Why use a virtual machine? **RESOLVED**

[Billie Walsh]

nepal wrote:
> On Sunday 30 Nov 2008, Steven Vollom wrote:
>   
>> The last time, I got so mad, I broke my CD so that I did
>> not have it to fall back on.  I wish I hadn't done that,
>> I would like to have a virtual machine, now that I better
>> understand, but I will never give Microsfoft another
>> penny.  It may be cutting my nose off to spite my face,
>> but I want Linux to win this battle, and that kind of
>> commitment is necessary to make it happen, I believe.
>>     
>
> I respect your determination to deprive M$ of any further 
> money. Well done, I do the same. Not because of anything 
> they did to me personally, but because of their disgusting 
> business practises. All they will ever get from me is my 
> greatest contempt. :)
>
> With regards your genuine copy of whichever version of 
> windows you have, my understanding is that you purchase the 
> license, and get a license number and activation code along 
> with the cd. That is how it was with the last genuine copy 
> of windows I had, win 95. The activation code is on the 
> little booklet that comes with the windows cd/dvd. I still 
> have it here somewhere.
>  
> So you could use any XP disk that is not your own, and use 
> your license/activation code that you did pay for. But M$ 
> being as dispicable as they are may well have closed that 
> loophole.
>
> nepal.
>
>   

IF:

Your computer has one of those "Genuine Microsoft" stickers on it with 
all the numbers on it most computer stores can give/sell you a CD of 
that version of Windows. Many just charge for the blank CD they burn it 
on. Take the disk home and load it on your computer, call Microsoft and 
give them the number on the sticker and some sob story about hard drive 
failure and they will give you an activation code. Punch that into your 
computer and ......

Your computer is an "off the shelf" unit and not to old sometimes you 
can order a _reload_ set from the manufacturer. These usually don't 
require re-activation from Microsoft. Down side to them is all the trash 
software they per-load.

-- 
Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.