A legal thing....

[NightShade01]

I'm just curious as to if this is legal or not....

If you went to a retail store and bought a PC bundle (lets say HP) that has windows media center installed. Come home boot up and use an XP key veiwer (free from microsoft) to find your product key. write it down. Now if you take a downloaded version of windows media center and installed it on your newly bought pc but used the code from the pc you purchased...would it be considered legal? I mean after all you are paying to get everything to begin with so i wouldn't see why it wouldn't be. The point....being that you wouldn't have tons of pre-loaded crap and you could essentailly start fresh with the PC. Opinions?

[minsonngo]

Hmm... it sounds okay since you are still only using ONE LICENSE on ONE SYSTEM.

Lets see what others have to say about this though.

[blue60007]

Ooh, that's a tricky one. That *might* be OK for normal copy of Windows, *but* since the license for the HP probably says a special version (tied to the HP bios) has to be used. Morally, I'd say your OK, since you did pay for the license, but I think that's stretching it. If you're "downloaded" version has been changed in any way (illegally) then you're still using illegal software, regardless of the legal license key.

BTW, your product key should be on a sticker on the side of the PC.

We are stretching the forum rules a bit, so be careful....

[CommieKid]

Wow who cares about the law.

[Kareeser]

You'll care about the law after a $50,000 lawsuit winds up in your lap

Now. There should be no problem with your setup, that I can see. Worst case scenario, you may get a call, in which case you're still safe, because you can prove that you only have one copy installed on one machine. Acid test: Try Windows Update. If it works, then that's one hurdle overcome, at least.

Yes, we may be bending the rules a little here...

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by Kareeser You'll care about the law after a $50,000 lawsuit winds up in your lap Now. There should be no problem with your setup, that I can see. Worst case scenario, you may get a call, in which case you're still safe, because you can prove that you only have one copy installed on one machine. Acid test: Try Windows Update. If it works, then that's one hurdle overcome, at least. Yes, we may be bending the rules a little here...

lol, yeah, Microsoft may not be absolutely fond of this, and you are "bending the rules" a little, but it's technically legal.

On a kind of related topic, I want to know something...
For my new computer, I got a new OEM copy of XP. I'll install that on my comp... but my dad also wants to upgrade his Windows 2000 laptop and wonders if it'd be legal to install it on the laptop too.

[blue60007]

Nope, one copy per machine. I think you can do that with Office, however.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by Spirit lol, yeah, Microsoft may not be absolutely fond of this, and you are "bending the rules" a little, but it's technically legal. On a kind of related topic, I want to know something... For my new computer, I got a new OEM copy of XP. I'll install that on my comp... but my dad also wants to upgrade his Windows 2000 laptop and wonders if it'd be legal to install it on the laptop too.

Technically, no. What all the EULA for XP pretty much breaks down to is "one copy, one computer". Some people try to push it farther and say that copy has to stay with the motherboard you first instal it on, but no one follows that one at all really (except of course for branded OEM copies that are coded that way and you don't have a choice). Realistically, Microsoft will let you get away with 2 or 3 computers and not give you a hassle when you use the product key. The rule of thumb most people use is that you should have no problems installing XP on one desktop and one laptop. Microsoft could and some day might start coming down on people, but as of right now, they don't worry about one or two extra installs. Wouldn't go past that though.

[glc]

Folks - one license, one computer, period - unless the EULA makes specific exceptions (such as with certain versions of Office). I encourage you all to read forum rule 9, and the spirit of the rule does not allow us to discuss how to bend rules.

There is no such thing as a legal "downloaded" copy of Windows - however you MAY wipe that HP and use a "borrowed" generic MCE holographic CD to reload it with your product key.

CommieKid - very inappropriate comment.

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