2 x Windows 10, dual boot ?

Superfly said:

Not quite... that's the same as a VM... it's still on the same machine.. but it's technicalities that's insignificant, IMHO.

cereberus said:

We get this a lot.

Superfly said:

Yep, been that way since when... if MS allows it technically, no need for us to stress.

They should enforce validation their side of the EULA T&C's.

cereberus said:

My point is that even if a user tries to do it legally, due to digital licence activation, the second install (if same edition) activates automatically i.e. MS have created the very non compliance situation.

In this time of political correctness, I want first state following:

• I am no authority, I do not know the official Microsoft stand regarding this topic
• There's no official information available on this topic
• Not bragging, just stating a fact, I've found no better explanation for this on Internet than what I have posted a few times on Ten Forums

Having said that, here's a quote of one recent post of mine regarding multi boot scenarios and digital licensing:

Kari said:

   Note

Please notice that the opinion presented in this post is my personal subjective opinion. It is solely based on logics, my own experience and how Windows 10 digital licensing is currently working.

I have no factual proof in either direction if the opinion presented is how EULA should be read today, if Microsoft should bring it up to date to cover digital licensing or not.

Windows EULA is still from time before digital licensing was introduced. Its wording and phrasing has not been changed to cover digital licensing, EULA as it is only covering scenarios before digital licensing where each Windows installation had to be separately activated with a product key or a volume licensing key.

Digital licensing only accepts one product key per edition; if you have an activated and digitally licensed Windows 10 PRO on your PC and you setup another instance of W10 PRO in dual boot, it will be automatically activated based on the digital license of first installation. If you in your efforts to remain completely in accordance to EULA change the product key in second installation, replacing the one it got automatically due digital licensing with another product key, the machine's digital license will be changed and also the original, first installation will from here on use the new product key.

Currently, Windows 10 does only accept one product key per edition on same machine, all dual / multi boot additional installations of the same edition using the same digital license and becoming automatically activated as soon as they have been installed and Windows has connected to Internet.

Based on above, I think it is totally OK to install same edition of Windows 10 to a digitally licensed PC and use it without any worries about going against EULA which quite clearly does not cover digital license scenarios. I have tried to use official channels to get this clarified, having contacted both Microsoft and The Software Alliance (where MS is a founding member) directly and indirectly. I have received no answers.

Open letter to Microsoft and The Software Alliance I posted on Twitter in January:

To: Microsoft (@Microsoft)
CC: The Software Alliance (@BSANewsEU)
From: Kari The Finn (@KariTheFinn)
Subject: Possible Copyright Infringement
Date: January 26, 2017

Microsoft / Windows 10 EULA text is still mostly from 90’s. It states that “… we grant you the right to install and run one instance of the software on your device (the licensed device), for use by one person at a time…”

That was when software and OS were sold in boxes, activation lasting until re-install. One activation, one install. Now with W10 Digital License activation lasts the life time of device, one license per edition per device.

I participate on online forums and make Windows 10 videos and tutorials. To be able to work better I use the same edition for which my PC has digital license on secondary installation on same PC with a “barebone” setup, only minimum services and startup apps. It was automatically activated based on machine signature, existing digital license the PC got with the original installation.

People knowing me know how profoundly I am against piracy. I have multiple MSDN subscriptions and am a member of MPN, I have all the product keys I need and am willing to use one for this duplicate installation. Before doing it, I want to know your stand.

It’s still one user at any given time, using one activated Windows 10 PRO on one and same PC. If I am making myself guilty of copyright infringement, please tell it and I will activate my secondary installation with a previously not used key. If that is the case I will also provide my contact details for you to press charges for my earlier infringement (for test purposes, to be able to take part on forums, give feedback to Windows Insider program, write tutorials and make videos I have in one or another form had duplicate installations since day 1, October 1st 2014).

Sincerely,
Kari The Finn

Kari

NavyLCDR said:

Yes, you are absolutely correct. At this time, Microsoft has tossed about 90% of EULA enforcement out the Window. About the only time the product key is checked in Windows 10 is if it is a very first install or very first upgrade to Windows 10 of that edition on the computer. After that, if the user wants to install 10 copies on the same computer, all 10 are going to be activated with a digital license, even if they manually enter 10 different product keys and it's completely on the user's honor to comply with the EULA.

Anomalies are even more wide ranging e.g. you can activate clean install of Windows 10 with a Windows 7/8 upgrade key. Yet same key would not upgrade 7/8.

Nowhere in EULA, does it say if this is legal or not. I take the view MS have to either stop it working, or specifically exclude that.

There are other anomalies, but I cannot discuss those here as that would be infringing forum rules.

In the end, the EULA is basically unenforceable legalese, and I reckon a good lawyer could drive a lorry through its holes.

In the end, I do not think MS give a toss about EULA compliance, so long as you use Windows 10. This is further substantiated by the fact there does not appear to be any time limit anymore to run unactivated.