Isn't it illegal to sell a computer without the CD for Windows?

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Cougar

Golden Member
Feb 26, 2000
1,761
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<< Nope, as long as you have it in some form (partition, etc) and the correct documents its ok >>




Next time I'm at his place I'll have to go through his system with a fine-toothed comb to see if I can find any sort of restore partition or at least the cab files. He said he deleted some programs that he had no use for, but I don't think he knows enough to nuke an entire partition.

It's pretty weak to have to rely on Windows XP's System Restore feature (or whatever it's called) if there's ever a need re-install anything. I personally can't stand having 8,000 programs on my pc, but geez if you're going to give me the programs at least give me the original cd's or some sort of restore cd.
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
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Well, if he paid for the software then it should be included.

Maybe they did a install to do a burn in and forgot to erase the hard drive.
 

Noriaki

Lifer
Jun 3, 2000
13,640
1
71
The Windows Media and Files are worth $0 from microsoft's perspective.

I could make a million copies of my Win2000 CD and they wouldn't care.
I could even give those and they wouldn't care.

You need a COA and CDKey. As long as you have those two Items you are legit. They don't have to supply you with a Windows CD.

Personally I wouldn't buy a computer from a company to cheap to include a windows CD, but the fact they don't isn't illegal.

If you have a COA and CDKey you own a windows license, and you just have to get a copy of the WinXP CD from someone, and you are perfectly legit to do so, as long as you both have your own COAs and CDKeys you aren't breaking any laws by sharing the same physical media.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
91
Actually under most manufacturers agreements it's illegal to sell a computer WITH a cd of windows.
Microsoft in order to curb piracy no longer allows pc vendors to sell computers with an installable copy of their operating system.
All you can do is use the computer's system restore pc which puts all their crap on unfortunately...
 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
0
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<< Actually under most manufacturers agreements it's illegal to sell a computer WITH a cd of windows >>


That is simply not true.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,059
73
91
Not only is it legal to sell a computer without the OS, as a buyer, you have the right to refuse or return the OS the manufacturer supplies and demand a refund. You do have to verify that you have not installed it, but if you don't agree to the license, all they can do is take it back.

If you're going to use your machine for Linux, or any other OS, including DOS (or DR-DOS if you want to ignore M$ yet again), you don't need Windoze.

OTOH, if you buy a new machine with Windoze installed, you should get the CD.
 

EXman

Lifer
Jul 12, 2001
20,079
15
81


<< I don't understand! Russ is rude and make personal insults and still maintains Elite status?
I cant believe you haven't been banned.
>>



ROTFL:D

This coming from someone wanting Elledan for Elite... The guy's pseudo-techno-elitist doofus whose every post is negative dribble about some form of bashing another's point of view. Obviously your idea of elite is held by few.

oh and if you do not read a thread before calling someone a doofus really ain't that bad. Russ be right BTW:p
 

Cougar

Golden Member
Feb 26, 2000
1,761
0
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<< Russ is one of the more vocal members of this forum. He is also a closet liberal, and sometimes lays the verbal smackdown on unwilling individuals.

;)

* on a lighter note, not having the Windows CD will come back to haunt you. Maybe your bro can call up and inquire about it.
>>




I think he said he was going to call them up and see if he was supposed to get any more discs with his machine. I'm curious what they'll tell him. I'm sure that this is going to come back and bite him in the butt down the road (actually it will bite me in the butt since I'm the one who has to fix his computer). Stupid HP.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
91
I'm not talking about legality of selling a computer with a windows o/s. MS was taken to court about that a while ago and they lost.
I'm talking about if you buy a system from say Dell with windows installed. Under their agreement with microsoft if they sell a system with say windows XP, they can send the system with a system restore cd, but they can't send a copy of the windows xp cd that will install on any system. At best they could send a xp cd that installs only on that dell's service tag.
 

im2smrt4u

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2001
1,912
0
0


<< It should have come with a certificate of authenticity - something on paper or a sticker on the PC case that has his product key code. Some vendors do not supply a CD unless you pay extra for it. If they sold it with windows and without a certificate of authenticity, the vendor is breaking the law. >>



Yea, AFAIK all they have to include is a COA, not necissarily the media.
 

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
1
0


<< I used the ancient English spelling, dork.
>>

Wouldn't "dorque" be the Olde English spelling of "dork"?
 

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,229
2,539
126
www.theshoppinqueen.com


<< The Windows Media and Files are worth $0 from microsoft's perspective.

I could make a million copies of my Win2000 CD and they wouldn't care.
I could even give those and they wouldn't care.

You need a COA and CDKey. As long as you have those two Items you are legit. They don't have to supply you with a Windows CD.

Personally I wouldn't buy a computer from a company to cheap to include a windows CD, but the fact they don't isn't illegal.

If you have a COA and CDKey you own a windows license, and you just have to get a copy of the WinXP CD from someone, and you are perfectly legit to do so, as long as you both have your own COAs and CDKeys you aren't breaking any laws by sharing the same physical media.
>>




That is my understanding of how it works too.
 

Jerboy

Banned
Oct 27, 2001
5,190
0
0


<<

<< The Windows Media and Files are worth $0 from microsoft's perspective.

I could make a million copies of my Win2000 CD and they wouldn't care.
I could even give those and they wouldn't care.

You need a COA and CDKey. As long as you have those two Items you are legit. They don't have to supply you with a Windows CD.

Personally I wouldn't buy a computer from a company to cheap to include a windows CD, but the fact they don't isn't illegal.

If you have a COA and CDKey you own a windows license, and you just have to get a copy of the WinXP CD from someone, and you are perfectly legit to do so, as long as you both have your own COAs and CDKeys you aren't breaking any laws by sharing the same physical media.
>>




That is my understanding of how it works too.
>>



Does pre-installed Windows have those lovely LE editions like many pre-bundled softwares? I'm sure it's not legal if you get a different edition though. If your computer comes with Home edition and you get a Professional edition, then you're certainly not entitled to it..