[selowitch]

Parallels is great but I can't game with it, so ideally I'd make a Parallels VM available for everyday use and reboot into BootCamp when I want to game. To do that, would I need two separate licenses for Windows XP?

[k squared]

Nope. But you will probably have to call to get another activation number. If the call center operator asks, just say you had to reinstall Windows.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by k squared

Nope. But you will probably have to call to get another activation number. If the call center operator asks, just say you had to reinstall Windows.

Well, I previously installed WinXP on my last Core Duo iMac, then deleted the partition. So now I need two new activation keys. Can I ask for two of them at the same time?

[ghporter]

This is an excellent question. Technically, if you're running XP both under Parallels and natively through Boot Camp, you're still running it on the same hardware. The license is per computer, nothing else. So whether you'll have activation problems depends on how Parallels lets the "guest" OS contact the hardware; it really depends on what hardware the activation system "sees" when you run XP in Parallels. If it sees the actual hardware, you shouldn't need to reactivate because it's installed on the SAME hardware (and will generate the same hardware signature), though you may need to go through activation again because of where the activation key gets stored-Parallels' virtual partition versus the actual partition Boot Camp generates. It all depends...

[selowitch]

Hmmm. Well, it looks like I'm callling Microsoft Support. I'll report back as to what happens.

[Macola]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Hmmm. Well, it looks like I'm callling Microsoft Support. I'll report back as to what happens.

Been there, done that

http://forums.macnn.com/104/alternat...k-2-computers/
http://forums.macnn.com/104/alternat...nt-intel-macs/
http://forums.macnn.com/104/alternat...p-pc-mac-will/

Mods, maybe we should make this question a sticky...

[ghporter]

Good idea, Macola...

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Good idea, Macola...

This thread isn't ready to be "stickied," IMO, because we don't have a clear, step-by-step solution for this issue yet.

[Macola]

How about this?

1. Install XP first using BootCamp. When prompted, enter the serial number.
2. Activate XP online (you don't need to register).
3. Install Parallels on the Mac partition and install XP from the same CD used previously, entering the same serial number.
4. Boot XP in Parallels, launch the Activation Wizard, and select activation by phone.
5. Call the toll-free number displayed, read off a very long sequence of numbers to the support rep.
6. S/he will read back an equally long sequence of numbers, which you should type into the labeled boxes on the screen. You may also want to write it down for future reference.
7. Follow the rest of the activation prompts and you're done.

Note that these steps are typical for OEM versions of XP. If you have a retail copy, you may be able to activate it a second time online, and not go through the phone process.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by Macola

5. Call the toll-free number displayed, read off a very long sequence of numbers to the support rep.
6. S/he will read back an equally long sequence of numbers, which you should type into the labeled boxes on the screen. You may also want to write it down for future reference.

I failed to do that when I installed XP for Parallels. Can that "long sequence of numbers" be found in the Windows registry somewhere?

[ghporter]

Probably not. It's most likely there, but they're VERY careful about making it easy to find. It's probably encrypted if it's there. But you'll have that set of numbers you need DISPLAYED by XP. Clearer?

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Probably not. It's most likely there, but they're VERY careful about making it easy to find. It's probably encrypted if it's there. But you'll have that set of numbers you need DISPLAYED by XP. Clearer?

Well, I did it in reverse. I installed XP via Parallels, using up my new activation string. Now I gotta do it for BootCamp; I'm on the phone with Microsoft right now; we'll see what happens.

I wish I could document to these folks that the license is indeed per-computer and not per-install, so that I'm entitled to install the same copy of XP for both Parallels and BootCamp on the same Mac. But all that is over the heads of the support reps, I imagine

EDIT: Okay, it worked! It really was as simple as asking for new activation key. I wonder what would have prevented me from simply installing XP on another computer with this key (not that I would ever commit that act of piracy; nevertheless, I am curious).

Anyway, this is really cool! I have Parallels for everyday use (like when I want [quite frequently] to test one of my webpages against IE for Windows) and Boot Camp for when my son and I feel like gaming. This will work great until they update Parallels to support 3D Video. Thanks, everyone!

Now this is a worthy of stickihood!

[ghporter]

The extremely long number you had to read off to MS is a unique signature for your hardware. If it had not been correct (or at least close-the system is flexible enough for minor hardware changes to be noted but not cause problems), they would have asked you more questions-"Are you SURE this is the same computer?" and they probably would not have given you a new key.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by ghporter

The extremely long number you had to read off to MS is a unique signature for your hardware. If it had not been correct (or at least close-the system is flexible enough for minor hardware changes to be noted but not cause problems), they would have asked you more questions-"Are you SURE this is the same computer?" and they probably would not have given you a new key.

Good to know. It works now. I can use Parallels or boot WinXP via BootCamp, no problem. Thanks!

[mikemako]

Just wanted to add my eXPerience:

I installed and activated Windows XP with Boot Camp about 6 months ago. Then a couple weeks ago I installed and activated the same copy of Windows XP through Parallels. There was no problem, and I didn't have to call Microsoft for a new activation key.

I bought this copy of Windows XP (Home Edition) through newegg.com for about $90. Do you think the reason I was able to activate it twice was because the installations were about 6 months apart?

[dazzla]

Yup, if it was within 24 hours they might've cared. Even if it fails activation just ring them and say you bought it for a computer which was damaged/broke etc and you've reinstalled on a new PC. They happily oblige.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by mikemako 

Just wanted to add my eXPerience:

I installed and activated Windows XP with Boot Camp about 6 months ago. Then a couple weeks ago I installed and activated the same copy of Windows XP through Parallels. There was no problem, and I didn't have to call Microsoft for a new activation key.

I bought this copy of Windows XP (Home Edition) through newegg.com for about $90. Do you think the reason I was able to activate it twice was because the installations were about 6 months apart?

I think you could activate it twice because it was on the same hardware-and that's all Microsoft cares about. A lot of times people install XP on the same machine days, even hours apart (I've done that MANY times!), so the time between isn't an issue. Microsoft just wants to keep people from getting one copy of XP and install it on a bunch of different machines, so their activation system just pays attention to the hardware it's on.

[Macola]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I think you could activate it twice because it was on the same hardware-and that's all Microsoft cares about. A lot of times people install XP on the same machine days, even hours apart (I've done that MANY times!), so the time between isn't an issue. Microsoft just wants to keep people from getting one copy of XP and install it on a bunch of different machines, so their activation system just pays attention to the hardware it's on.

It's not the same machine, though. In Parallels, the virtual machine is quite different from the real hardware. Some people just seem to get lucky with this particular activation scenario--mostly, it's because it's a retail copy and not OEM.

[mikemako]

In my case it was an OEM copy, (WinXP Home Full Version for $90).

I guess it was just that, like the other poster said, the activations were several months apart.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Macola 

It's not the same machine, though. In Parallels, the virtual machine is quite different from the real hardware. Some people just seem to get lucky with this particular activation scenario--mostly, it's because it's a retail copy and not OEM.

I've been pondering this issue for quite some time. Parallels has to get some sort of data from the hardware to know what it is-hard drive=Segate ST..., video card=ATI... and so on. This data is part of the vendor code data that the whole system has access to. Parallels must have a way to get this data to use it to figure out how to contact the hardware, so it might be available to software running under Parallels.

The best thing I can figure is that the approximation of hardware data that Parallels comes up with is "close enough" to not trigger a "reauthenticate" with Windows Activation. It's important to keep in mind that Activation is built with flexibility; you can change a certain percentage of the hardware without triggering an activation requirement, and that change is indeed time-sensitive. If you change too much too quickly, you WILL need to activate. So the big deal is "just what is Parallels reporting for hardware IDs." And I think it's "close enough" to what Windows will report while running natively to be "the same hardware" because it does NOT trigger a new activation most of the time.

Anyone with real information is very welcome to correct these suppositions-which is what they are. Einstein figured out the crux of the cosmos through "thought experiments," but I don't know if even he was up to figuring out Microsoft's arcana.

[TheDizzle]

whats the point of telling them that your computer crashed and you need to reinstall it. its not like theres anything illegal or wrong with what we're truly doing... is there? or is that just kinda a way so its a quick explanation... oh well, whatever works