legal xp cd

watson540 · 09-21-2006, 11:23 PM

I have a question regarding the legality of owning an iso of windows xp home that was downloaded off of the internet. It doesn't have a cd key, and I only plan on using it to reinstall windows xp on computers that already have it but need to be reformatted. I would use the unique key that came with the computer that is being reformatted. The only reason I need this cd is because a lot of people lose their cds but they have a valid key. Is this legal? I figure it is, but I just want to make sure.

Burgerbob · 09-21-2006, 11:29 PM

No, and if you read the Forum Rules
you cant talk about it here.

Bobo · 09-21-2006, 11:48 PM

To answer your question, computers with preinstalled versions of an operating system cannot be reinstalled.

4W4K3 · 09-22-2006, 12:00 AM

If you lose the CD you have to purchase another one. I may be incorrect, but I believe CD Key's are "matched" with the instillation CD they are pachaged with. Meaning, you can't use any XP CD key with any old XP OS CD. It doesn't work that way.

terii · 09-22-2006, 12:26 AM

Sorry to say it does work that way. All OEM CD's are the same. All retail CD's are the same. As long as you are talking about a specific flavor of XP the actual CD is the same. The CD key is unique but is in no way tied to an individual CD. As the what the original poster wants to do I am not going to say if it is legal or not but I would suspect that it would be frowned upon. Hope this helps to clarify some of the false info out there.

Arm_Pit · 09-22-2006, 12:34 AM

[Content Removed]

terii · 09-22-2006, 12:59 AM

Sorry I missed that point. Downloading any version of Windows is illegal. I spoke only on the condition that you are employing original MS disks.

4W4K3 · 09-22-2006, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terii

Sorry to say it does work that way. All OEM CD's are the same. All retail CD's are the same. As long as you are talking about a specific flavor of XP the actual CD is the same. The CD key is unique but is in no way tied to an individual CD. As the what the original poster wants to do I am not going to say if it is legal or not but I would suspect that it would be frowned upon. Hope this helps to clarify some of the false info out there.

Ah, I did not know that. I guess you should only run into a problem if the CD key is "used up" and can not activate your product anymore. Sorry for the confusion

SirKenin · 09-22-2006, 04:32 AM

All OEM disks are not created equal. I have one sitting right here that I will bet you $150.00 that you will not find one CD key to work on. Make that $500.00.

StrangleHold · 09-22-2006, 04:35 AM

I bet I can get a cd key to work on it

But I am not suppost to talk about that now am I??

09-21-2006, 11:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
watson540 New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 7	legal xp cd I have a question regarding the legality of owning an iso of windows xp home that was downloaded off of the internet. It doesn't have a cd key, and I only plan on using it to reinstall windows xp on computers that already have it but need to be reformatted. I would use the unique key that came with the computer that is being reformatted. The only reason I need this cd is because a lot of people lose their cds but they have a valid key. Is this legal? I figure it is, but I just want to make sure.

09-21-2006, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Burgerbob Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Private Island Age: 18 Posts: 2,480	No, and if you read the Forum Rules you cant talk about it here. __________________ Family Computer AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (Barcelona) 2048Mb Ballistix, ASUS M2N-E 2X160gb WD SATA HDDs, eVGA GeForce 6800XT Sunbeam Clear (pink, long story) Acrylic case Hanns-G 19in 5ms

09-22-2006, 12:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
4W4K3 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lewisville, TX Age: 20 Posts: 6,858	If you lose the CD you have to purchase another one. I may be incorrect, but I believe CD Key's are "matched" with the instillation CD they are pachaged with. Meaning, you can't use any XP CD key with any old XP OS CD. It doesn't work that way. __________________ My Computer I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe. Can I eat your brain? FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

09-22-2006, 12:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Arm_Pit banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,299	[Content Removed] Last edited by Arm_Pit; 09-24-2006 at 02:25 AM.

09-22-2006, 04:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,084	I bet I can get a cd key to work on it But I am not suppost to talk about that now am I?? __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 800 4gb PNY XLR8 8800GT Spinpoint F1 500gb. Too bad stupidity isn't painful.

09-21-2006, 11:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	To answer your question, computers with preinstalled versions of an operating system cannot be reinstalled.

09-22-2006, 12:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
terii Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 265	Sorry to say it does work that way. All OEM CD's are the same. All retail CD's are the same. As long as you are talking about a specific flavor of XP the actual CD is the same. The CD key is unique but is in no way tied to an individual CD. As the what the original poster wants to do I am not going to say if it is legal or not but I would suspect that it would be frowned upon. Hope this helps to clarify some of the false info out there.

09-22-2006, 12:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
terii Gold Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 265	Sorry I missed that point. Downloading any version of Windows is illegal. I spoke only on the condition that you are employing original MS disks.

09-22-2006, 04:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	All OEM disks are not created equal. I have one sitting right here that I will bet you $150.00 that you will not find one CD key to work on. Make that $500.00.

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