Windows SP3 download - what's the catch?

I recently downloaded the SP3 on ISO image from Microsofts website and
applied it to one of my computers. That was very handy but I can see
thousands if not tens of thousands of people download it only to apply
it to not-so-legit copies of Windows XP and I find that behavior just
too generous of Microsoft. I can see the benefit in that security is
security no matter if it's legit or not but just wondering what's the
catch? Is Microsoft secretly sending personal information about the
computer?

Thanks.

What makes you think they can download and install to illegal copies?

"tommyjw" wrote in message
...
:I recently downloaded the SP3 on ISO image from Microsofts website and
: applied it to one of my computers. That was very handy but I can see
: thousands if not tens of thousands of people download it only to apply
: it to not-so-legit copies of Windows XP and I find that behavior just
: too generous of Microsoft. I can see the benefit in that security is
: security no matter if it's legit or not but just wondering what's the
: catch? Is Microsoft secretly sending personal information about the
: computer?
:
: Thanks.

tommyjw wrote:
I recently downloaded the SP3 on ISO image from Microsofts website
and applied it to one of my computers. That was very handy but I
can see thousands if not tens of thousands of people download it
only to apply it to not-so-legit copies of Windows XP and I find
that behavior just too generous of Microsoft. I can see the
benefit in that security is security no matter if it's legit or not
but just wondering what's the catch? Is Microsoft secretly sending
personal information about the computer?

The patch is available in a variety of formats - just as all previous
releases of service packs for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, etc
and so on...

The ISO is not all that valuable - no more than the single executable for IT
Professionals. In fact - given your argument - the way it has been passed
out for decades is more apt to be used in the way you present than the ISO.

You also may have a misunderstanding of what it is you have. You have an
ISO image of the Windows XP SP3 patch - not Windows XP with SP3 integrated.
Just the patch. You cannot take that CD and use it to install on a fresh
machine without any OS.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks for the clarification, Shenan. So it isn't full Windows XP
with SP3. It's just the security patches.