Legal Question

[backburner]

Greetings,

Are there any legal ramifications in using one copy of Windows '98 in a dual boot system where one partition will be upgraded to XP, or do I need to buy a full version of XP?

Thanks,

bb

[Panama Red]

Let me see if I understand this. Two partitions, load each with a copy of 98se that you own legally, then upgrade one with XP upgrade that you would own legally. If that's the scenaio, I don't see a problem. Keep in mind I'm not an attorney, it just sounds ok to me.

[andyms18a]

if you upgrade 98 to xp from a upgrade cd then technically you cant install win 98 as the upgrade transfers your licence from 98 to xp but if you make 2 partitions and install 98 on the first and then clean install xp on the second (you dont need to have 98 on it to use the upgrade cd it will find your win98 first partition and check you have a product that can be upgraded ) then you are not runing 2 copys of windows98 and i dont think you will have a problam if it for home use if the computer is a bisness one then you must get a full winxp cd or another win98 licence to run both.

[HAL9000]

Wait a minute here... yes, it would be legal to have a second copy installed even if were on a second machine.. why you ask? Because you own a copy of Windows XP.. the licensing from XP validates the older illegal OS as now being a current legal OS... got that direct from Microsoft.

[Confused]

I would do a clean install of XP rather than loading WIN98 and then upgrading. Just use your WIN98 CD when it ask for a qualiying OS.

I do believe that is legal after reading Hal's post since you will have two different OS's on your PC. If 'm wrong maybe Hal will explain why.

But to go one step further. A dual boot of WIN98 and XP is a waste of disk space unless you have a reason such as a sopport person or software that will not run on XP. I set this up as a dual boot 20 months ago and haven't booted to WIN98 since.
Chas

[andyms18a]

Originally posted by HAL9000
Wait a minute here... yes, it would be legal to have a second copy installed even if were on a second machine.. why you ask? Because you own a copy of Windows XP.. the licensing from XP validates the older illegal OS as now being a current legal OS... got that direct from Microsoft.

hi hal

do you have a link on this as the way i understand it if you own windows 98 and purches the windows xp upgrade cd then the windows 98 licence is void in favor of the winxp licence because the upgrade cd is cheaper this is whot i was told at work and i wood love to prove work wrong

[backburner]

Thanks guys. I was curious about this because I do have some software that is not supported by XP. I was under the impression that the rule of thumb was one OS copy per computer. Technically doesn't the HD qualify as the computer? Wouldn't two HD's = two computers?

bb

[HAL9000]

Sorry.. don't have a link.. this was via a phone conversation with MS. You could have a pirate version of say Win9X, then purchase XP home and the fact that you are in posession of XP Home, it now makes the pirate version of Win9X legal. Now if you had Win2K Pro pirated, you would need to be in posession of WinXP Pro to cover the licensing on it.

Also from that same conversation found out that with MS Office, it is legal to install a single copy on one PC and one laptop (cannot be 2 PC's or 2 laptops). What happens is you install on the PC and activate, then you install on the laptop, go to activate, get the error that it cannot be activated because it's already activated on another PC. Then call the MS phone number listed and give the details of being on one PC and one laptop, they will then issue a second activation key.