Copy of XP

WizZard

cormie wrote:

Are you sure? I thought all OEM disks come with the manufacturers excess baggage?

Nope, some manufacturers add their own stuff, but most small OEM system builders don't.

WizZard

cormie wrote:

Is it legal or not for me to be asking for a copy of Windows XP Pro Retail (no service pack edition)

Not really IMO, but I'm not a mod of this forum. It's a grey area really.
You only want the media, not the key, which should be legal - but I'm no legal eagle so I can't say for sure.

Really, you should be able to use any XP Pro disc once you own the license, but I doubt it's that straightforward.
Contact MS and they will tell you anyway. You will need the COA at the very least.

cormie

WizZard wrote:

You will need the COA at the very least.

Yeah, I wouldn't think it's illegal myself. Since the key is involved, it would be different if it was a movie or game I was asking for.

Sorry, whats the COA? Thanks:)

Peteee

Dell pay microsoft about €12 for each copy of windows they provide with thier systems.

A copy of windows needs to be activated MORE then 50 times a DAY for microsoft to shut off the key.

Please do not ask me where how/where i pertained this information.

maidhc

What on earth can be illegal about acquiring a copy of software you already legitimately have a licence to use.

Apart from the chances of trojans etc, I would say it is perfectly legitimate to download to download the ISO from a p2p/torrent site. Indeed one of the central arguments in the original Napster case was that people were using napster to download tracks they had already bought (e.g. in the office etc). Although napster failed for a variety of reasons, the argument is a valid one. You cannot infringe copyright, as you already have it licenced.

I have XP Pro Sp2 - a Dell OEM. I'm happy to burn you a copy and post it on the understanding that you do have a legitmate key and COA. If you have a recent Dell computer it should install fine, but I dont have an idea what will happen if you have a different BIOS.

Chalk

cormie wrote:

Yeah, I wouldn't think it's illegal myself. Since the key is involved, it would be different if it was a movie or game I was asking for.

Sorry, whats the COA? Thanks:)

coa = certificate of authentcity

although i thought they were only for oem software,
retail get a license

cormie

Thanks Chalk.

Maidhc, thanks allot but it's not for a dell and my key wouldn't work on the OEM version as unveiled earlier in the thread.

Thanks anyway:)

Bill isn't answering the phone

SouperComputer

try to get SP2, I can't really comment on where to get the image.

[devil's advocate] call MS, as its a retail version they might ship out media, even if its costs 15euro or so, its worth a try. [/devil's advocate]

cormie

I think I may have a source who can copy it for me:) Thanks for all the help.

WizZard

maidhc wrote:

Apart from the chances of trojans etc, I would say it is perfectly legitimate to download to download the ISO from a p2p/torrent site. Indeed one of the central arguments in the original Napster case was that people were using napster to download tracks they had already bought (e.g. in the office etc). Although napster failed for a variety of reasons, the argument is a valid one. You cannot infringe copyright, as you already have it licenced.

Well unforutnately the guys who own these programs don't think so.
Plus most copies you find on those networks have a crack included, which kinda destroys your argument.

maidhc

I dont think it really matters what the guys who write the software think:

from the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000:
82.—(1) It is not an infringement of the copyright in a computer program for a lawful user of a copy of the computer program to make a permanent or temporary copy of the whole or a part of the program by any means and in any form or to translate, adapt or arrange or in any other way alter the computer program where such actions are necessary for the use of the program by the lawful user in accordance with its intended purpose, including error correction.

Section 374 gives a lawful user immunity to circumvent any from of DRM in order to excercise their rights under, inter alia, section 82. This would seem to suggest using a cracked version of XP is perfectly legitimate if it is to excercise your rights under a copyright licence.

gline

maidhc wrote:

I dont think it really matters what the guys who write the software think:

from the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000:
82.—(1) It is not an infringement of the copyright in a computer program for a lawful user of a copy of the computer program to make a permanent or temporary copy of the whole or a part of the program by any means and in any form or to translate, adapt or arrange or in any other way alter the computer program where such actions are necessary for the use of the program by the lawful user in accordance with its intended purpose, including error correction.

Section 374 gives a lawful user immunity to circumvent any from of DRM in order to excercise their rights under, inter alia, section 82. This would seem to suggest using a cracked version of XP is perfectly legitimate if it is to excercise your rights under a copyright licence.

its true, the law does state that once u own a lefgit copy u can own or make a "backup" of it.