Is this practice Legal?

I have 3 Valid Copies, of XP Home on my 3 Computers.
Tried to reinstall Windows, on 1 Computer,and the Disc got an error.
I took it back yesterday to the Computer Shop. (Dodgy Bros)and they examined it, and agreed it was faulty.
They told me, Microsoft wouldn't be interested, and simply burnt me a fresh copy of XP Home.
He said all that's important, is the No's on the Packet.
I expected a replacement copy of Windows Home.
Is this allowed,and will this disc work? Thanks.

 

The issue is not so much the disk as it is the license and the right to install and sell the OS by the guy who burned the disk. The first thing you really need to do is make sure that it is genuine which, in and of itself, does not make it legal. It does, however, confirm your right to receive updates that would be otherwise unavailable.

You need to do a WGA check that you can get here and confirm that the OS is valid. After that we may want to discuss the concept of legal a bit further for the benefit of our members.

 

Thanks,Barry.I will do as you say, and run the WGA, after reinstall.
Simply burning me a copy,instead of replacement, is what annoyed me.
Get back, when I know more.

PM. Love your Avatar.

 

Just temporary, Abe will be back!

 

Hey Dougie, just looking on the MS site, and a replacement is actually free, the only costs you get are the shipping costs, which.. unfortunatly are either $14.95 or $27.95 to Australia.

I must say I will change my view on how legal this operation is. As you can buy a license from MS that allows you to make as many copies as you want, but these are sometimes thousands of pounds/dollars and only for large companies, to enable them to install the same OS onto a few hundred machines. The worry is that if he copied a different version of XP to the one you originally had, then your activation key may not work. Also if it is an OEM version thent hat may cause you more problems than you wish. As microsoft give no support for OEM CDs and OEM can also corrupt your current installation.

 

My understanding of Dougie's post is that he was supplied with a new activation key or that the disk is a copy of the one the same guy used to install on his machine to begin with.

 

The Copy of XP Home, is the XP HOME 5x5 numbers, that I got with the new Computer.and have been Validated previously, and this Computer,was recieving updates automatically.
I think he just took the easy way out,and didn't want to bother with Freight.
Wont know till I install,as you say, DirtyPolo,if it is not a Copy of XP Home,then I will have issues.
Better be the XP HOME,otherwise I will have to pay him another visit,and take it back.
Thanks Barry and DirtyPolo.

Just read your post,Barry.No I was not given a new activation Key,and can't be sure what version of XP he burnt.He said to use the same 5x5 Key on the original Disc packet, I got when I bought the Computer.Can only hope it's XP HOME with SP2 as original.
Hope it's not Professional,or Media.

 

If it is indeed a wrong copy, I would be tmepted to call MS and tell them what he has done. As although it maybe a quick fix and cheap, it's not right. The only problem with that, is that they still probably will charge you if you order a genuine copy from them

 

Plain and simple what the shop did was illegal.

A local PC shop was selling copied OEM disks and were caught selling them.

They were lucky they were not fined.

Dougie the disk should of been replaced and not copied I would be at the computer shop first thing and demand a exchange for the real item.

The shop broke the law.

 

Well Dougie the more you tell us the more I have to agree with Jelly Bean. But I will defer to those who have dealt with these licenses on a professional basis. It does, however, not seem like this is a simple bulk license issue.

 

I had a feeling, what the Computer Shop did, wasn't right.

Like they say "When in doubt,ask" and that's what I always do.Ask you Guys.

I fully expected the faulty Disc to be replaced,not a burnt one.

I wouldn't expect a burnt one, to last as long as an original.(Guessing here)

I have to tread carefully here,as these 2 Computers are still under Warranty.
If I get abusive,they can make me wait weeks for repairs,so it's a catch 22 situation.

I will definately ask them for a replacement copy,instead of what they gave me.
I haven't a clue, what condition the Disc was in, that they burnt off.

Also hope this Thread helps others, who find themselves in like circumstances.
Thanks Guys.

 

They proberly burnt you a copy of an OEM disk which goes on any computer and uses any COA key that pertains to which version of XP is on that disk.

A poor quality disk would last a few usages.

However we also need to look at how Mircosoft allows us and tell us how to rip,burn and slip stream a service pack into a copied disk.But this is not classed as breaking the law.A law unto themselves there are Microsoft.

I would keep the copied disk as a simple backup and go back to the shop and ask for a legal replacement.

Quote the law on copied disks and that they could be fined.

Mike-O-Soft in Swansea market was hauled up for copying OEM disks.

Yes that is realy the shops name:Mike-O-Soft

 

try phoning or faxing M$ and ask them they will tell you for sure

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I have some sympathy for a small company with problems like this. The letter of the Microsoft law states

Read that as you will. I read it as making a Recovery CD/DVD.

If the shop offered to contact Microsoft and replace the CD, it could take months and you would probably think they were fobbing you off with all the waiting. If a CD/OEM pack goes out with every system they build they will not have spare copies to exchange for you.

If they are system builders all their OEM CD's will be the same excepting some will be SP2 standard, some SP3, either is acceptable.

If yours has some sort of problem and it is an OEM CD, a copy is perhaps not the best way to deal with it, but I'd be tempted to do the same.

Also, they could argue that it was OK when Windows was originally installed, and you may have handled it badly, so it is your responsibility to replace it.

My advice is to make yourself an image of your drive, saved to external drive or DVD. Use it to reinstall at a later date.

Just my opinion

 

Hi hatsoff.The Tech Guy examined it for scratches,tried to run it, and it failed.
He said point blank, it was a faulty Disc.
I carefully took it out of the packet, being careful not to touch the face,at any time.
First time I tried to use it.
The other 2 Discs work fine.
The Computer Techy, never even suggested for a moment,I mishandled the Disc,

 

I have in the past re installed XP on a system with a Disk that I have, and then entered the OEM Key that was on the machine case.

and this resulted in me having to phone Microsoft and explain what I had done to get it activated, as I entered a OEM Key into a Retail copy

But their main concern was the Key and where I had obtained it from. never even asked about the disk.

 

No probs Dougie, I was just balancing the books slightly in favour of a retailer.

On each CD there's something called a PID code that defines which version of the Windows key should be accepted - mostly a key for say OEM won't be allowed to work with a Retail key. You did well Match

Have a look here for plenty of useless info on the subject

http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Product_IDs

 

You seem to miss the point It didn't work, I got a blue screen a phone number a 8 blocks of 8 Digit Numbers and had to explain to the Nice person at Microsoft that I had installed using my Disk because my friend had damaged their Disk, then answer 20 questions about the Key and the sticker it was printed on, before being given another Key that did work.

But in the whole conversation they couldn't really care where the disk came from, never even bothered to ask if it was a copy or original, they were more concerned about the KEY

 

Playing the dumb blonde to Microsoft Tech support on the phone is excellent.

Although I am not blonde.

Gets me FREE new COA keys generated for free.

You say no way I say ohhhh yes it does.

Them people at Mircosoft can be soooo helpfull.



I best add to this,I am doing nothing illegal.

It is a simple case when a COA key no longer will activate Microsoft Tech will generate you a free new one.

 

hmmm think we better get this thread back on track before it goes off on a 'How to get Legitimate Windows Keys Cheep' track

What the tech at Dodgy Jo's PC's did by copying the disk was most likely prohibited somewhere under the Microsoft Licensing contracts, But I think that you will find that as long as you have your Original Key that it will install and activate properly, and in my experience as long as you have a Key on the right coloured holographic sticker, then the Disk isn't important.

and the chances are that Dodgy Jo's Tech has hit this problem before and contacted Microsoft and found that the quickest and easiest way to solve the problem is just to burn another disk.