need oem software discs

[les smarts]

i am working on a ras problem and i want to remove and reinstall ras but the customer does not have the oem disk for nt. when asked for the copy file directory i have no place to get the files from. if pc makers will no longer provider the oem software media when you buy a pc with a preloaded hard disk then how are you supposed to make changes or fixes and trouble shooting?

[Statica]

Its not just the PC makers fault .. it is highly likely that the person on the other end is running an illegal copy of the OS and simply doesnt have the original media.

[Jenni]

I've seen plenty of computers that came with a license but without CD's. Check the HDD for the Windows CAB files.

[mc2phat]

Roger that...I worked on a CompUsa Micro-ATX special(BCM board, ESS chipset modem, STB Industries vid card) that came with no driver disks, but thank god he received a Win98 CD with it. I convinced him to ditch the ESS modem for a Creative (Conexant c. set) and after an hour of searching I had a nice driver disk made for him, including the onboard sound. I forget what it was, but it was obscure let me tell you. Of Course compUsa would've been glad to load his drivers for him

[archie]

Sounds like much more than the cab files here.
If the client cannot show that he has a license for this software, is it fair to ask les smarts to install it?

[Jenni]

Geez, do we have to have this discussion again? I would be willing to bet that NOBODY has a 100% legal computer. Any of you EVER sent money to WinZip or CloneCD? I doubt it, yet you still use their "shareware" long after the supposed "trial period".

Maybe the client bought the computer that way. I've seen plenty of small computer shops that are more than willing to sell computers with no CD's. Just fix the problem.

[glc]

Jenni: You have been on this forum long enough to know better. What you do is your business, but we will not tolerate anyone advocating piracy on this forum, which is what you just did.

You know - with what you just said - as an authorized Microsoft reseller, I am supposed to turn you in! I would even get a reward if I chose to do so.

Here is what les smarts, as a paid technician, is supposed to do. If the customer can show him that the operating system is properly licensed, he can work on it. If it's not licensed, he is supposed to decline the job. If the system is licensed, and there is no media or distribution files somewhere on the hard drive, it is the customer's responsibility to somehow procure and provide the media. We all know there will be many judgement calls in this situation, but as a representative of PC Media Inc. (moderator) I must ask that discussions here be kept within legal bounds, and I am sure that the management's attorneys would concur.

[Jenni]

Sorry if my comment was out of line, but really, do you ask to see a copy of someones Windows license before you work on their PC?


I just edited my previous posts, sorry...

[glc]

Thanks, Jenni.

This is a tough call. Technically and legally I am supposed to if something like this comes up. You see, if the software police show up on this customer's doorstep at any later time, and they try to pass the buck to weasel out of the piracy charges, I will be looking for a lawyer too. My employer and I have had this discussion before and this is a real threat, not just M$ blowing smoke. We don't need a $10,000 fine, thank you. I sure hope that they have better things to do than bust individuals, but they are being really obnoxious right now toward businesses and we have to play it by the book. M$ spends more money every year on combating software piracy than most companies are worth, but let's not go there.

[les smarts]

hi,

the cust is legit with his software its just that between the vendors not wanting to supply cd roms and the customers themselves losing burning eating or whatever the to the software it is hard to put humpty dumpty back together again.

i was just trying to source some of the software to be used in this situation

thanks

les

[glc]

les - if you are satisfied that it's legit, just use your own personal copy if you have one to install the drivers. That's what I usually wind up doing in this situation when the vendor can't cough up the media like they are supposed to.

Windows 9x and ME arent a problem as long as the OEM dumped the cabs onto the hard drive, but NT and 2K are a royal pain with no media unless they dumped the whole CD somewhere - which I have yet to see them do.

[SARGE]

Interesting stuff, therefore I have a question - only a question. Am I to understand that if someone burned a copy of the former InoculateIt for future use and free updates, that it would be illegal? Don't turn me in - just asking.

[Xayd]

For your personal use, if you got one of the old free versions, is fine. You can't legally give it to anyone else, tho.

Xayd

[SARGE]

Yeah, well lots of things ain't legal, but we break 'em everyday. Same folks that don't blink about going 10 mph over or fudging a little on taxes, would probably act high and mighty about a little software swapping.

[Gintaras]

Moral isn't always Legal, and Legal isn't always Moral.

Depenging on your priority: MORALITY or LAW.

[HAL9000]

OK, lets twist it a bit. If I have a client that can show me licensing for thier product, but they don't have the CD, so I use mine. Catch is, what if mine is a burnt copy that I do not own licensing for, but, I don't have it installed on anything, I just use it for convenience in such a situation. I personally think it's OK as the software is only going on legit, licensed machines, but can also understand a grey area in it. Does anyone know what the stand would be in such a situation?

[glc]

Technically, I think it would depend on where the *original* is - and if it's installed on some machine somewhere legally.......I dunno.

Using a CD of whatever origin just to install drivers and stuff like that - this should be a moot point, you aren't installing the whole OS or whatever. I have nothing to back this up, but I might guess that the determining factor is - does what I have to do write a product key into the machine's registry or anything like that? If so, that may not be acceptable.

[Jenni]

Have any of you ever tried to copy a Microsoft GAME? You have to use CloneCD or a similar program, it takes forever, and the copy still might not work. Yet you can put ANY of their OS's in and use Adaptec's CD Copier, it only takes a couple of minutes, and the copies ALWAYS work. Now why is that exactly???

[HAL9000]

Jenni, when you make a backup of a MS game, do you use your CD drive to make the image with Clone CD or do you use your CDRW. When I made an image of the latest Mechwarrior, it took 11.5 hours with my Panasonic CD-Rom and the whole time it was making strang "thwacking" (LOL) noises, and 13 minutes to write the CD. If I make the image with the CD-RW, it takes only a few minutes, the CD's created either way work fine.

[Jenni]

I've been using my CDROM. Next time I'll try using my CDRW. And before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I do have legit reasons for copying my software, like a 2 year old and a 4 year old. No way am I gonna run out and buy a new copy of Win98 or Age of Empires every time I leave one where they can get it. First thing I do with any software I buy is copy it and put the original in a safe place.

[glc]

Jenni - making a backup copy of software YOU own for YOUR personal use as a BACKUP is 100% legal - no panties needed here!

[archie]

These topics always open up a can of worms indeed, but it is something that a tech may have to deal with very often. At a point, one has to say: 'I can get [the client] up to this point and from here on ... you're on your own' and go on to other things.

[jessho]

I don't think it is a copyright infringement if you copy a file to determine if using the file will repair a machine. You would have to remove the file from the machine, after it was determined that it would repair the machine, and tell the owner they would have to find or buy the software for this program before it can be permanently loaded on the machine.

Link for laws.