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    Relicensing old OS'es for Virtual Machines?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Apollo13, Apr 4, 2008.

  1. Apollo13

    Apollo13 100% 16:10 Screens

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    A friend mentioned a month or so ago that with the growing popularity of virtual machines, there eventually will be a problem acquiring valid licenses simply because of the limited number of current licenses. For example, if a whole bunch of people want to run Windows 95 virtual machines because of incompatibilities with games with Vista, eventually there simply won't be enough Windows 95 licenses for everyone to have a legitimate license.

    Such a situation would make piracy necessary for anyone wanting to run a Windows 95 virtual machine, making a joke of the licenses. But suppose Microsoft offered Windows 95 licenses for virtual machines? Then they could pull in money on an old operating system and still keep the license system working. They wouldn't have to update the drivers for it to work in the virtual machine, so it wouldn't cost them anything other than media and perhaps CD key generators, so it would be almost entirely profit. And without updated drivers, there wouldn't be a significant risk of millions of people abandoning XP for $25 copies of Windows 95 as primary operating systems.

    I think the fact that old operating systems are viewed as obsolete, and the desire to force the newest version on customers, is why this hasn't happened, along with the relatively new nature of virtual machines. But I think it could be a source of revenue, and a way to keep virtual machining within licensing terms. Agree/disagree?

    *note: I realize Windows 95 might still be too recent. Happens to be a convenient example though.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    Apollo13, Apr 4, 2008
    #1
  2. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    I absolutely agree. I myself like virtual machines -- I use XP as the main system, but have another XP in a virtual machine to try freeware programs and demos (so I don't mess up my main registry), and I have a virtual machine with OpenSUSE linux which is the OS in use at work (I don't actually need it, I use it to get familiarized with the OS).

    One problem though -- how does the license program detect that it is on a virtual machine? It can check the processor's name (which might have for example "VMware" in it), but that is fairly easy to change, and VM companies would definitely want to change it...
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 4, 2008
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  3. timtravel42

    timtravel42 Notebook Virtuoso

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    this is an AWESOME idea!!
    but i have a feeling that M$oft isn't gonna like it for some reason
     
    timtravel42, Apr 4, 2008
    #3
  4. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Who cares if they like it or not...

    As long as its a good idea it should be used.

    And always remember..

    Napster was LEgal until Proven Illegal.
     
    Nocturnal310, Apr 4, 2008
    #4