Is This a Legit Win2k CD ?

[Midnight Rambler]

I bought a spare system over the weekend at the local Microcenter during a big blowout sale they were having - got a P3700 system w/Win2k for $645. I asked two different salesmen (just to make sure I got the same answer ...) if the system included the full Win2K on CD. I was assured by both that it did. So I get home and open it up, only to discover that this so-called Win2K CD is actually just a "restore" CD, with merely an image of the OS on it. Question is, will this be upgradeable in the future, ie. usable with service packs, upgrades, etc. Since upgrades require the original CD for verification, I wonder ... ?

 

[evanichka]

I doubt that it will be upgradable if future upgrades require you to have a win2k cd... I thought they usually didn't require you to put the previous version cd in?

 

[WoundedWallet]

If I remember right this is the new M$ policy. No CDs only restore images.

Since the policy comes form the dogs mouth I believe you will have the same rights as anybody else.

WW

 

[pizzaboy]

You won't be able to do a clean instal with the upgrade. You will have to use the restore disk first.

 

[pylorns]

No he can prob. do a clean install if he pulls the image off and dumps it to the hard drive, when it asks for proof put in a win98 cd or something.

 

[evanichka]

Pylorns, the problem is that Midnight Rambler only has the restore cd. Even if you COULD dump certain files off of the cd, it would be files that have already been installed, ready to be used, not the install files themselves. So if future upgrades reqire the original cd, then upgrades would not be possible. However, if the upgrade only requires that you have the previous version installed, then I think MR would have no problems

 

[evanichka]

Pylorns, the problem is that Midnight Rambler only has the restore cd. Even if you COULD dump certain files off of the cd, it would be files that have already been installed, ready to be used, not the install files themselves. So if future upgrades reqire the original cd, then upgrades would not be possible. However, if the upgrade only requires that you have the previous version installed, then I think MR would have no problems

 

[evanichka]

sorry about the double posts...

Also, just thought about this one. Microsoft has 120day trial versions of winNT, win2k Advanced server, server, and pro (although I heard that they cancelled the pro version one). I wonder if you can use those 120day trials to upgrade to a newer version when they come out? Those 120day trials are actually full versions with a slight change in the registry that you can change to non-time limited so...

 

[Midnight Rambler]

Well, this is getting interesting. I called the evil giant today and asked about this, and within 2 minutes I found myself connected to their software piracy experts (Note: the hold for T.S. with Microsoft is interminable, but when it comes to suspicions of piracy, they sure answer the phone real fast! ). Anyhow, I found out that indeed, many of the big OEMs are now doing this thing with just providing the buyer with an OS "Restore CD". The rep mentioned Dell, Compaq, HP, etc. Now here's where it gets good - he asks for the OEM of my system - I tell him Micro Electronics, Inc. (this is the parent company of MicroCenter, WinBook, etc.), and whaddaya know, they are NOT licensed by Microsoft to be doing this, according to the rep. Uh oh ...

Anyhow, I thought maybe it would be my lucky day, and maybe MicroSoft would give me a legit OEM copy, or perhaps offer one for a reasonable fee. Instead, the rep offered to send me some literature on fighting software piracy. Sheeeeeeesh ..... :|

As for these "versions" being upgradeable, etc., I never got a complete yes or no from them. The only thing they would say was that I would not be able to extract file(s) from the CD. DUH!

So, looks like I will return this sucker. Too bad, was a pretty good deal, or so I thought.

Thanks for all the answers/opinions from you folks ...