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.
legal xp cd
- Thread starter watson540
- Start date
Burgerbob
Active Member
No, and if you read the http://www.computerforum.com/52038-forum-rules.html
you cant talk about it here.
you cant talk about it here.
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
I bet I can get a cd key to work on it
But I am not suppost to talk about that now am I??
But I am not suppost to talk about that now am I??
tlarkin
VIP Member
Software licensing is very weird. For example, if you purchase a prebuilt computer (HP, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, etc) you are also getting a license of windows if windows came preinstalled. You technically own that computer and the software license that came with it. However, that license is bound to that machine. Meaning it is part of a package. If you own lets say a HP desktop that came with windows XP home on it. You then own a license for XP Home since you own the computer.
Notice how almost all the manufactured computers these days have the product ID key on the machine, on a sticker? That is because it is bound to that machine. So, if you want to sell that machine, like on ebay, you are also selling that copy of windows with it.
Same thing goes for MS office if it comes preinstalled, or you add an OEM version with your computer. I used to work for a Microsoft reseller a while back ago in their service department. I was basically a tech for sales support and for our retail clients. If a client ordered a machine a certain way, I did the silent OEM installs for them. If they returned the computer with in their 15 day or 30 day (or however long they had) return period, we could not resell the open box machine with out keeping that copy of office with it. That is why we got such a good deal on OEM pricing. You could add Office XP Professional for around 200 dollars, full version. Not a bad deal considering what it cost retail.
Now, there is definitely a gray area, which would have to be interpreted by lawyers, which is why we need and have them in technology.
Lets say, I am an IT worker, and I just ordered and paid for $40,000 of high end software licenses (like unlimited auto cad seat or maya, or similiar, onsite license type of thing). The company who developes the software already got their money by selling it to a reseller, and the reseller made money off of the mark up.
Now lets say this is a pain in the ass to set up because of how the set up works. I won't go into huge detail but I have deployed high end software images over a network that require a license server, to verify that you paid for the license. Typically these are a pain to set up and usually only work in a pure microsoft enviroment. Meaning you can slap it on a cheap old open source linux server.
Now if you paid for the software and own it, and decide to just download the cracked version on bittorrent and install it on your desktops at work, then just shelf the real versions still in the factory seal, are you breaking the law?
Yes, you are.
Will they come after you?
Most likely not, especially if you paid for it.
Then you have two types of open source licenses, one that is completely free, and one you can charge for, even though its open source
It get real technical and real unclear sometimes what exactly you agree to in an EULA. It also makes me mad that some higher end software packages are such a pain to install because of all the security measures the company goes through for anti-piracy, yet it stops nothing and you can stll download a cracked version online and it works fine, and its easier to install.
Notice how almost all the manufactured computers these days have the product ID key on the machine, on a sticker? That is because it is bound to that machine. So, if you want to sell that machine, like on ebay, you are also selling that copy of windows with it.
Same thing goes for MS office if it comes preinstalled, or you add an OEM version with your computer. I used to work for a Microsoft reseller a while back ago in their service department. I was basically a tech for sales support and for our retail clients. If a client ordered a machine a certain way, I did the silent OEM installs for them. If they returned the computer with in their 15 day or 30 day (or however long they had) return period, we could not resell the open box machine with out keeping that copy of office with it. That is why we got such a good deal on OEM pricing. You could add Office XP Professional for around 200 dollars, full version. Not a bad deal considering what it cost retail.
Now, there is definitely a gray area, which would have to be interpreted by lawyers, which is why we need and have them in technology.
Lets say, I am an IT worker, and I just ordered and paid for $40,000 of high end software licenses (like unlimited auto cad seat or maya, or similiar, onsite license type of thing). The company who developes the software already got their money by selling it to a reseller, and the reseller made money off of the mark up.
Now lets say this is a pain in the ass to set up because of how the set up works. I won't go into huge detail but I have deployed high end software images over a network that require a license server, to verify that you paid for the license. Typically these are a pain to set up and usually only work in a pure microsoft enviroment. Meaning you can slap it on a cheap old open source linux server.
Now if you paid for the software and own it, and decide to just download the cracked version on bittorrent and install it on your desktops at work, then just shelf the real versions still in the factory seal, are you breaking the law?
Yes, you are.
Will they come after you?
Most likely not, especially if you paid for it.
Then you have two types of open source licenses, one that is completely free, and one you can charge for, even though its open source
It get real technical and real unclear sometimes what exactly you agree to in an EULA. It also makes me mad that some higher end software packages are such a pain to install because of all the security measures the company goes through for anti-piracy, yet it stops nothing and you can stll download a cracked version online and it works fine, and its easier to install.
I bet I can get a cd key to work on it
Ok. I'll take you up on that. The reason I say it is because two of us searched high and low for another key for it. None of them worked. Not even for that specific release of XP Pro. OEM 2002.
This particular one is from Microsoft. They gave it to me for attending their XP release convention a few years back in Toronto. If I ever lose the key I'm screwed.
tlarkin
VIP Member
I have an XP 2002 Disc from the microsoft road show as well. I have a utility that extracts product keys from already installed versions of windows, but that wouldn't help if you need to install it from scratch.
I bet those were probably batched or something similiar. I have never tried to use any other product key for my OEM copy from the road show though.
Yeah, extracting the key is a breeze. I'm not worried about that. I'm just paranoid about losing the COA. I thought I did lose it once, and I almost lost it.
No other keys work. Your key might work on my copy though. I don't know. I've never found another disk like it. You're the first one I know that has one.
No other keys work. Your key might work on my copy though. I don't know. I've never found another disk like it. You're the first one I know that has one.
Exactly. You should have seen me.. I can be a real nice guy when I want to be, but I have an incredibly mean streak and a very bad temper when pushed enough. I went ballistic. One of the things I hate the most in life is not being able to find something. Even my wife runs. lol I have a hissy fit when I can't find my keys.
Anyways. Protect yourself, because I'm telling you right now you're probably not going to find another key for it. Slipstream SP2 on it while you're at it. Then put your good copy away. Sure, it was free, but it will suck ass if you ever have to fork out coinage to replace it.
Did they give you Office XP Pro as well? They did here, along with a bunch of other stuff and a not too bad lunch. 
Anyways. Protect yourself, because I'm telling you right now you're probably not going to find another key for it. Slipstream SP2 on it while you're at it. Then put your good copy away. Sure, it was free, but it will suck ass if you ever have to fork out coinage to replace it.
Did they give you Office XP Pro as well? They did here, along with a bunch of other stuff and a not too bad lunch.
tlarkin
VIP Member
I can't remember back four years ago, but I also went to the win ME and win 2000 road shows as well. I got free copies of all. I work in the education field now, so I get educators discounts on actual software, like a full version of win xp pro (OEM) for 40 bucks...not too shabby.
I did win a rio mp3 player at one of them, and my co-worker won a nice microsoft keyboard. The mp3 player was 128mb one and at the time it was like the first one available.
I also once won a 10 dollar gift card to star bucks from AMD, that was awesome
Well the only problem with creating an image for myself is I build my own computers, so that image may be useless next gen hardware and stuff. Maybe I can make a real base install on a generic system. Who knows?
I did win a rio mp3 player at one of them, and my co-worker won a nice microsoft keyboard. The mp3 player was 128mb one and at the time it was like the first one available.
I also once won a 10 dollar gift card to star bucks from AMD, that was awesome
Well the only problem with creating an image for myself is I build my own computers, so that image may be useless next gen hardware and stuff. Maybe I can make a real base install on a generic system. Who knows?
That weird, I have one of those. Went to a tech show back in 2002 right after XP came out, got it free for going to a meeting, cant remember the company. Got in home and opened it and had a copy of Office XP pro with it. Never tried to use another key on it. The Office XP pro installs without a key but it has one? Seems like if your copy wont install with another key it should be enbeded somewhere on the cd?