Guest mshutch Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I have XP on my machine now, I am looking for a person who has the same machine so I can use the recovery disk. A moderator in a group states this is illega- violation of copyright. I have my priginal paperwork and numbers, but not the CD. Is it legal to install from someone else's CD??
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Re: Got a virus and lost my XP CD, can I use anothe person's to reinst "mshutch" <mshutch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9F9D26EF-DE53-421F-8FB1-714D53FC926C@microsoft.com... >I have XP on my machine now, I am looking for a person who has the same > machine so I can use the recovery disk. A moderator in a group states this > is > illega- violation of copyright. > > I have my priginal paperwork and numbers, but not the CD. > > Is it legal to install from someone else's CD?? You should check the EULA, and you'll probably find that it is permitted. In the context of retail or OEM CDs, for a given type and build, the CDs are all exactly the same, and are interchangeable (again, given that the types match). It's the CD key supplied with the package that is important. If the CD is for exactly the same machine, it should be fine. It's the install key that's the important thing, and you may need to check and change the key if activation is refused. The key on the system case is the proof of license, not the install media. The real issue is a practical one - can you find anyone who actually does have the same system? HTH -pk
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Re: Got a virus and lost my XP CD, can I use anothe person's to reinst mshutch wrote: > I have XP on my machine now, I am looking for a person who has the same > machine so I can use the recovery disk. A moderator in a group states this is > illega- violation of copyright. > > I have my priginal paperwork and numbers, but not the CD. > > Is it legal to install from someone else's CD?? > > As long as you use your own Product Key, yes. It's the Product Key that represents the license, not the installation CD. Of course, you do need to find either an identical Recovery CD, or an unbranded, generic OEM installation CD. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, full, or Upgrade) with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD types cannot be mixed & matched. If you do find and use an unbranded, generic OEM CD, you'll also probably need to download any proprietary device drivers from the computer manufacturer's web site to restore full functionality to your system. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
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