Copy Windows Vista off of a PC?

[mrbigchin]

Is there anyway to copy the windows os off of my pc and install it on my Mac?

 

[-aggie-]

No. You have to use an install disk.

 

[balamw]

If you are retiring the PC, and your Windows license allows for transfer (i.e. it is a retail license and not an OEM license you can easily migrate it over to your Mac as a virtual machine in VMWare Fusion using the built in tool on the home page or VMWare Converter.

I'm sure that Parallels offers something similar.

B

 

[roadbloc]

As long as you do not use your PC, it will be legal to install it with a illegally obtained install CD, as you are just simply transferring your licence to another machine.

But you need a CD. Get torrentin' (JOKE!)

 

[balamw]

As long as you do not use your PC, it will be legal to install it with a illegally obtained install CD, as you are just simply transferring your licence to another machine.

But you need a CD. Get torrentin' (JOKE!)

Even though you are joking, note that OEM licenses like the ones that are usually included with pre-built PCs do not generally come with license transfer rights.

YMMV. Read your licenses.

B

 

[mrbigchin]

As long as you do not use your PC, it will be legal to install it with a illegally obtained install CD, as you are just simply transferring your licence to another machine.

But you need a CD. Get torrentin' (JOKE!)

What if I took the license from my friends broken pc and then torrented the windows os to install it
Won't that work?

 

[balamw]

It's all about the product key. It has to match the kind of media you install it with. In some cases if you have for example a Dell OEM product key, you need a Dell OEM install CD.

YMMV.

B