> >My problem is I'd really like to consider PCs from other manufacturers as
> >I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently. But
> >I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of Win
> >2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
>
> Actually you can't even do that with the DELL OEM version, it's
> against the EULA as a virtual machine is considered a separate machine
> and the BIOS is different, so those version probably wont even install
> in VPC.
>
> >Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
> >obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
>
> Buying legal full versions from someone else is about it. XP is still
> for sale through June 30th from Microsoft I think...
>
> --
> Bob Comer
>
>
>
> On Fri, 30 May 2008 07:20:01 -0700, JohnB
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
> >I'm looking to replace a couple of machines for the Helpdesk / testing team,
> >we currently have DELLs with KVM switches and/or multi-boot operating systems
> >to support Windows 2000 / XP and various versions of Internet Explorer(I
> >think all our customers have finally moved on from 98 now!)
> >
> >I'd like to replace the KVM/multiboot configurations with single machines
> >with lots of memory/storage and Virtual PC to accomodate differnt
> >configurations we need, probably running VISTA business. (Early copies of
> >VISTA we had were replaced with XP downgrades) but from what I've seen the
> >recent updates have improved things and some of the problems were DELL
> >supplying unsupported hardware/drivers.
> >
> >My problem is I'd really like to consider PCs from other manufacturers as
> >I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently. But
> >I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of Win
> >2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
> >
> >Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
> >obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
> >
> >Any advice appreciated!
>

> >Thanks for this chaps - I hadn't considered that the BIOS was virtual as well
> >but this makes perfect sense!
>
> No problem, glad to help.
>
> >We're a member of Technet - could I suggest that Microsoft considers making
> >versions of previous OS versions available for those in our position -
> >possible locked in so that they'll only run in a Virtual machine?
>
> That would be an interesting way to do it. Maybe you should suggest
> this to Microsoft.
>
> An MSDN subscription for each tech would get most of the OS's you
> need, but the license stipulates you can only use it for testing and
> development.
>
> >I always thought that you weren't really allowed to "buy" copies of licences
> >second hand and I don't really want to get involved with the grey/black
> >market.
>
> Yes and no I guess is the best answer. I'm not a lawyer, so take what
> I say with a grain of salt, but full retail copies can be sold second
> hand as they're license is transferable. OEM copies usually aren't,
> as well as something like education copies I think. I understand not
> wanting to chance it though...
>
> --
> Bob Comer
>
>
> On Fri, 30 May 2008 08:08:00 -0700, JohnB
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
> >Thanks for this chaps - I hadn't considered that the BIOS was virtual as well
> >but this makes perfect sense!
> >
> >We're a member of Technet - could I suggest that Microsoft considers making
> >versions of previous OS versions available for those in our position -
> >possible locked in so that they'll only run in a Virtual machine?
> >
> >Looking at the specs for Virtual PC it seems to be the perfect answer for
> >our needs but unless we have access to the previous versions it's actually
> >useless to us. I guess I'll have to stick to the KVM solution. Perhaps MS
> >should put a note in the spec that only "full" copies of previous OS's will
> >work not OEMs.
> >
> >I always thought that you weren't really allowed to "buy" copies of licences
> >second hand and I don't really want to get involved with the grey/black
> >market.
>

> Thanks for this chaps - I hadn't considered that the BIOS was virtual as
> well
> but this makes perfect sense!
>
> We're a member of Technet - could I suggest that Microsoft considers
> making
> versions of previous OS versions available for those in our position -
> possible locked in so that they'll only run in a Virtual machine?
>
> Looking at the specs for Virtual PC it seems to be the perfect answer for
> our needs but unless we have access to the previous versions it's actually
> useless to us. I guess I'll have to stick to the KVM solution. Perhaps MS
> should put a note in the spec that only "full" copies of previous OS's
> will
> work not OEMs.
>
> I always thought that you weren't really allowed to "buy" copies of
> licences
> second hand and I don't really want to get involved with the grey/black
> market.
> --
> John Franks MIScT, MIAP, MCSA, MCSE, MCDBA
>
>
> "Robert Comer" wrote:
>
>> >My problem is I'd really like to consider PCs from other manufacturers
>> >as
>> >I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently.
>> >But
>> >I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of
>> >Win
>> >2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
>>
>> Actually you can't even do that with the DELL OEM version, it's
>> against the EULA as a virtual machine is considered a separate machine
>> and the BIOS is different, so those version probably wont even install
>> in VPC.
>>
>> >Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
>> >obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
>>
>> Buying legal full versions from someone else is about it. XP is still
>> for sale through June 30th from Microsoft I think...
>>
>> --
>> Bob Comer
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 30 May 2008 07:20:01 -0700, JohnB
>> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>>
>> >I'm looking to replace a couple of machines for the Helpdesk / testing
>> >team,
>> >we currently have DELLs with KVM switches and/or multi-boot operating
>> >systems
>> >to support Windows 2000 / XP and various versions of Internet Explorer(I
>> >think all our customers have finally moved on from 98 now!)
>> >
>> >I'd like to replace the KVM/multiboot configurations with single
>> >machines
>> >with lots of memory/storage and Virtual PC to accomodate differnt
>> >configurations we need, probably running VISTA business. (Early copies
>> >of
>> >VISTA we had were replaced with XP downgrades) but from what I've seen
>> >the
>> >recent updates have improved things and some of the problems were DELL
>> >supplying unsupported hardware/drivers.
>> >
>> >My problem is I'd really like to consider PCs from other manufacturers
>> >as
>> >I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently.
>> >But
>> >I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of
>> >Win
>> >2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
>> >
>> >Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
>> >obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
>> >
>> >Any advice appreciated!
>>

>I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently. But
>I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of Win
>2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
>Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
>obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
>I'm looking to replace a couple of machines for the Helpdesk / testing team,
>we currently have DELLs with KVM switches and/or multi-boot operating systems
>to support Windows 2000 / XP and various versions of Internet Explorer(I
>think all our customers have finally moved on from 98 now!)
>
>I'd like to replace the KVM/multiboot configurations with single machines
>with lots of memory/storage and Virtual PC to accomodate differnt
>configurations we need, probably running VISTA business. (Early copies of
>VISTA we had were replaced with XP downgrades) but from what I've seen the
>recent updates have improved things and some of the problems were DELL
>supplying unsupported hardware/drivers.
>
>My problem is I'd really like to consider PCs from other manufacturers as
>I've had several quality issues with machines they've supplied recently. But
>I have a feeling that I wont be able to install my licenced copies of Win
>2000 and XP on anything other than a DELL as they are DELL OEM versions.
>
>Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware or is it possible to
>obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run under Virtual PC?
>
>Any advice appreciated!

>> is it possible to obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run
>> under Virtual PC?
>
> Any Microsoft Partner or VAR will happily sell you these...

>but this makes perfect sense!
>We're a member of Technet - could I suggest that Microsoft considers making
>versions of previous OS versions available for those in our position -
>possible locked in so that they'll only run in a Virtual machine?
>I always thought that you weren't really allowed to "buy" copies of licences
>second hand and I don't really want to get involved with the grey/black
>market.
>Thanks for this chaps - I hadn't considered that the BIOS was virtual as well
>but this makes perfect sense!
>
>We're a member of Technet - could I suggest that Microsoft considers making
>versions of previous OS versions available for those in our position -
>possible locked in so that they'll only run in a Virtual machine?
>
>Looking at the specs for Virtual PC it seems to be the perfect answer for
>our needs but unless we have access to the previous versions it's actually
>useless to us. I guess I'll have to stick to the KVM solution. Perhaps MS
>should put a note in the spec that only "full" copies of previous OS's will
>work not OEMs.
>
>I always thought that you weren't really allowed to "buy" copies of licences
>second hand and I don't really want to get involved with the grey/black
>market.

> http://computers.search.ebay.com/windows-"Karl E. Peterson" <(email address - cut out)>
> wrote in message news:(email address - cut out)...
>> Mark Rae [MVP] wrote:
>>>> is it possible to obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run
>>>> under Virtual PC?
>>>
>>> Any Microsoft Partner or VAR will happily sell you these...
>>
>> Serious? I could buy, say, Win95 licenses now? Windows 2000? (If'n I
>> had the need.)
>
> I doubt that VARs would sell you a Win9x/ME license,
> but you can get them
> from places like eBay. There are dozens of Win95 there today.

> Mark Rae [MVP] wrote:
>>> is it possible to obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run
>>> under Virtual PC?
>>
>> Any Microsoft Partner or VAR will happily sell you these...
>
> Serious? I could buy, say, Win95 licenses now? Windows 2000? (If'n I
> had the need.)
> --
> .NET: It's About Trust!
> http://vfred.mvps.org
>

> Some of them are advertised as new upopened boxes. There is nothing unlegit
> with buying a "recycled" license as long as the EULA permits transfer of the
> license (retail upgrade and standard licenses are) and the seller provides
> the info that the software is not in use on any machine. I consider having
> been used for a previous upgrade as "in use" even though the software is not
> currently installed. You may not be able to get a Win95 license another way
> at this late date. Just use good judgment regarding the seller.

> Does this tie me in to having to buy DELL hardware
> is it possible to obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to run
> under Virtual PC?

> Colin Barnhorst wrote:
>> http://computers.search.ebay.com/windows-"Karl E. Peterson"
>> <(email address - cut out)>
>> wrote in message news:(email address - cut out)...
>>> Mark Rae [MVP] wrote:
>>>>> is it possible to obtain licences for legacy versions of Windows to
>>>>> run
>>>>> under Virtual PC?
>>>>
>>>> Any Microsoft Partner or VAR will happily sell you these...
>>>
>>> Serious? I could buy, say, Win95 licenses now? Windows 2000? (If'n I
>>> had the need.)
>>
>> I doubt that VARs would sell you a Win9x/ME license,
>
> Me too, which is why I wondered about that suggestion.
>
>> but you can get them
>> from places like eBay. There are dozens of Win95 there today.
>
> Sure, but I was wondering about "legit" new license sources, rather than
> recycled ones.
>
> (Me, personally, I can get just 'em from my MSDN archive.)
> --
> .NET: It's About Trust!
> http://vfred.mvps.org
>

> Thanks again Bob, we do have an MSDN subscription - I hadn't thought of
> looking in there - since the legacy systems will be used for testing new
> versions of our software and I think that trying to replicate customer's
> problems relating to their configuration could legitimately be classed as
> "testing" this should solve our problem and keep my conscience clear!

> JohnB wrote:
>> Thanks again Bob, we do have an MSDN subscription - I hadn't thought of
>> looking in there - since the legacy systems will be used for testing new
>> versions of our software and I think that trying to replicate customer's
>> problems relating to their configuration could legitimately be classed as
>> "testing" this should solve our problem and keep my conscience clear!
>
> AFAIK, copies of Win9x and Win2000 are not available on MSDN due to the
> Sun Java settlement (an absurd situation, IMHO). Likewise for Visual
> Studio 6.
>
> --
> David Wilkinson
> Visual C++ MVP

> AFAIK, copies of Win9x and Win2000 are not available on MSDN

> "David Wilkinson" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
>
>> AFAIK, copies of Win9x and Win2000 are not available on MSDN
>
> Windows 95 isn't.
> Windows 98 is.
> Windows 2000 Professional isn't.
> Windows 2000 Server is.
> Visual Studio 6 is.