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  3. Is Your Copy of Windows Legal?

Is Your Copy of Windows Legal?

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  • R Ri Qen Sin

    Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

    So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

    A Offline
    A Offline
    Anthony Mushrow
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    Ri Qen-Sin wrote:

    but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it

    What? I look at the help.... sometimes... never. But yes, i do have the menu item. And yes, my copy of windows is legal. Besides, since there is so much pirated software floating around, I think it's a good idea. The idea though, is not very thought out. Almost all illegal copies of software are around because people knowingly downloaded them, ran the keygen or crack, and installed them. They're not about to turn themselves in.

    My current favourite word is: Bacon!

    -SK Genius

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    • R Ri Qen Sin

      Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

      So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

      C Offline
      C Offline
      Christian Graus
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      Not at all, I meet people all the time who bought a PC and have no idea that they don't own windows.

      Christian Graus Please read this if you don't understand the answer I've given you "also I don't think "TranslateOneToTwoBillion OneHundredAndFortySevenMillion FourHundredAndEightyThreeThousand SixHundredAndFortySeven()" is a very good choice for a function name" - SpacixOne ( offering help to someone who really needed it ) ( spaces added for the benefit of people running at < 1280x1024 )

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      • R Ri Qen Sin

        Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

        So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

        RaviBeeR Offline
        RaviBeeR Offline
        RaviBee
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Yes, I see the menu item. I've never noticed it before, probably because I've never selected Explorer's Help | About menu item. :) /ravi

        My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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        • A Anthony Mushrow

          Ri Qen-Sin wrote:

          but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it

          What? I look at the help.... sometimes... never. But yes, i do have the menu item. And yes, my copy of windows is legal. Besides, since there is so much pirated software floating around, I think it's a good idea. The idea though, is not very thought out. Almost all illegal copies of software are around because people knowingly downloaded them, ran the keygen or crack, and installed them. They're not about to turn themselves in.

          My current favourite word is: Bacon!

          -SK Genius

          T Offline
          T Offline
          Thunderbox666
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          SK Genius wrote:

          They're not about to turn themselves in.

          Well actually..... If you install a pirated version of windows, you go through the process of reporting it and you can buy a legit version at a heavily discounted price without any penalties to you or the person who gave you the pirated copy.


          "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown "All things good to know are difficult to learn" ~ Greek Proverb "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" ~ Vidal Sassoon

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          • R Ri Qen Sin

            Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

            So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

            T Offline
            T Offline
            Thunderbox666
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            I would have to say that it was the first time I have intentially clicked on the Help menu in Explorer... but yes, I have the menu item there


            "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown "All things good to know are difficult to learn" ~ Greek Proverb "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" ~ Vidal Sassoon

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            • R Ri Qen Sin

              Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

              So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

              C Offline
              C Offline
              CataclysmicQuantum
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              No.

              The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.

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              • R Ri Qen Sin

                Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

                So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

                L Offline
                L Offline
                l a u r e n
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                *clicks on "help - about" ... "xubuntu version 7.10"* ... nope ... it's legal ;)

                "mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"

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                • R Ri Qen Sin

                  Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

                  So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  DJ van Wyk
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  Would a pirated copy of Windows have the menu item? :-D

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                  • T Thunderbox666

                    SK Genius wrote:

                    They're not about to turn themselves in.

                    Well actually..... If you install a pirated version of windows, you go through the process of reporting it and you can buy a legit version at a heavily discounted price without any penalties to you or the person who gave you the pirated copy.


                    "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown "All things good to know are difficult to learn" ~ Greek Proverb "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" ~ Vidal Sassoon

                    V Offline
                    V Offline
                    Vikram A Punathambekar
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    :wtf: Why do MS do that (offer a steep discount) in the first place? Also, how come most people don't install bootlegs, "turn themselves in", and then get a legit version for a fraction of the price?

                    Cheers, Vikram.


                    The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.

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                    • D DJ van Wyk

                      Would a pirated copy of Windows have the menu item? :-D

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      Jorgen Sigvardsson
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      Yes. The menu item would read "Wind0z h4xx0red and warez0red by <silly tag name here>"

                      -- Kein Mitleid Für Die Mehrheit

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                      • T Thunderbox666

                        SK Genius wrote:

                        They're not about to turn themselves in.

                        Well actually..... If you install a pirated version of windows, you go through the process of reporting it and you can buy a legit version at a heavily discounted price without any penalties to you or the person who gave you the pirated copy.


                        "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown "All things good to know are difficult to learn" ~ Greek Proverb "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" ~ Vidal Sassoon

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        jhwurmbach
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        Thunderbox666 wrote:

                        you can buy a legit version at a heavily discounted price without any penalties

                        You can buy a OEM-version at EBay for €50,0, and those are completly legal, too. I doubt that MS would go that low, even when they get adresses of self-accusing SW-pirates in return.

                        Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.
                        Douglas Adams, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"

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                        • V Vikram A Punathambekar

                          :wtf: Why do MS do that (offer a steep discount) in the first place? Also, how come most people don't install bootlegs, "turn themselves in", and then get a legit version for a fraction of the price?

                          Cheers, Vikram.


                          The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.

                          M Offline
                          M Offline
                          Mustafa Ismail Mustafa
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          Because this way it maintains its massive customer base. Its like pushing drugs.

                          "Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "You're an idiot." John Simmons, THE Outlaw programmer "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon

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                          • V Vikram A Punathambekar

                            :wtf: Why do MS do that (offer a steep discount) in the first place? Also, how come most people don't install bootlegs, "turn themselves in", and then get a legit version for a fraction of the price?

                            Cheers, Vikram.


                            The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.

                            T Offline
                            T Offline
                            Thunderbox666
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:

                            how come most people don't install bootlegs, "turn themselves in", and then get a legit version for a fraction of the price?

                            Most people dont know about it, but I know alot of people who do it for friends and family


                            "There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth" ~ unknown "All things good to know are difficult to learn" ~ Greek Proverb "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary" ~ Vidal Sassoon

                            1 Reply Last reply
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                            • L l a u r e n

                              *clicks on "help - about" ... "xubuntu version 7.10"* ... nope ... it's legal ;)

                              "mostly watching the human race is like watching dogs watch tv ... they see the pictures move but the meaning escapes them"

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              I have a Gutsy Gibbon driving my plasma TV, if it wasn't for Yahoo messenger I would have one on my desktop as well. Elaine (simian friendly fluffy tigress)

                              Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.

                              V 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • M Mustafa Ismail Mustafa

                                Because this way it maintains its massive customer base. Its like pushing drugs.

                                "Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "You're an idiot." John Simmons, THE Outlaw programmer "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                Dan Neely
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                They don't. It's the same price as a oem/systembuidlder license, and has the same can't xfer to a new machine restriction in the licensing details. It's half the price of a retail (freely transfer) license and has been for years.

                                You know, every time I tried to win a bar-bet about being able to count to 1000 using my fingers I always got punched out when I reached 4.... -- El Corazon

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • R Ri Qen Sin

                                  Seriously — who would ask such a question? I was designing a user interface for an application I was writing, and I was working on the menus, so I decided to look around for some "inspiration." I had an explorer window opened, so I went there. Upon clicking on the Help menu, I saw something from the corner of my eye that wasn't there when I first installed Windows: Is your copy of Windows legal? I find it offensive that it's lurking there like a cop sitting inside my computer reminding me "you better not be doing anything bad!" Does anyone else have this menu item? I haven't heard complaints from other people, but given it's location, I wouldn't expect anyone to find it.

                                  So the creationist says: Everything must have a designer. God designed everything. I say: Why is God the only exception? Why not make the "designs" (like man) exceptions and make God a creation of man?

                                  T Offline
                                  T Offline
                                  ThatsAlok
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  yes my copy of legal!

                                  "Opinions are neither right nor wrong. I cannot change your opinion. I can, however, change what influences your opinion." - David Crow
                                  Never mind - my own stupidity is the source of every "problem" - Mixture

                                  cheers, Alok Gupta VC Forum Q&A :- I/IV Support CRY- Child Relief and You/codeProject$$>

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                                  • L Lost User

                                    I have a Gutsy Gibbon driving my plasma TV, if it wasn't for Yahoo messenger I would have one on my desktop as well. Elaine (simian friendly fluffy tigress)

                                    Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.

                                    V Offline
                                    V Offline
                                    Vikram A Punathambekar
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    Elaine, I think you can install YM on Ubuntu, though I've never tried it myself.

                                    Cheers, Vikram.


                                    The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.

                                    L 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • J jhwurmbach

                                      Thunderbox666 wrote:

                                      you can buy a legit version at a heavily discounted price without any penalties

                                      You can buy a OEM-version at EBay for €50,0, and those are completly legal, too. I doubt that MS would go that low, even when they get adresses of self-accusing SW-pirates in return.

                                      Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.
                                      Douglas Adams, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"

                                      J Offline
                                      J Offline
                                      James R Twine
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      Are you sure about that?    I was under the impression that an OEM version of Windows can only be distributed with a new PC (usually purchased at the same time).  Although some sellers try to play games and sell you a mouse with it and call that a "system.    MS cracked down on the PC vendors at that were at the computer shows around here (NH & MA, USA) a few years ago, and the big thing was selling OEM versions "off the shelf" without a new PC to go with it, as well as selling "Academic versions" to just about anyone with $20 in their hands.    Peace!

                                      -=- James
                                      Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * * If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                                      Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                                      See DeleteFXPFiles

                                      D J 2 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • J James R Twine

                                        Are you sure about that?    I was under the impression that an OEM version of Windows can only be distributed with a new PC (usually purchased at the same time).  Although some sellers try to play games and sell you a mouse with it and call that a "system.    MS cracked down on the PC vendors at that were at the computer shows around here (NH & MA, USA) a few years ago, and the big thing was selling OEM versions "off the shelf" without a new PC to go with it, as well as selling "Academic versions" to just about anyone with $20 in their hands.    Peace!

                                        -=- James
                                        Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * * If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                                        Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                                        See DeleteFXPFiles

                                        D Offline
                                        D Offline
                                        Dan Neely
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        Technically the one you can buy is called a 'system builder' license not OEM. The only functional difference is that it doesn't use BIOS locking as part of its anti-piracy policy. The license as worded says you're only supposed to be buying it if you're building your own system from scratch or are a small scale PC builder that doesn't qualify for volume licensing.

                                        You know, every time I tried to win a bar-bet about being able to count to 1000 using my fingers I always got punched out when I reached 4.... -- El Corazon

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • J James R Twine

                                          Are you sure about that?    I was under the impression that an OEM version of Windows can only be distributed with a new PC (usually purchased at the same time).  Although some sellers try to play games and sell you a mouse with it and call that a "system.    MS cracked down on the PC vendors at that were at the computer shows around here (NH & MA, USA) a few years ago, and the big thing was selling OEM versions "off the shelf" without a new PC to go with it, as well as selling "Academic versions" to just about anyone with $20 in their hands.    Peace!

                                          -=- James
                                          Please rate this message - let me know if I helped or not! * * * If you think it costs a lot to do it right, just wait until you find out how much it costs to do it wrong!
                                          Remember that Professional Driver on Closed Course does not mean your Dumb Ass on a Public Road!
                                          See DeleteFXPFiles

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          jhwurmbach
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          James R. Twine wrote:

                                          Are you sure about that? I was under the impression that an OEM version of Windows can only be distributed with a new PC (usually purchased at the same time).

                                          Here in Germany, yes, I am sure. In the US its probably different, and violators will be punished in Guantanamo (or, worse, somewhere in Somalia). Here in Germany, it is a High-court ruling (from 06/2000) that after selling something, your grip on it expires (Erschöpfungsgrundsatz). The Court ruling specifically allowed disbundeling of OEM-Windows. Protecting the split (Full-Price and OEM) distribution concept of Windows by artificial market segmentation is not a goal of German federal copyright laws. I did not find an english version of the references. If you want the german ones please ask.

                                          Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.
                                          Douglas Adams, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"

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