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Roland
Advanced Member
Netherlands
9335 Posts |
 Posted - 14 December 2003 : 10:35:09
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I recently had to get a new PC at work because my notebook died on me. I probably posted about that when it happened, but now I have a new issue that I would like your ideas on.
The PC came with XP Home (Dutch) pre-installed, but since I don't like Dutch software, and wanted XP Pro, I went and bought XP Pro (English, full-version) and installed that on the first run of the PC, so I never used the XP Home that came pre-installed.
Now my mom has a 3 year old Pentium 3 @ 550MHz running on 98SE, but it's been giving some problems lately and I can't get Norton Internet Security 2004 installed on it (it won't install nor uninstall, so now it only has partial access to the internet, but the main thing she needs to go online for (internet banking) doesn't work). So my idea was to take the XP Home that my PC came with and install it on her computer.
Is that illegal, or can I do that without any problems since I never used that copy of XP? It's never been activated, so that shouldn't be a problem, but I don't know if there are any "rules" about installing a pre-installed OS on a different PC.
I'll also email Microsoft about this to make sure, but I'd also like your ideas on this. It's a company PC, so I can't risk the chance of the "software police" finding "illegally installed" software on any of our computers. |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 10:53:15
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quote:
Is that illegal, or can I do that without any problems since I never used that copy of XP? It's never been activated, so that shouldn't be a problem, but I don't know if there are any "rules" about installing a pre-installed OS on a different PC.
I think if it is an OEM version, then strictly speaking it can only be installed on the machine it came with |
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Nikkol
Forum Moderator
USA
6907 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 11:37:42
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Huw is right, it is illegal to do so (unless MS has changed their licensing agreement since I last investigated this). It is also illegal to do the following: computer came with pre-installed OS (for example 98) and you buy an upgrade to another OS (for example 2000). You decide you don't need the upgrade OS on that machine anymore, so you redo the machine with it's original OS. You don't want the upgrade OS to go to waste, so you intall it on another machine. Basically, from what I've read, once you install an OS on a machine, it "belongs" to the machine and cannot be transferred to another.
Fortunately for me (I work in education), MS has now said that if an school receives a donated computer, they are allowed to install either 98 or 2000, depending on what originally came on the machine. It's their "Fresh Start" program. |
Nikkol ~ Help Us Help You | ReadMe | 3.4.03 fixes | security fixes ~ |
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RebelTech
Average Member
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 14:31:52
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That is copyright run amuck! If you purchase software I will go along with 1 copy 1 machine but for the software company to dictate which machine is crazy.
I do things legit. In fact, I just bought the family pack with my last OS upgrade so I would be doing things right. But, I think these overly complicated and highly restrictive copyrights actually contribute to piracy. |
Edited by - RebelTech on 14 December 2003 14:32:54 |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 14:41:25
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That is copyright run amuck! If you purchase software I will go along with 1 copy 1 machine but for the software company to dictate which machine is crazy.
It only applies if the version is OEM, if you purchased your own full copy, then you may move it to another machine |
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dayve
Forum Moderator
USA
5820 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 15:05:33
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| what if you used some of the OEM components in a new machine? |
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RebelTech
Average Member
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 15:12:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Nikkol
... It is also illegal to do the following: computer came with pre-installed OS (for example 98) and you buy an upgrade to another OS (for example 2000). You decide you don't need the upgrade OS on that machine anymore, so you redo the machine with it's original OS. You don't want the upgrade OS to go to waste, so you intall it on another machine. Basically, from what I've read, once you install an OS on a machine, it "belongs" to the machine and cannot be transferred to another
HuwR, I don't doubt anything your saying about OEM but in Nikkol's example above I just don't see anything wrong. I also realize the MS doesn't care if I think it is wrong.
 After all MS got their money in this situation. No multiple copies, no cheating...
I didn't mean to sidetrack the thread. I was just reading along minding everyone's business when the whole copyright thing jumped up and hit me.... |
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Nikkol
Forum Moderator
USA
6907 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 15:38:08
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| Rebel, I agree. I was surprised when I first read that. I don't remember now exactly what it was I read, but I'm sure it was on MS's site somewhere. And I'm pretty sure it was for upgrade versions. |
Nikkol ~ Help Us Help You | ReadMe | 3.4.03 fixes | security fixes ~ |
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Gremlin
General Help Moderator
New Zealand
7528 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 17:09:34
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| OEM Versions are tied to the hardware, even moving the Harddrive to another identical machine is afaik against the OEM licensing policys. |
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Roland
Advanced Member
Netherlands
9335 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 17:14:53
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| So in short, unless MS tells me it's okay, I can't install the XP Home that came with my PC on another machine because it was pre-installed on mine, even though I never used it? |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20584 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 17:50:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Roland
So in short, unless MS tells me it's okay, I can't install the XP Home that came with my PC on another machine because it was pre-installed on mine, even though I never used it?
correct. |
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Gremlin
General Help Moderator
New Zealand
7528 Posts |
Posted - 14 December 2003 : 18:36:44
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| Stinks dont it ! |
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