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gameguy3001

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 8, 2007
96
0
Saskatoon, SK
What would happen if you install a single user retail copy of OS X on to more than one computer on the same network? I know that it is illegal, but just out of curiosity. Would they both work or would you only be able to run one at a time cause they "sense" each other and the second one to boot wouldnt work or get a error?
 
i doubt it, if u can install it, it will run, simultaneously on all computers

OS is not suppose to automatically transfer information without owner initiating it, it would be an invasion of privacy. So called, "hidden backdoor".
 
While it's not necessarily illegal, there's nothing stopping you from doing it. They won't sniff each other out, they won't prevent you from using it if one is booted and another isn't.
 
Ok, I was just curious. Cause I know that there are some programs (QuarkXpress and Photoshop) that do sense if another computer on the network is running the same program with the same license. But I didnt know how it worked with the OS.
 
Ok, I was just curious. Cause I know that there are some programs (QuarkXpress and Photoshop) that do sense if another computer on the network is running the same program with the same license. But I didnt know how it worked with the OS.

Yes, I know some med softwares doing that, when u bough a package of 5 licenses, and if u open the 6th copy, it will tell you it can't open anything. But I never heard of OSes doing that.
 
Yes, I know some med softwares doing that, when u bough a package of 5 licenses, and if u open the 6th copy, it will tell you it can't open anything. But I never heard of OSes doing that.
That's usually done through license servers. Such programs need to get an OK from a license server in your network, which keeps track of how many copies are active at any given time.
 
Ok, I was just curious. Cause I know that there are some programs (QuarkXpress and Photoshop) that do sense if another computer on the network is running the same program with the same license. But I didnt know how it worked with the OS.

Microsoft Office 2004 is also one of them. Found that out back in the day when I had everything pirated. Having gone completely legit does wonders for the soul. (and not using microsoft office helped) :D
 
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