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Bobby · Jul 19, 2006, 07:33 PM

This question is a little different than the only one I could find on this subject.

I have a copy of WinXP that I purchased in a store a while back (a regular copy that didn't come with VPC) and installed it in VPC & activated it, back in the day...

I'm wondering if the same copy of XP will work under Parallels software (if I do a new install & register it), or will I need to buy a new copy???

skipjack · Jul 19, 2006, 08:37 PM

I have read elsewhere that since it is the same machine, even though it is installed twice, it is considered the same install and if you wanted you could use VPC, Parallels, and Boot Camp with three installations of the same copy of WinXP with no complaints from the Windows activation/registration system.

Bobby · Jul 19, 2006, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by skipjack

I have read elsewhere that since it is the same machine, even though it is installed twice, it is considered the same install and if you wanted you could use VPC, Parallels, and Boot Camp with three installations of the same copy of WinXP with no complaints from the Windows activation/registration system.

That seems rather odd to me though, and this means no I guess...

I havn't been using VPC on my intel mac, it was on an old G3 iBook (painfully slow)... I thought VPC wouldn't run on intel macs at all... I would assume most users of VPC bought it for their G4/G5 macs origionally, so thats kind of why this whole thing has confused me...

Macola · Jul 19, 2006, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by skipjack

I have read elsewhere that since it is the same machine, even though it is installed twice, it is considered the same install and if you wanted you could use VPC, Parallels, and Boot Camp with three installations of the same copy of WinXP with no complaints from the Windows activation/registration system.

No, it's not the same machine. The VM in VPC is different from the VM in Parallels, which are both different from the hardware that Windows sees when booting natively.

legacyb4 · Jul 20, 2006, 12:04 AM

Correct. Worst case will be you will get the "cannot activate over the Internet, please call the toll free number" bit.

Since it's not a pirated copy, you shouldn't be given too much of a hassle for reactivating it.

Angus_D · Jul 22, 2006, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by legacyb4

Correct. Worst case will be you will get the "cannot activate over the Internet, please call the toll free number" bit.

Since it's not a pirated copy, you shouldn't be given too much of a hassle for reactivating it.

Indeed, but if you're planning on running the same copy in Parallels and Boot Camp then you'll be on the phone to MS every time you switch...

©öñFü$íóÑ · Jul 22, 2006, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by Angus_D

Indeed, but if you're planning on running the same copy in Parallels and Boot Camp then you'll be on the phone to MS every time you switch...

......................................

This is what i'd do...:

Make 3 or 4 partitions, one for Mac OS X, one for XP, one for sharing the files in between the two OSes (using a 3rd party app... like "MacDrive"....), and then make a 4th partition for storing a back-up of the pristine, up-to-date (AND ACTIVATED) installation of XP SP2 into a disk image or something.

You can probably do this using Norton Ghost on the Windows side... but i've never tried it since i don't own an intelMac yet... just a thought.

But remember, if you're gonna try this out, don't forget to -ACTIVATE- XP right after you install it, install all the other pieces of software and drivers you need, -THEN- use Norton Ghost to make a backup.

Macola · Jul 23, 2006, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Angus_D

Indeed, but if you're planning on running the same copy in Parallels and Boot Camp then you'll be on the phone to MS every time you switch...

Just explain what you're doing and ask for a second activation code.

Cadaver · Jul 31, 2006, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Macola

Just explain what you're doing and ask for a second activation code.

...and then wait for the laughter from the other end of the phone.

SkaGoat · Jul 31, 2006, 05:48 PM

If it's been more than 6 months since you last activated you should have no problem at all.

ghporter · Jul 31, 2006, 08:46 PM

The activation system looks at the hardware. It CANNOT see that you have Parallels and VPC installed because those are both OS X programs and Windows can't see the OS X programs while running in either Parallels or VPC. So at worst it will look like you reinstalled on the same hardware-which happens frequently!

TheoCryst · Aug 1, 2006, 01:11 AM

I've installed and activated the same copy of Windows XP on an old Toshiba laptop, in VPC, and now natively on my MB via Boot Camp. All three times, the OS activated online with nary a hiccup... so I'd say you should be fine, though I've never tried it in Parallels.

Macola · Aug 1, 2006, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

...and then wait for the laughter from the other end of the phone.

No problems here...all the calls are outsourced anyway and they don't really care.

Macola · Aug 1, 2006, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

The activation system looks at the hardware. It CANNOT see that you have Parallels and VPC installed because those are both OS X programs and Windows can't see the OS X programs while running in either Parallels or VPC. So at worst it will look like you reinstalled on the same hardware-which happens frequently!

True, and the hardware in this case is the VM (as far as activation is concerned, anyway). Thus, the "hardware" in VPC will be entirely different from the "hardware" in Parallels.