Copying VPC VMs is it legal?

[xwb]

I have an XP mode VM. I shut it down, make a copy, rename the copy, modify the settings to take the new vhd file. I now have 2 clean VMs. One year later, I've repeated this process several times and now have several VMs (one for each project) and I'm quickly running out of space. I've archived the data on the ones that are no longer needed and deleted the VMs but space is still very low. The easy options are to either get a bigger disk or move them to another machine.

If I go for the latter, is it legal to copy these VMs to another machine with VPC (not necessarily W7 - could be XP or Vista) and use them on the other machine?

 

[linney]

XP Mode is free to download so I don't think there is much to worry about using that on many machines. It is supplied with a free and Activated SP3. Where you might run into problems is when you use any operating systems (or other program) that require a Product Key to become Activated and that key is used multiple times.

It would pay you to look at any EULA or License ReadMe that come supplied.

Find End User License Terms for Microsoft Software Licensed by Microsoft or the Computer Manufacturer

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx

Find End User License Terms for Microsoft Software Licensed by Microsoft or the Computer Manufacturer

http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

http://download.microsoft.com/Documents/UseTerms/Windows

7_Professional_English_b7a7153f-1a6c-498c-9350-c86926bb1aa9.pdf






END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE
MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP MODE
(WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PACK 3 IN VIRTUAL HARD DISK IMAGE FORMAT FOR USERS OF WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL, ENTERPRISE AND ULTIMATE EDITIONS)


As read from the file C:\Program Files\Windows XP Mode\VXPEULA.txt



"GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following rights provided that you comply with all terms and conditions of this EULA:
1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Software in a single virtual machine on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device (“Workstation Computer”), that contains a licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate edition. Virtualization software is required to use the Software on the Workstation Computer. The Software may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer. "



is it possible to run more than one XP Mode Virtual Machine

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...t/thread/d562ea13-cf45-48fd-97d8-25ff8bee60cb

 

[xwb]

Thanks Linney.

The social.technet site says what I'm doing is illegal and if I do copy it, it has to be to another W7 machine.

The part I've never seen before is

The Software may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

I've never seen any windows workstations with more than 2 processors.

 

[ChrisHirst]

quad core CPUs technically, are 4 processors on a single substrate.

Chris.

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[strongm]

>is it legal to copy these VMs to another machine with VPC (not necessarily W7 - could be XP or Vista)

Technically, as the EULA extract linney has posted makes clear, no: it is only licenced for use on W7 Pro, Enterprise or Ultimate

 

[xwb]

Just for fun, I tried it on a VPC on XP. It doesn't work.

 

[BadBigBen]

I've never seen any windows workstations with more than 2 processors.

then you have never seen the ones that we had build... a Tyan quad CPU mainboard, with 96GB ram...

quad core CPUs technically, are 4 processors on a single substrate.

while technically correct, this is not what MS means. MS speaks here of PHYSICAL SOCKETS, max of a two socket mainboard. thus curbing the use of said XP-Mode VM's to a NON-Server application, due to the licensing restrictions of the OS as to how many physical sockets, you are then required to use the next higher OS (e.g. W2k8R2) on mainboards with more than two sockets...

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.

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.

How many CPU sockets is Win 7 licensed for?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...e/thread/562b2642-1a22-48c8-85ba-54d1cbbd13d1

Windows 7 editions (Comparison chart)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
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