Am I allowed to sell the OEM Windows 7 that came with my laptop (with the HD)?

[b0mbrman]

Hola guys. Long-time listener, first-time poster here.

So, I recently bought a new laptop, but before turning it on, switched out the big hard drive for a smaller SSD.

But, since I was making a fresh start anyway, I also decided to put another OS on it.

So, I was always planning on selling the 500GB HD that came with it.

My question is, can I also sell the Windows 7 that was installed on the hard drive when it came? In other words, I wouldn't format the hard drive before selling and would also give the backup CD and key...

 

[b0mbrman]

Oh, of course I wouldn't be able to give away the key; it's printed on a sticker on the body of the laptop that looks like it would shred itself if I tried to get it off. But could promise not to use it? Maybe put something in writing to that effect?

 

[ViRGE]

You cannot sell a used copy of OEM Win7 piecemeal (it was installed at the factory, therefore it is used). You can only sell Windows 7 if you sell it with the mobo, which since this is a laptop is for all practical purposes the whole computer. Selling it with the HDD would be a violation of the license.

 

[b0mbrman]

Motherboard! How random that it's tied to that... okay, this is fair. Now, I'm personally allowed to use it though, right? Like I could just toss it on an older netbook or something?

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you purchased your PC in a country that upholds the First Sale Doctrine, like Germany, then yes, the courts there have ruled that you have every right to strip out the OS and re-sell it separately.

Here in the US, where our laws are ruled by high campaign contributions and lobbyists, the corporations have their way to control the people and trample all over their rights. So no, Microsoft has decreed that you cannot do that here in the US of A, "land of the free".

 

[ViRGE]

Motherboard! How random that it's tied to that... okay, this is fair. Now, I'm personally allowed to use it though, right? Like I could just toss it on an older netbook or something?

The motherboard isn't random. It's the heart of a computer; it's not something you replace. If you wanted to pick one component that would be identified as "the computer" for licensing purposes, the motherboard makes perfect sense.

Anyhow, you can't use that copy of Win7 on another computer. That OEM copy of Win7 is tied to that mobo forever.

 

[b0mbrman]

The motherboard isn't random. It's the heart of a computer; it's not something you replace. If you wanted to pick one component that would be identified as "the computer" for licensing purposes, the motherboard makes perfect sense....

Well right. It makes perfect business sense ...

 

[Anteaus]

Well right. It makes perfect business sense ...

Of course it makes business sense. Why else does copyright law exist other than to provide monopoly in order to profit from it.