize for my previous reply, Hal.

Discussing the technical aspects of Windows' Activation is probably not
pertinent to this newsgroup. (Nor what you were probably asking about.)

So, let me rethink your question for a second... ... ...

Okay...

If you are going to be no longer using your first computer, disposing
of it, or if it's broken, etc., then yes, you can use the CD and
activate it on another computer.

If you want to continue to use the first computer, then you are not
allowed to install the CD on another computer according to the license
agreement (which you "agree to" when you install Windows).


Hal wrote:
I have purchased copy of XP Pro Sp2 that I activated on one
computer. Can I activate the same copy on another computer at
the same address?

TIA

Hal

Ken Blake wrote:
....
As far as the "can you?" question, yes, there are ways around almost any
restriction. You *can* rob banks too. That doesn't make it legal. You may
not rob banks and you may not use a single Windows license on more than one
computer.

Robbing banks and copying Windows are two completely different things.
Making a 2nd copy of XP is about as victimless a crime as there can be.
Or do you *really* get ****ed that Microsoft's Monopoly practises do
net get an extra $50.00 bucks or so this year? Is that what drives you
MVPs?

Yeah, I was wrong. I was getting all "technical" when I should have
been behaving like a sheep.

Yeah, I was wrong. How dare anyone let Microsoft make $8,999,999,950.00
in sales this year by their fraudulent business practises instead of
$9,000,000,000.00!

Yeah, I was wrong. This newsgroup is for Help and Support, not
technical or philosophical argument. (Actually, for that, I was wrong,
in perpetuating these posts with you and your fanatical partner.)

"2nd copy of XP, say for his kid's old Win98 box, and I should feel a lack
of "honor?""
Did he pay for it?
One license, one computer as it has always been since at least Windows 95.
If he can not afford Windows XP on the 2nd computer, perhaps he should wait.
Waiting until one has the funds before purchasing is not a new idea and is
the best way to acquire desired goods.
Taking without proper compensation to the owner is not a legitimate option.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


wrote in message
oups.com...
Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:
Clearly you have not read the EULA.

As for your source, you misunderstood or were misunderstood.
Or possibly had an incompetent tech.
Or can you give a verifiable source?
I did, but you continue to disregard my source as well as you can not
provide a source.
"one of the Activation people" is not a source.
Without a name and other relevant information, it is no better than
hearsay.
And hearsay is all you are spreading.

I wasn't clear. I apologize. The "three times" was not in reference to
the EULA, at all, but with regard to the technical aspects of the
installation process during which the computer activates itself over
the Internet. Technically, as is how Windows actiavtes itself, has
nothing to do with the EULA. Obviously, I was not clear.

The EULA is more than "just a piece of paper".
For me, it is an agreement I freely accept or not.
I honour agreements I accept, apparently you prefer to remain ignorant of
agreements you accept.

Tell me, my noble friend, what do you do if the "agreement" turned out
to be improper, giving one party undo rights over the other, without
that other party's knowledge, forcing that party of accept hidden and
illegal terms?

Oh, but Microsoft would never do anything wrong. In all those court
battles MS was innocent. What was it that MS was found guilty of?

I find no sympathy with you. Some guy making a 2nd copy of XP, say for
his kid's old Win98 box, and I should feel a lack of "honor?"

*sigh*

"This newsgroup is for Help and Support"
I am not sure you really understood the purpose of this specific newsgroup.

Go to Start and click "Help and Support"
This newsgroup is here to support that feature.
Some such as yourself come here mistakenly thinking the purpose is for
general help and support with Windows XP.
That is incorrect and there is a more appropriate newsgroup for that and
most other subjects.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


wrote in message
oups.com...
Ken Blake wrote:
...
As far as the "can you?" question, yes, there are ways around almost any
restriction. You *can* rob banks too. That doesn't make it legal. You may
not rob banks and you may not use a single Windows license on more than
one
computer.

Robbing banks and copying Windows are two completely different things.
Making a 2nd copy of XP is about as victimless a crime as there can be.
Or do you *really* get ****ed that Microsoft's Monopoly practises do
net get an extra $50.00 bucks or so this year? Is that what drives you
MVPs?

Yeah, I was wrong. I was getting all "technical" when I should have
been behaving like a sheep.

Yeah, I was wrong. How dare anyone let Microsoft make $8,999,999,950.00
in sales this year by their fraudulent business practises instead of
$9,000,000,000.00!

Yeah, I was wrong. This newsgroup is for Help and Support, not
technical or philosophical argument. (Actually, for that, I was wrong,
in perpetuating these posts with you and your fanatical partner.)

Ricky wrote:

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
...
Donald L McDaniel wrote:

Sorry, folks, but the XP license says EXPLICITLY that it is licensed
to only be installed on TWO CPUS. Whether this means it may be
installed on two separate MACHINES (each with ONE CPU) is kind of up
to the courts to decide.


First, that's only for XP Professional, not Home.


Personally, I lean to the interpretation that it may be installed
on a SINGLE machine which has UP TO TWO CPUs


I'm running on my laptop, at the moment, which is XP Home, so I can't
check the Professional EULA right now, but as I recall, that's very
clearly what it says. Can you cut and paste the relevant
sentence/paragraph here?

This is what it says in the Pro 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.


Thank you. In that case, what it says is very clear, and, as I thought, it
says *one*computer with two processors, but not two computers, each with a
separate processor.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

wrote:

Ken Blake wrote:
...
As far as the "can you?" question, yes, there are ways around almost
any restriction. You *can* rob banks too. That doesn't make it
legal. You may not rob banks and you may not use a single Windows
license on more than one computer.

Robbing banks and copying Windows are two completely different things.
Making a 2nd copy of XP is about as victimless a crime as there can
be. Or do you *really* get ****ed that Microsoft's Monopoly practises
do net get an extra $50.00 bucks or so this year? Is that what drives
you MVPs?


I made no attempt to equate the two, nor do I think that the the two are
equivalent crimes. I merely pointed out out that what you *can* do and what
you *may* do are two diffrent things. In that respect, and in that respect
alone, violating the Windows EULA and robbing a bank are the same.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
...
Ricky wrote:

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
...
Donald L McDaniel wrote:

Sorry, folks, but the XP license says EXPLICITLY that it is licensed
to only be installed on TWO CPUS. Whether this means it may be
installed on two separate MACHINES (each with ONE CPU) is kind of up
to the courts to decide.


First, that's only for XP Professional, not Home.


Personally, I lean to the interpretation that it may be installed
on a SINGLE machine which has UP TO TWO CPUs


I'm running on my laptop, at the moment, which is XP Home, so I can't
check the Professional EULA right now, but as I recall, that's very
clearly what it says. Can you cut and paste the relevant
sentence/paragraph here?

This is what it says in the Pro 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.


Thank you. In that case, what it says is very clear, and, as I thought, it
says *one*computer with two processors, but not two computers, each with a
separate processor.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

You're welcome..and yes very clear.


--
The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up
there's no law against wacking them around a little.
Joe Martin

wrote:
Yes.

Windows' Activation can be done 3 times per Key. After that you have to
call and if you have a convincing reason they will just supply you with
a set of numbers to activate the copy (i.e. hard drive failure, system
upgrade, etc.)


That's completely incorrect.

There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you might
have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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