Comments on: Understanding the Different Windows XP Licenses

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:27:58 +0000

I’m wondering about upgrades.
If running an open license copy of WinXP x64 and you purchase a retail upgrade of vista 64 bit or windows 7, will it install ok even though the previous version was an open license version?

By: Fahad

Fahad — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:55:24 +0000

I have never had any problems with different versions of XP or Vista etc cause I can only buy pirated copies of OS from the market. Originals are nowhere to be found here.

By: tekgeek

tekgeek — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:35:21 +0000

I personally have been buying OEM versions of windows since the early 90’s from computer stores around San Diego California and have never had to buy any other hardware to go along with it ..

I have never had to pay more than 90 bux for a copy.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:43:53 +0000

“While cheating Microsoft out of there $ is unethical a customer having to pay for the same piece of software twice is equally unfair and if Microsoft does not offer a viable way to protect the customer from this double charge than it is not unethical to provide such a path.”

I have a huge issue with software companies for that very reason.

If I am not purchasing the software, but am only purchasing the licensing to us it, then I think sending out one replacement CD free (and then a small charge for any additional copies of the same version) should be done. The problem is when it becomes legacy software and isn’t supported by the company anymore, which is wrong. If I bough version 4.5 and you are on version 10, ok, I get “no support”, but just give me the version of the software on the disk that I need to use the license I paid for the right to use.

IF they won’t do that, then I did not buy the right to use it, I bought the software. Of course their lawyers have the EULA written to cover all of this and state that support is only for so long, etc etc etc.

This is yet one more reason why I switched over to Linux on my own systems, and encourage others to do the same. IF they still want to stay with Windows, then I encourage them to use the free software alternatives to commercial/proprietary software.

By: Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:32:27 +0000

If I know the client’s computer was sold with a legal version of XP or was upgraded using a retail upgrade
and
for whatever reason the necessary install CD or recovery CD is unavailable.
and I have a copy of a CD that I have used in the past and the resulting installation always passes the WGA and always allows for upgrades

I guess I feel that restoring their system with that CD is preferable to forcing them to buy a whole new retail copy.
A long as I am upfront with the client.
While cheating Microsoft out of there $ is unethical a customer having to pay for the same piece of software twice is equally unfair and if Microsoft does not offer a viable way to protect the customer from this double charge than it is not unethical to provide such a path.

By: JoeTech

JoeTech — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:51:06 +0000

I have purchased OEM versions of XP from the third and fifth largest vendors in the eastern US and they send a sound cable if I am only ordering software. I know these companies would not do anything out of line with MicroSoft eula Policy.

By: LRH

LRH — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:26:33 +0000

I would find an article Discussing what you can and can’t get away with when it comes to Microsoft licensing. They are very black and white… but what about:

Example: XP license label out of lease equipment you purchase.

Example2: Hardware re-fresh upgrade and re-using license for win xp or office. If you wipe old no harm done, but MS wont agree.. can you get away with it.

I have purchased software and it has actually come with useless hardware (hard drive platter for example). I wounder if that would hold up against MS.

By: Votre

Votre — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:12:40 +0000

That warning about never selling an OEM copy of XP without also selling internal hardware such as a mobo or hard drive is spot on. I know of two repair shops in my area that have been bagged by Microsoft for doing that.

I happen know one of the shop owners personally. He wouldn’t go into any details about what went down between him and Microsoft; but from what little he did say, I gather it was a very unpleasant experience for him.

Forewarned is forearmed.

By: StarFightr

StarFightr — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:08:38 +0000

In my experience, OEM CDs won’t accept Branded Keys…

By: yourpcbytes

yourpcbytes — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:08:07 +0000

I have found that most my customers have missplaced their OEM disks, but thats ok because when using a Retail version of say “XP Pro” and when entering their OEM key on the side of their PC it installs just fine. I’ve done this on hundreds of pc’s with only an issue with one of two of them. I did however try to use an OEM CD with a Retail key which didn’t work.

I also run into having to do this when customers hard drives have been widely corrupted or die out completely, in which they have also lost the recovery partition. (smart idea on part of the OEM manufacturers right!?)

Anyone else had this work for them?