Windows 10: Free leak- free peek- free fun for all

But if you installed them on separate drives but run on the same machine, I don't think you need 2 licenses. You don't use them at the same. It's only one or the other. So, why 2 licences?

 

A license covers One operating system.
If you dual boot you are using two operating systems so you need two licenses.
A Windows license doesn't universally cover any and all OSs.
One system one license.
Two systems two licenses.

Check out the record number of OSs installed on one machine and every one of them requires its own license!
No free lunches from MS!

 

I always thought if a motherboad goes bad, then you can replace with another regardless of the warranty and still keep the OEM. In my case, dell replaced my windows 7 motherboard and it was a similar but not the exact model of the previous motherboard. No activation was required and was even able to do a clean install of windows 7 using dell windows re-installation disk that I got earlier from dell. That didn't require activation either.

 

Yes, that's correct. The OEM license allows replaced components if they are the same manufacturer model *OR* a manufacturer designated equivalent.

 

The two motherboards were similar enough that re-activation wasn't necessary. You might also have been able to re-activate by phone if the mobos were not similar. That decision is made by MS, and maybe by a customer service rep speaking very poor English, over a very bad phone connection.
I really don't recommend it if there is ANY other option.

 

Actually, if you have two windows 7 installed 0n two different partitions, you can use the other as backup that is allowed in the EULA. If you use the same oem version twice on one computer it is not piracy it is considered a backup but if you use it on two different computers it is piracy.

Technically, I have a few image backups but I should only have one backup.

 

Exactly. I have 2 copies of Win 7 (one cloned copy for testing purposes) on my system with one license. As long you run them on the same machine, there shouldn't be any issue.

Now, upgrading the cloned Win 7 copy to Win 10 and running it on the same machine with the original Win 7 installation is something that I am curious about. Do you think Win 7 will get deactivated?

 

Yes!
Off the top of my head I would think you'll get an error msg that that system is no longer valid, in service, or similar.
You can't use the same Product Key in two places at once.

 

Anyway, in any case, I don't have any plans of upgrading my 7. Maybe one of my Win 8.1 will go but for now I am thinking about getting a separate license for Win 10.

 

I find it interesting that you didn't provide a link to the article.. So I googled the exact text you quoted. The article is titled:

"2 Windows 7's on one machine...legal or not?"

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/81...-machine-legal

And it's about running two copies of the same OS, and nothing about downgrading rights. The downgrade rights faq at MS says explicitly (in red is my comments):

http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/lice...id=aJUnLm0clGi

• users can use the following media for their downgrades: retail (full packaged product), or system builder edge-to-edge media (DVD), provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. End users can use one legal version of the downgrade media for multiple installations. They don't need to have one set of media for each PC they are downgrading, because they have acquired legitimate full operating system licenses for the most recent version, which gave them the right to downgrade.
• The software may not be installed on any computer system other than the one that was downgraded under this right.
• If downgrading, the end user cannot use the new operating system (for example, Windows 8.1 Pro) and the
  downgraded operating system (for example, Windows 7 Professional) at the same time. (not the case with dual boot)
• End users may reinstall the software at any time, provided the downgraded operating system has been removed
  from the computer, and that software is reinstalled on the same PC on which it was originally installed

The last bit is easily achieved by using removable hard drives, or simply disabling the drive in BIOS and running the other version on a different drive. As we all know, with EFI, installing the OS on separate drives is the only safe way to dual boot anyways. So the only added requirement is to "remove" it from the computer when using the other OS.

But, once again, I'm not a lawyer, and this is just my interpretation.

 

I may not accept the "free" upgrade either.
It says junior member beneath my name up there but I've had from one to six copies of Windows on line at one time, all legally licensed, never ran a pirated copy of anything. Started with Win3.1 and have used them all with the exception of two, which I won't mention.
I signed on to AOL in 1992 and I'll be 82 in a few weeks. A computer is just a toy for me and I still have four online.
I have no need for Win10 but would like to play with it, as does everyone else, but, can I afford free??
I think there is going to be a lot of surprises!

 

Mystere,
I was told by someone here or on windows 7 forum that you can install the same oem twice on one computer. The person actually called Microsoft activation system and talk to a rep and told them they have two windows 7 on one computer but on different partitions or drive, the Microsoft rep said that is no problem and will activate it the second partition or drive. I would link to that, but it is a to many posting to go through.

 

The wording of the System Builder license for Windows 8 and 8.1 says:

To me, this says you can use a system builder license in a Virtual Machine for a different licensed OS, but I think others interpret it differently.

 

The one I purchase will have a key with it.. like it does when you purchase a copy of windows today and the upgrade will have a key with it.. well I would think it will have a unique key for each upgrade.

 

@Roger What you need to do is settle down and wait for MS to come out with more information about the upgrade licensing process. At this point it seems like you're rushing to judgement on what may happen and finding information on the internet aht may not be accurate in not hellping much.

Some of us here are or have been in the IT field for years and don't use PC's as toys.. and in the end there are some here I think I would take their advice more seriously that others on the internet who are posting blogs.

YMMV.
Jeff