[Googer-Giger]

Hi, I just got my Dad a copy of Parallels for his MBP, before this he had windows xp pro sp2 running in bootcamp. Is it possible to delete the bootcamp windows partition, and run that same version of windows xp he had in bootcamp, in parallels without buying another licensee key? Would Microsoft recognize that it's the same machine?

[Cold Warrior]

None of these threads answered your questions?
http://forums.macnn.com/104/alternat...inxp-licenses/
http://forums.macnn.com/104/alternat...primer-thread/

[MacosNerd]

Provided that version of windows is not an OEM copy (the type that came with a new computer) then you can.

If you have not activated the original copy for quite some time, it will take the activation on your mac without any complaints, but if you had, then you'll need to call M$. When an activation fails, there's a dialog box that pops up with a phone number, use that to explain to them what your trying to do.

Of course you know that you cannot run two copies of windows (same license) at the same time and if you choose to install windows on your mac you'll need to uninstall it on your original computer.

Check out newegg.com if you need to buy a additional copy of windows, they're generally cheaper then most places.

[ghporter]

Not all OEM Windows versions require that the OS be installed only on that specific brand of computer-though there are a number that are limited that way. However, if the Boot Camp setup is working fine, then telling Parallels to use the Boot Camp image should not be an issue-it's not "installing" anything, just using an existing installation. Of course this applies ONLY to XP-Vista has some interesting rules about virtualization, and only certain versions of Vista are authorized to be virtualized.

However, there's never a problem with having MORE legitimate copies of Windows than you absolutely need...

[Googer-Giger]

Thanks guys.