FWIW, I have two Windows XP installations running on the same computer, both installed with the same key, and both validated by Microsoft. So, the problem has nothing to do with keys whatsover (besides he didn't even reach the part of the installation process where he has to enter the key, and even if it did, the only thing that could happen is Windows not being validated, but would run for 30 days without validation, as some others already pointed).t3toooo wrote:FWIW,i think the key does matter.matthewjumps wrote:ye i think its a BIOS thing, the windows key should have no effect on the actual boot, and as i said, i keep getting "Disk Read Failure press ctrl alt del" when i turn the computer on, before windows even loads.
If you enter the same key on two Windows partitions it won't accept it at boot.
That's why i said you could lend a key (without activation) from somebody trustworthy just to test if it is working.
So, the problem has nothing to do with keys or whatever, I think it has to do with the way he chose to install. He should create two partitions FROM THE DVD, booting from the DVD, and install both systems FROM THE DVD (one and then the other).
Even if, after installing the second OS, the system fails to create a dual boot record (a Master Boot Record), he can create that later, again booting from the DVD.
Problem I see is either you got a pretty large SSD or you will run into trouble later, because of lack of space - two Windows 7 systems in a single SSD seems too much for too little space.