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Legal WinXP copies

Cogman

Cogman

Lifer
Well, here is my problem, Im running a laptop from Acer with the great bundled software. The problem is I dont want the bundled software, furthermore they partitioned the HD as Fat32. Well, I don't really like that either. Considering that I have a valid licence for WinXp Pro, but no WinXP Pro Cd is there a way to get a legal cd or ISO image of the cd? (does Microsoft host it?)

That is all I need, I have WinXP home CDs but they don't do a lot of good for me. (the laptop, in case you want to know, is a 2303LCi)
 
If you have a valid, unused Retail (not OEM) license for WinXP Pro, you can get any WinXP Pro CD and install it on the system using your license key. MS does not distribute or host CDs or images, but it is not illegal to borrow someone's CD or make a copy of it. The discs are all identical; it's the license key that is important.

If the notebook has a "real" WinXP license with it (not a dedicated OEM one), you can install a 'clean' copy of WinXP and use that license key.
 
how do you check if the license is oem? I cant see much on it other then Acer corporation (and the holographic stuff with antipiricy.com or something like that)?
 
Originally posted by: Cogman
how do you check if the license is oem? I cant see much on it other then Acer laptop (and the holographic stuff)
Click to expand...

If it came with your laptop and you didn't get a retail CD I would guess you've got an OEM license.
 
well, thnx for the info on converting to ntfs really thats probibly the biggest issue. The next thing I need to do is merge the 2 partions that Acer made, but thats not impossible (I just did not know you could convert the FS after installation. but you can)
 
Originally posted by: Robor
He's got an OEM version so couldn't he just get an OEM CD that isn't loaded with bundled software and use his key from his Acer?
Click to expand...

I've heard people say that, but I'm iffy on the legality if it's not the exact same OEM version. I suppose you're not really violating the spirit of the licensing, since you do have an OEM license...
 
Originally posted by: Matthias99
Originally posted by: Robor
He's got an OEM version so couldn't he just get an OEM CD that isn't loaded with bundled software and use his key from his Acer?
Click to expand...
I've heard people say that, but I'm iffy on the legality if it's not the exact same OEM version. I suppose you're not really violating the spirit of the licensing, since you do have an OEM license...
Click to expand...
It's fine. When you get to the activation part, you do have to talk to an actual rep, and you can explain the situation in absolute full detail over the phone. The rep will still allow activation. If there was *any* part of that that was illegal, the rep would not let you activate. But he does. And you're good from there on out.
 
Originally posted by: cubby1223
Originally posted by: Matthias99
Originally posted by: Robor
He's got an OEM version so couldn't he just get an OEM CD that isn't loaded with bundled software and use his key from his Acer?
Click to expand...
I've heard people say that, but I'm iffy on the legality if it's not the exact same OEM version. I suppose you're not really violating the spirit of the licensing, since you do have an OEM license...
Click to expand...
It's fine. When you get to the activation part, you do have to talk to an actual rep, and you can explain the situation in absolute full detail over the phone. The rep will still allow activation. If there was *any* part of that that was illegal, the rep would not let you activate. But he does. And you're good from there on out.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

It seems like it shouldn't be a problem. After all, you do *have* an OEM license... you just don't have original media.
 
A product to convert the partition to the required format maybe. Partition Magic 7.0 used to allow conversion. It also used to merge partitions.

Did you check to see if there was a hiden partition on your drive with the OEM XP install in it? Probably isn't.

Won't Acer provide an OEM CD?
 
Here's what I'd do:

Back up any important data on the PC.
Run the built-in FAT32--->NTFS converter in XP.
Uninstall any unwanted software.
Make inquiries with Acer on how to obtain a bare XP restoration disk. Dell and Toshiba offer tham. I don't know if Acer does or not.

I strongly recommend that people insist on an OS restore CD when they buy a new PC. Even if you have to pay extra for it. Obtaining restore CDs can be near-impossible once your PC's warranty expires.

If you are lacking an original Acer XP System Restore CD, but you are in a hurry to re-install XP, then you'll need to obtain a generic XP Pro OEM install CD. That key on the bottom of your Acer laptop is an OEM key number (COA key) and won't work with a XP Retail install CD.

You'll likely need to call Microsoft to activate XP if you use the OEM key number. Microsoft began denying ONLINE Activation of major-brand OEM keys almost two years ago. People were stealing those COA key numbers and using them to activate other PCs.

In theory, Microsoft doesn't allow the use of major-brand OEM keys to activate generic OEM XP install CDs. In practice, they seem to allow it as long as you say you are doing it because you lost or can't obtain an "original" install CD from the PC manufacturer.
 
Originally posted by: cubby1223
It's fine. When you get to the activation part, you do have to talk to an actual rep, and you can explain the situation in absolute full detail over the phone. The rep will still allow activation. If there was *any* part of that that was illegal, the rep would not let you activate. But he does. And you're good from there on out.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not I have a legit retail copy of WinXP Pro installed on my desktop and on my IBM T42 and Microsoft was cool with it. I explained to them that I just want to have a 'clean' copy of XP installed and the IBM restore partition doesn't allow it. They activated me anyway. 🙂

 
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