*Will I get in trouble*

[imported_Fletcher]

With all this stuff MS is doing for verification now I've got to get some opinions on this.

My buddy gave me his laptop for a real cheap fixer-upper. Now that I've installed some RAM in it it runs better and I was thinking of selling it.

Problem is it's got an illegit Windows XP and MS Office 2003 running on it.

Can I sell it with that stuff on it...or am I just asking for it? I figured as long as I told the potential buyers that this is in fact not updatable (except for security updates) and that no re-install CD comes with it, that would be sufficient. It's got all the original restore CD's (Win98...some older ver of MS Office) with it, so they could if they choose to restore it to a perfectly working OS should something happen to it.

And before you suggest it, I personally don't have time to restore it to the original config before I sell it.

Thanks for your opinions/ideas!

 

[DaveSimmons]

And before you suggest it, I personally don't have time to restore it to the original config before I sell it.

you have to sell it in the next hour?

Restore CDs take virtually no time, an hour or two.

You could get in trouble if you sell illegal software via eBay, Amazon, etc.

 

[imported_Fletcher]

I'm not selling any software, and I'm not including copies of anything. I didn't put it on the machine to begin with.

The chances I were to actually get in trouble by MS are basically zilch....and you know that.

Restoring is a pain in the arse...I'll let the buyer deal with that.

Anyone else?

 

[sparkyclarky]

Wipe the hard drive and include the original disks with the computer - any other way is illegal and opens you up to trouble should the user choose to pursue it with Microsoft, as Microsoft could claim that you profited off of the sale of pirated software (not that profiting is what makes it illegal, but they generally only pursue those who make money off of their intellectual property).

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

You have time to post on a forum about having illegal software, but no time to restore it :/


The new user can report you if they ever get a instant where it says "Invalid CD key, please contact Manufacturer etc..."

 

[phaxmohdem]

Just wipe the HDD and make it bootable to a c:\ prompt with CD-ROm drivers or something. OR blast a quicky linux install on it so you can sell with a LEGIT OS. Besides if you sell it on Ebay you have a week or so to do the install anyways before you sell the thing.

 

[bockchow]

you already know it's wrong and you already know your going to do it anyway. why the hell did you post this?

 

[GhettoFob]

Originally posted by: bockchow
you already know it's wrong and you already know your going to do it anyway. why the hell did you post this?

exactly what I was thinking...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Hoping we'd all share his apparent lack of morals and ethics I guess.

 

[Bateluer]

Either use the restore CDs, which would take about an hour or so, or DL some Linux ISOs and install those.

 

[Thyme]

Originally posted by: bockchow
you already know it's wrong and you already know your going to do it anyway. why the hell did you post this?

Post topic of "Ethical dilemma" is misleading. You're not asking what the right thing is to do; you're asking what the less risky thing to do is. It's not ethical, just practical.

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob

Originally posted by: bockchow
you already know it's wrong and you already know your going to do it anyway. why the hell did you post this?

exactly what I was thinking...

Same here........

 

[AnitaPeterson]

What I'm trying to figure out is this:

My buddy gave me his laptop for a real cheap fixer-upper. Now that I've installed some RAM in it it runs better and I was thinking of selling it.

Are you in fact selling someone else's property?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Wipe the hard drive with something that scrambles it according to NSA standards. (writing random bits 7 times over, IIRC)

If you don't scramble the drive in some manner (formatting/partitioning/etc won't do it), you are giving your and/or your buddy's personal information along with the laptop.

Unlikely they'll try to get your information off the drive? Yeah, probably. But why give them the opportunity?

 

[imported_Fletcher]

You're right....not sure why I even mentioned ethics in the topic...more of a "will I get in trouble" thing for sure.

I agree, its a good idea to restore it before selling. Who knows who the buyer might be...they could be a total d**khead for all I know. Would be asking for trouble to keep XP on it

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
What I'm trying to figure out is this:

My buddy gave me his laptop for a real cheap fixer-upper. Now that I've installed some RAM in it it runs better and I was thinking of selling it.

Are you in fact selling someone else's property?

Not sure what you are trying to figure out. I was given something, it's mine, I'm going to sell it.

 

[jkresh]

its unlikley that microsoft would come after you for selling 1 machine with pirated software, but take the time to remove it anyway, defintiely would scarmble the drive as well as if you dont then any personal informaiton on it (of yours or your buddies) is readily avaialbe to the new owner.