Legal?

[fatboyjim]

If I were to build computers for people would it be legal for me to make a copy of my legal version of Windows and install it on there ('for evaluation purposes ') and tell them to remove it but if they didn't was up to them. But draw up a crappy contract telling them they must be held responsible for any copyright law violation or something?

Sorry, it's jumbled

But you know what I mean?

[bailey]

basicly no, you do not have the right to distrubit the software,
for any reason, ,and you just can't sell copyies of it. it can be done leagly if you get a proper licenese to do so,

does the liceness contunie after microsoft drops it and the support for it, then it becomes fair game. ?


is it leagle to sell a computer with dos on it today ?

[glc]

Jim: If you do what you propose, they will come after YOU, not your "customer", contract or not. I advise you not to even think of it. I have seen computer shops busted here for doing exactly that, the fine is quite steep. If nothing else, buy a copy of OEM software for each system, that's the most economical way of doing it and it covers both your and your customer's @$$es.

[fatboyjim]

Cheers,

Well that just saved me a whole load of hassle, thanks very much

Well, knowing what people in my area are like, Micro$oft would get wind of my doings as soon as I started. I will NOT be making illegal copies then

[bailey]

but won't that take the fun out of it. ?

[Computer Hobbyist]

I suggest you read the Microsoft license agreement. If you do you will discover what you have been told is correct. You cannot distribute a copy of your legal copy of Windows (or Dos for that matter) to anyone. Buy an OEM copy for every machine you make. Give the disk to your customer. Follow the license agreement to the letter.

If you find that Microsoft is priced too high for your customers you can always buy from one of Microsoft's competitors or negotiate with Microsoft to lower its prices.

Actually, you might consider a different operating system, depending on the intended use of the computer.

CH

[Techno Student]

What about DOS? Can any version of DOS be distributed legally? You can't buy a liscense for it any more, can you?

[KR0316]

I will have to admit I have never ever read the license agreement on any game, program, etc. but I do know very hefty fine and the odds are they catch you because of the internet.

[glc]

No, MS-Dos still technically must be licensed for each machine and will stay this way until it's released into the public domain (yeah right). Just because it's "abandonware" does not mean that it's not still copyrighted.

[DragonBreath]

Ok how about this? I sell an old system of mine to a friend with Win98se on it and give him the disk as well. seeing as I will be going to Winxp and will no longer need Win98se. Is this legal? I would think so seeing as that would be the only system with that licensed software on it. My concern is can you transfer ownership of software this way. Thanks, DB

[fatboyjim]

Yes, I believe you CAN do that, as long as you destroy any copies you have and remove it from it from your computer

[RayH]

The guy who invented the spreadsheet throught he was helping humanity and didn't patent or otherwise copyright it. He gave it away. Bill Gates never had those kinds of thoughts. He ALWAYS thought he should be paid for his work and effots. It often escapes people that he is actually a computer engineering genius.

I can guarantee you that if you even think Microsoft is supposed to be collecting money, if you read the fine print, they probably are entited. Besides being an engineering genius, Gates is from a corporate legal family!

[morriswindgate]

With XP you need a license for each computer just to use it. Just buy a copy when you buy the hardware, this will also give you a selling point. The other way is to do it is if you client already has a full version of the OS, not a restore disk, then use their disk. But do not use your own OS Disk.

[morriswindgate]

Just to give you some Idea, newegg has a full version OEM XP Home for $88 while 98 is $91.00

[Computer Hobbyist]

Originally posted by RayH It often escapes people that he (Bill Gates) is actually a computer engineering genius.

I will grant without hesitation that Bill Gates is a business genius to be much admired for his hard nosed approach, but exactly what do you contend qualifies Mr. Gates for the title of computer engineering genius? Exactly, what did he actually write? Basic, maybe, but as part of a collaborative effort.. DOS? No, he bought it from some forgotten guys who didn't understand what they had. Anything else?

CH

[mkstein1]

This may become another thread but how can I find which copy is on which machine? I have three pc's here and a fourth at my sisters, each with their own copy of 98SE. Unfortunately, I never kept track which was installed on which. Shouldn't I be able to look in the registry? Then I can log the CD license number with the computer name or serial number.

MK

[Donald]

Hi ! fatboyjim !
I saw this in another Forum fatboyjim, someone ther asked that question and some guy had an ansewer. I will see if I can find it. I now can recall a little bit, but got to find out what they said. I have some friends who mainly stay in that Forum .So sheck back here, or, youi can e-mail me by going to my profile and it will be a personal e-mail. and it might have to be.----------------------Donald
























KR0316

[glc]

MK: Yes, 98 has the CD key in the registry - the exact path escapes me right now, I think it's HKLM/software/microsoft/windows/current version - it MAY be in the /setup subkey.

[HAL9000]

You can do a search for the OEM number listed in system properties. It will take you to the proper location for the CD-Key.

[alexmacdonald]

Jim,
If you do decide to go with OEM copies then you have to follow the rules for OEM pre-installation and the OEM Licensing agreement, which is different from the EULA. If you have a business you can register as an OEM System builder @ oem.microsoft.com and get the pre-installation kit and all the licensing terms there. If you are just building for friends then really you can Install any way you want, just make sure you use a new copy for each box to cover your ass. As for DOS, it still requires a legal copy for each machine, but I would go with an alternative such as PC DOS 2000 which manages memory much better.

[RayH]

Computer Hobbyist I saw a television program on Bill Gates. I believe it may have been "Biography" on A&E. First, Bill Gates is a computer genuis. Secondly, he is a businessman. There is a reason he turned over the reigns of business of Microsoft. to Steve Balmer, his college roommate. It's so he can concentrate on his first love, computer engineering.

Apparently, as a teenager in high school, he was recognized as a computer genuis by the professionals. He would help IBM debug their new mainframes. While still in high school, he wrote (for payment) some distribution operations program for a utility district in Washington.

What separates Bill Gates from the other genuis peers is that Gates comes from a board room family. He had a better understanding of the BUSINESS of computers and set his sites much higher.

When others, like Steve Jobs, thought they had a lot of money when they were worth $100 million, Gates still flew coach class. He was concentrating on building his business. Others didn't understand that they just had timing and for a certain period had a license to print money. Apple Computers was such a company. So was Hercules Graphics.

But like other people, I believe Bill Gates is a cutthroat in business. But outside of business, I believe him to be an honorable man. I believe that he has sincere philantrophic views, which he picked up from his late mother. He said that he intends to donate 95% of his wealth after he passes.

Gates lives in fear that there is an upstart around ready to pull on Microsoft what Microsoft pulled on IBM!

[Computer Hobbyist]

We agree that he is a brilliant businessman, but I have yet to read or hear anything that he has done that would make him worthy of the term "computer engineering genius." I can't point to a single profound innovation that was his and his alone. I saw the same TV show, as I recall he was third among three friends in the engineering department. He was far and away the best in the world of business. This is a silly discussion, because I don't even think he professes to be a "computer engineering genius." He just has a lot of them on his payroll.

CH