VMware + WindowsXP guest + license?

[Derek Broughton]

Nils Kassube wrote:

> Tomoki Taniguchi wrote:
>> I have a dual boot winxp/linux system.
>>
>> My windows partition has a valid license that came preinstalled with my
>> laptop. It has passed all license validation up to this point.
>>
>> I used the "VMware Converter" to create a copy of the "winxp
>> environment".
>>
>> I then tried running the "image"  in vmware player under linux.
>> The system starts up normally, but when I log in,
>> Windows tells me i need a valid license.
>>
>> My laptop doesn't come with a Windows install CD.
>> It came with a recovery DVD which contains an image of the
>> of a preinstalled harddrive to save time.
>>
>> How can i solve this issue?
> 
> Check your EULA - the one I have seems to allow only one copy of Windows
> on the computer. Probably you have to buy another license to install it
> as a vmware image.

If _that_ was the only problem, I'd be happy to just scrap the original
version and run _only_ the VMWare version.  MS doesn't seem to think I have
that right either.

In answer to the OP, I think there are only two solutions - find a valid
hack to break the Windows licensing restrictions (I haven't managed - I've
tried a few, so sue me MS) or convince MS that your key doesn't work for
the _original_ install (tell them you had to replace the motherboard).  I
know of one case where that actually worked, and the guy was issued a key
that _would_ run under VMWare.  Whatever you do, don't tell them you want
to run it under VMWare.
-- 
derek