Parallels AND Boot Camp?

[blurb23]

I'm currently waiting to pick up my first Mac as soon as the MBPs are updated. I've been lurking around here for a while now, helping out where I can.

As a switcher, I'm undoubtedly going to need to use some of my Windows only programs (IE, Paint.NET). I'll probably use Parallels to fire up those programs while in OSX, so I don't have to reboot.

However, I also like to game, which would require the use of Boot Camp.

My question is, is it possible to use the same copy of Windows for both Parallels and Boot Camp? Like if I go out to Best Buy and pick up a copy of XP Home, will it work for both Parallels and Boot Camp, or will I need two copies due to usage restrictions?

 

[tersono]

Yes, if you have a boot camp partition, parallels will recognise and (optionally) use it. It's a tad faster that way too. Note, however, that unless you have a volume license, you'll need to activate Windows twice

 

[blurb23]

Yes, if you have a boot camp partition, parallels will recognise and (optionally) use it. It's a tad faster that way too. Note, however, that unless you have a volume license, you'll need to activate Windows twice

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. When you say that I'll need to activate Windows twice though, does that require me to purchase two separate copies of Windows?

 

[tersono]

No, you should be able to activate Windows up to 4 times before it makes you telephone Microsoft

 

[blurb23]

No, you should be able to activate Windows up to 4 times before it makes you telephone Microsoft

Beautiful, thanks.