Safe/Legal to Do This?

[Waylay00]

Is it safe to use a Dell Windows XP Home Installation disc for my new build? I have already wiped everything off the original hard drive in the Dell, so it's not like I'm using the same copy on two machines.

I notice that there are a few Dell things (support related) on the CD itself. Would this mess up a new build?

Also, is it legal, as long as the copy isn't being used on another PC? (This Dell was my neighbor's. He didn't have any use for it, because he got two new G5's)

All I'm wanting to do is be able to use this copy for my new build this summer and save $100.

Thanks

 

[Cheesetogo]

I don't think that your actually supposed to do that since it's oem and supposedly bound to the machine it was originally on, but I don't see any reason not to do it. I don't think that it's actually illegal. The dell back up stuff is probably just a bunch of dell programs that you can delete.

 

[mwmorph]

a lot of times the "recovery" disk checks for systme bios/specs before installing. i tried the same tihng iwth a hp restore cd/

 

[mechBgon]

Here's Microsoft's page covering that: do's & don'ts

Don't transfer OEM software from one computer system to another.

OEM software licenses cannot be transferred from one computer system to another, even if the computer system on which it was originally installed is no longer in use.

The CD itself is not the big deal, it's the license. I don't think Microsoft would give a hoot if the Dell CD works, it's the license that they would want you to renew for your new build.

Why not just run DBAN to wipe your Dell's hard drive of any personal info, then re-image it, patch it up as a courtesy, and sell it off to cover the cost of a new Windows license?

Also, you know your A8N-SLI will implode if you give it Dell cooties :Q

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Here's Microsoft's page covering that: do's & don'ts

Don't transfer OEM software from one computer system to another.

OEM software licenses cannot be transferred from one computer system to another, even if the computer system on which it was originally installed is no longer in use.

The CD itself is not the big deal, it's the license. I don't think Microsoft would give a hoot if the Dell CD works, it's the license that they would want you to renew for your new build.

Why not just run DBAN to wipe your Dell's hard drive of any personal info, then re-image it, patch it up as a courtesy, and sell it off to cover the cost of a new Windows license?

Also, you know your A8N-SLI will implode if you give it Dell cooties :Q

how bout technically, "upgrade the dell so that almost the entire system is stripped and rebuilt and then windows installed. then, install all the other stripped parts form old dell pc in a nw case and make it a linux box. the new old pc is still technically a dell, even if it has a amd64 x2 processor or whatnot, it was just heavily upgraded.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Here's Microsoft's page covering that: do's & don'ts

Don't transfer OEM software from one computer system to another.

OEM software licenses cannot be transferred from one computer system to another, even if the computer system on which it was originally installed is no longer in use.

The CD itself is not the big deal, it's the license. I don't think Microsoft would give a hoot if the Dell CD works, it's the license that they would want you to renew for your new build.

Why not just run DBAN to wipe your Dell's hard drive of any personal info, then re-image it, patch it up as a courtesy, and sell it off to cover the cost of a new Windows license?

Also, you know your A8N-SLI will implode if you give it Dell cooties :Q

how bout technically, "upgrade the dell so that almost the entire system is stripped and rebuilt and then windows installed. then, install all the other stripped parts form old dell pc in a nw case and make it a linux box. the new old pc is still technically a dell, even if it has a amd64 x2 processor or whatnot, it was just heavily upgraded.

To start with, the Dell cooties will still apply Also, the motherboard is apparently the definitive "core" item, from what I've read. If the Dell mobo dies and Dell replaces it with another Dell mobo, well all righty then. If the Dell mobo is replaced with an A8N-SLI... uh...

Basically, think about why an OEM license is less expensive than a retail license. It's because Microsoft expects it to stay stuck to the computer it was sold with. New computer, new license, new money for Microsoft to pay for supporting the new computer through its lifespan*.

People may choose to see shades of grey in order to suit their preference, which is usually summed up by "I don't want to spend another $100 for an intangible thing like a license, when I could buy a heckuva lot of pizza instead ," but this seems like a pretty clear-cut situation where the computer is not at all a Dell anymore. Especially an A64-powered one

edit: also in this case, the computer was never a Dell in the first place.





*at its option, Microsoft might also buy Canada instead

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Here's Microsoft's page covering that: do's & don'ts

Don't transfer OEM software from one computer system to another.

OEM software licenses cannot be transferred from one computer system to another, even if the computer system on which it was originally installed is no longer in use.

The CD itself is not the big deal, it's the license. I don't think Microsoft would give a hoot if the Dell CD works, it's the license that they would want you to renew for your new build.

Why not just run DBAN to wipe your Dell's hard drive of any personal info, then re-image it, patch it up as a courtesy, and sell it off to cover the cost of a new Windows license?

Also, you know your A8N-SLI will implode if you give it Dell cooties :Q

how bout technically, "upgrade the dell so that almost the entire system is stripped and rebuilt and then windows installed. then, install all the other stripped parts form old dell pc in a nw case and make it a linux box. the new old pc is still technically a dell, even if it has a amd64 x2 processor or whatnot, it was just heavily upgraded.

To start with, the Dell cooties will still apply Also, the motherboard is apparently the definitive "core" item, from what I've read. If the Dell mobo dies and Dell replaces it with another Dell mobo, well all righty then. If the Dell mobo is replaced with an A8N-SLI... uh...

Basically, think about why an OEM license is less expensive than a retail license. It's because Microsoft expects it to stay stuck to the computer it was sold with. New computer, new license, new money for Microsoft to pay for supporting the new computer through its lifespan*.

People may choose to see shades of grey in order to suit their preference, which is usually summed up by "I don't want to spend another $100 for an intangible thing like a license, when I could buy a heckuva lot of pizza instead ," but this seems like a pretty clear-cut situation where the computer is not at all a Dell anymore. Especially an A64-powered one

edit: also in this case, the computer was never a Dell in the first place.





*at its option, Microsoft might also buy Canada instead

hmm you seem to have a point there
fine last option, get your employer to sign you up for a MSDN subscription. I got office 2003 EE, server 2003, xp pro, etc at no cost.

cost my company a pretty penny though(something like 10k or so)

 

[NaughtyGeek]

10K for MSDN? I've got a couple MSDN subs to sell your company. Also, the software included with MSDN is not for use outside of development.

 

[nweaver]

the MSDN license holder is allowed to use one copy of things for personal nondev use. i.e. I can use the XP Pro and Office on my laptop, even if it's not development related, as long as I hold the MSDN subscription personally. Once I can the MSDN, then I have to (legally) wipe it out.