Windows and piracy

[azler]

OK, so i am looking at getting in to the tech game of fixing computers, i have done all four semesters of my ccna (but not done my ccna), passed one exam of my MCSA(the windows xp bit) and just getting my tool kit ready to go!
I stumbled on this site yesterday and spent all day reading it.. very helpful!.

But i had a question, when doing a full format with a windows CD, whats classed as piracy?
As im not really willing to go out and buy a copy of every windows OS:
2000
Xp home
Xp pro
Vista home ... etc

But i need the Cd to do the reinstall.
Now i have access to a MSDN site with has copy's of pretty much every windows os for me to download...
Now i didnt pay for this my self or contribute to it lets just say its a friend of a friends who happened to give me the login....

hxxp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx

But what i am getting at is if i download the windows OS off there and use that as the install CD but still use the customers Serial off there genuine sticker on the side of there machine... is this still classed at piracy? or not because i am not using the serial that i could get off the MSDN site?

Also would the serials still work with these iso's?

The Windows XP home one is named:

Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3 (x86) - CD (English)

Includes: Home Edition-Retail;

Rob

 

[Blues]

Technically speaking it is Piracy however the generally accept practice with Techs, since Microsoft won't put out and sale a Tech Repair copy, is to keep a copy of nearly every type of install CD. Most of the times these a burned copies of a disc from a repair of a previous customers computer or downloaded from the net by some means and on occasions a copy made from your own library from PCs you have bought or built over time. The key to keep it legal for the customer/client is to make sure that it matches the same OS to the CD Key they have and make sure they have a legitimate CD Key. I reccomend you check out the latest article on the front page to read about all the different types.

 

[Marius]

Piracy is not using any type of cd, but using a "pirated" SN...You may have 1000's of cd's (as backups for yourself), and its still legal...Its the little "sticker" that is the actual proof...BUTTTT....only for ONE cd, meaning you can use your friend's cd on YOUR computer as long as you use YOUR sn. ( sticker is the proof, but only for that one specific pc...unless you have a volume license)

 

[azler]

ah good so basically i can use these downloaded images as long as if any one asks its a personal back up from a friend, and no illegal or pirated serials have been used?

=] is there any way to test the serial with work with these cds?

 

[Jory]

Obviously I'm not a lawyer, but the way I understand it is that technically you're not supposed have copies of disks you don't own the licenses too, but being a civil matter they have to show a loss to be compensated. So you only become liable for damages if you were to install the software without a license, thus depriving them of a sale. That's probably wrong though because I didn't charge you $300/hr and turn it into three pages of legalese.

Common sense would dictate Microsoft doesn't care, assuming they already got their cut.

 

[Daifne]

Actually, Microsoft does care, but I don't see how they can do anything about it. I spoke with their piracy department and, in their view, the disk goes with the machine, not just the key. I think that they are mainly trying to protect the manufacturers' profits from all the crap they add into their OEM disks. I can't see how they would be able to enforce this...

 

[thor999]

What did you say your login was again?

 

[Blues]

Piracy is not using any type of cd, but using a "pirated" SN...You may have 1000's of cd's (as backups for yourself), and its still legal...Its the little "sticker" that is the actual proof...BUTTTT....only for ONE cd, meaning you can use your friend's cd on YOUR computer as long as you use YOUR sn. ( sticker is the proof, but only for that one specific pc...unless you have a volume license)

It is not legal to make a copy of his CD for your archive.