Windows reinstall - Will this work & Is it legal?
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Deyan Georgiev wrote:
And yes – this is legal;
No way! Like I already said, it is illegal. Just to confirm it, I had a concierge chat with MS on the subscription site: Rajesh: I won't use a key from my MSDN account, I am asking if I can only use the media from MSDN to install, but I don't want a license from MSDN. Rajesh: If I put the license key which came with the DELL (it is on a sticker), will it work? Carina: I understand that. The MSDN End User License Agreement (EULA) allows each person with an MSDN license to use all of the software that is included in the subscription for development, test, and demonstration purposes only. So it is illegal to use the software even you use another product key to activate it. Carina: It should be work. Rajesh: Thanks, what do you mean by "it should be work"? Carina: As far as I know, if you use the product key which came with the Dell to activate the operating system downloaded through MSDN site, it should be work. However, this is illegal. Rajesh: Thank you very much for explaining.Is there an alternative that you would suggest? Carina: It's my pleasure. Let me search to see if there is any other solution for this, one moment please. Rajesh: Sure, go ahead. Carina: I'm still searching this for you, thanks for your time, Rajesh. Rajesh: Thanks, go ahead. I'll wait. Carina: I just located a similar case, hope this could give you some help, please check it out: Create or obtain legal OEM install XP SP2 Home CD http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/ko-KR/sgsupport/thread/869f625d-268c-40d5-b042-6f2bbd12e907[^] Rajesh: Thank you very much! [Added] A few years back, I tried such a thing with a HP machine and the key was not even accepted and I didn't go past the serial number validation screen (so was the case with Nishant Sivakumar, just refer above and I hadn't known if it was illegal or not either). Now, the executive says even if it DID work, what you're doing is illegal. [/Added]
It is a crappy thing, but it'
Hmm...Reading the conversation you had Carina clearly advises that using the MSDN media is illegal, however in the link she provides DennisChung suggests that it would be legal to download a iso online. How stupid is that. So even though I have access to media I could use, because it's MSDN their best legal option is to go hunting around on torrent sites for a ripped copy. Crazy.
Simon
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The XP version on MSDN is what is known as a volume license. The ones that HP, DELL, etc. use are known as OEM licenses. There is a way to do what you are asking, however, it is not "legal" according to the license agreement that goes with the MSDN versions. Having said that, I don't see why your friend's PC should have to get a new license of Windows when he clearly already has one. What you will need to do is extract the MSDN XP version to your harddisk and modify it to an OEM version - you can also put the key from the side of his computer into it - and then reburn it to a CD and do the install. Also, at the same time, using tools like nlite, you can add in all the service packs, monthly patches, 3rd party drivers, software, etc. that you want into the install. Check on the net for changing the volume XP version to an OEM version. You will find what you are looking for.
That's one route I have never heard of, good job! Get really long in the night when someone has your overhaul their PC and you have to go through all the patches and SP, can take some time to say the least!
Rocky <>< Recent Blog Post: Playing with Kubuntu Linux.. Thinking about Silverlight? www.SilverlightCity.com
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Hmm...Reading the conversation you had Carina clearly advises that using the MSDN media is illegal, however in the link she provides DennisChung suggests that it would be legal to download a iso online. How stupid is that. So even though I have access to media I could use, because it's MSDN their best legal option is to go hunting around on torrent sites for a ripped copy. Crazy.
Simon
Simon Stevens wrote:
How stupid is that. So even though I have access to media I could use, because it's MSDN their best legal option is to go hunting around on torrent sites for a ripped copy. Crazy.
It may look ridiculous when they ask you to find a similar model computer, rent an OEM copy disc from the owner, and install it on your computer with your serial. I once had a very lengthy conversation with the MS folks on this topic. After their explanation, I understood that the EULA for MSDN software is designed to protect it from being misused, no matter what. It then made sense. Their point was that even if you own a license and are using that license to activate the software, the software itself is from MSDN. So, it is illegal if such software is used for personal purposes. These legal things are a crazy, and confusing thing. :)
It is a crappy thing, but it's life -^ Carlo Pallini
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Simon Stevens wrote:
Really! I didn't know that. So your saying that every single CD is tied to a specific key.
I said key(s). For example, I can download XP using my MSDN account, burn it to a disc and install it on 8 machines. But, I make sure that I fetch a new serial number for every machine. But, some random volume license key that came with a dell machine won't work with your MSDN copy of XP.
It is a crappy thing, but it's life -^ Carlo Pallini
In all fairness, the key on commercial machines are OEM keys, not VL keys. Neither will work with MSDN media, as those are based on the Retail key set. I don't know if the keys are compatible or not, as I've never tried it. It would not be legal to use an MSDN media in that manor (which you've pointed out *grin*) as the licensing is different for MSDN media than Retail media. It's odd that Dell is refusing to sell a set of recovery media. They usually offer the discs as an add-on at order for about $20 US. Not certain why they would refuse to sell a set after sale. Flynn