Legality

[joshhilton]

My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Michael Stevens]

joshhilton wrote:
> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

No, as far as I know OEM versions are only licensed for a single computer
and mom's don't make a difference.
Curious, since it's your mom, that would make it legal? That was the only
qualifying variable you stated as a reason for multiple installs on an OEM
version. I don't think so, but you can take it up with Microsoft legal. I
would time my inquiry around mothers day for best results.
Microsoft Corporate and Legal Affairs
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
USA

--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
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[Malvern]

NO. It's one computer, one copy of Windows. I have also read in the NG's
that the CD is so set up that it only works for one installation and will
fail on subsequent ones Can't verify, but suspect it's true.

Malv

"joshhilton" > wrote in message
...
> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Of course not. As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft
operating systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the
EULA and copyright laws, if not technically) to purchase one WinXP
license for each computer on which it is installed. The only way in
which WinXP licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows
is that Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) the sort of multiple installations you're asking about.


Bruce Chambers

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"joshhilton" > wrote in message
...
> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Ken Blake]

"joshhilton" > wrote in message
...

> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> her copy of windows xp on my computer?


No. The rule is one copy (or one license) for each computer, just
as it's been with *every* version of Windows. The only thing new
with XP is that there's now an enforcement meachanism.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Spinner]

"Malvern" > wrote in message
...
> NO. It's one computer, one copy of Windows. I have also read in the NG's
> that the CD is so set up that it only works for one installation and will
> fail on subsequent ones Can't verify, but suspect it's true.

No, it's not true. Just another one f the many fairy tales that
abound in these groups.

>
> Malv
>
> "joshhilton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> > bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> > but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> > her copy of windows xp on my computer?
>
>

[Donald Link]

Would not work if you installed it because you could not activate it. In
other words you would have to go out and buy another copy just to get into
your computer.




"joshhilton" > wrote in message
...
> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Michael Stevens]

Malvern wrote:
> NO. It's one computer, one copy of Windows. I have also read in the
> NG's that the CD is so set up that it only works for one installation
> and will fail on subsequent ones Can't verify, but suspect it's true.
>
> Malv
>

BIOS locked OEM versions mean it will install on a system that the bios lock
recognizes without the need to activate and will require activation on any
non-OEM motherboard without the proper BIOS. It can be installed as many
times as the user can get it activated.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
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> "joshhilton" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
>> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
>> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
>> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Malvern]

Mike and Spinnner,

See Donald Link's post:

"Would not work if you installed it because you could not activate it. In
other words you would have to go out and buy another copy just to get into
your computer,".

The inability to activate the second install was what I was unable to
recall. Is he also incorrect ?

Malv

"Malvern" > wrote in message
...
> NO. It's one computer, one copy of Windows. I have also read in the NG's
> that the CD is so set up that it only works for one installation and will
> fail on subsequent ones Can't verify, but suspect it's true.
>
> Malv
>
> "joshhilton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
> > bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
> > but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
> > her copy of windows xp on my computer?
>
>

[Michael Stevens]

Malvern wrote:
> Mike and Spinnner,
>
> See Donald Link's post:
>
> "Would not work if you installed it because you could not activate
> it. In other words you would have to go out and buy another copy
> just to get into your computer,".
>
> The inability to activate the second install was what I was unable to
> recall. Is he also incorrect ?
>
> Malv
>

You and Donald are right, I answered a question that now as I look back
wasn't asked. 8-) A bios locked XP CD can be used to install on other
systems, but it will need a new key.
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
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> "Malvern" > wrote in message
> ...
>> NO. It's one computer, one copy of Windows. I have also read in
>> the NG's that the CD is so set up that it only works for one
>> installation and will fail on subsequent ones Can't verify, but
>> suspect it's true.
>>
>> Malv
>>
>> "joshhilton" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> My mom has windows xp that came with her computer when she
>>> bought it. I had just recently put together a computer,
>>> but i have no operation system. I s it legal for me to use
>>> her copy of windows xp on my computer?

[Malvern]

Thanks for your clarification/ correction. People just have to learn that
nothing is free in life, including Microsoft's offerings. I see almost the
same exact post in one or more groups daily.

Malv

"Michael Stevens" > wrote in message
...
<snip> see above posts