dralb

I hope this is OK to post since it is a question and I am not looking for information on how to do it, just advice on whether it is legal or not. As far as I understood, when you buy a copy of any WIndows OS, you are paying for the key and not the actual software. If this is true, wouldn't it be legal to copy/DL an ISO of the OS? I have seen mixed answers online, so I will ask it here, as this is where I usually get good info.

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"[Vietnam] only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress." -Kurt Vonnegut

CD in response to whether folding is a waste:

jbrown

I am pretty sure it is legal, as long as you own the key

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dralb

???? legal or illegal? I don't know if the "i" is a mis-type or not. Where is it available for DL from MS?

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"[Vietnam] only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress." -Kurt Vonnegut

CD in response to whether folding is a waste:

JoeUbi

It is illegal... It says on the XP disc, "It is illegal to make copies of this disc." or something to this effect.

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Turnoz

Unfortunatly. It is illegal as uploading the ISO where anyone can access it IS illegal. downloading it isnt. but if you have a version that you got from someone that uploaded it somewhere... thats illegal. pretty much. you cant do it legaly. contact micrrosoft if you lost the cd. they can ship you another one for a price... but its not as much as buying the software.

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JoeUbi

It is illegal to download a copy of the CD...

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dralb

Basically, I had purchased a valid retail key and the only disk I have ever had was an academic version I am currently running. I bought the key for a new Intel build I am dioing. I was planning on using the academic disk and just insert the retail key when propmted, but I have been told that that is a no-no and will not work. I was really hoping to get the new rig going this w/e, but I don't know anyone with a disk, so am feeling out my options.

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3358 Windsor 3800


"[Vietnam] only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress." -Kurt Vonnegut

CD in response to whether folding is a waste:

SgtSpike

Yep, I agree with the others. It is illegal to upload OR download the ISO. Either way is being part of the "copying" process, thus illegal.

Where did you purchase the key from? If it's a legal key, you should be able to obtain a disk just as easily as the key, as it's actually illegal to sell the key without the disk. Microsoft stamps that on the labels with product keys on them. "It is illegal to sell this key separately" or something to that effect.

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dralb

I bought the key here and I am pretty sure it is legal and legit. I have seen them for sale here many times and, from what I have seen, this forum does a good job of keeping things kosher. Builders buy keys in bulk without disks all the time.

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Antec 1000 Case Mod Worklog

3358 Windsor 3800


"[Vietnam] only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress." -Kurt Vonnegut

CD in response to whether folding is a waste:

Bal3Wolf

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/326246
that tells you how to get a replacement cd if you got the key you should be able to get the cd for a small fee.

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