OEM Disks

[frenchscottie]

legal or illegal

There are different license agreements on Branded OEM Discs and System Builder OEM Discs. Branded being Dell, HP, Acer, etc. System Builder being the holographic discs.

It's time to post this again: Microsoft OEM Licensing FAQ


This comes direct from Microsoft. I've been beaten up for posting information like this in the past. But, never was anyone able to post a valid reference proving their opinions as fact. Whether or not something works is not the point. The point is doing what is legal. Just because something works or a workaround exists does not make it right or legal.

Surely if you have an OEM disk or other version and you install it and use the customers licence key then it should be ok.
To me it sounds like when we used to tape an album (vinyl) (remember them?) to play in our car. It didn't matter if you owned the album it was illegal.
The same goes for a DVD or Cd you own, it is illegal to copy it to your iPod, mobile or PC to listen to or view. But we all do it. (UK Law).

Also the Technibble Windows iso's must be illegal also.

 

[NeutronTech]

Surely if you have an OEM disk or other version and you install it and use the customers licence key then it should be ok.

It works, sure, but it's a violation of the agreement. If it was okay to use another copy of the disc, then they would have said so instead of saying that it wasn't ok. Now, I highly doubt they would ever try and prosecute someone doing so, but it leaves it open for them to do so.

 

[Alan22]

Surely if you have an OEM disk or other version and you install it and use the customers licence key then it should be ok.

Try to find anything on the Microsoft website to backup that claim. According to Microsoft, it's not OK, as I clearly referenced. But, the <cough> "professional" technicians will do it anyway. Doesn't make it right.

Also the Technibble Windows iso's must be illegal also.

What Technibble Windows iso's?

 

[PC Ops]

There are different license agreements on Branded OEM Discs and System Builder OEM Discs. Branded being Dell, HP, Acer, etc. System Builder being the holographic discs.

It's time to post this again: Microsoft OEM Licensing FAQ


This comes direct from Microsoft. I've been beaten up for posting information like this in the past. But, never was anyone able to post a valid reference proving their opinions as fact. Whether or not something works is not the point. The point is doing what is legal. Just because something works or a workaround exists does not make it right or legal.

I'm all about working legal but in some cases legal isn't just black and white. In this case there's a grey area. Not all customers keep the discs they got along with their system stored in a neat place. I know my customers don't... And... some brands don't deliver a disc with a system at all. I.e. Acer doesn't (not here in Holland anyways). What if the recovery partition fails? Sending it to Acer (in this case) will take 2 weeks at least! The local pc tech is the fastest and easiest way to go for most people I guess.

I'm sure a lot of techies here use their own copies; slipstreamed, up to date and all. Is it illegal? I don't think so. Is it legal? I don't think so either. Is MS gonna take us all to court or will they cut us some slack. I reckon the latter.

Do you ask all your clients for their copy? And if they don't have it, do you send them away? But I guess that's not the issue.

My humble opinion in a nutshell.
Cheers!

 

[PC Ops]

What Technibble Windows iso's?

I'm curious too, lol I have yet to encounter copies of Windows on TN.
And my bet is there'll never be any. For good reasons btw.

 

[frenchscottie]

I'm curious too, lol I have yet to encounter copies of Windows on TN.
And my bet is there'll never be any. For good reasons btw.

Sorry, the iso's are only recovery disks with windows files stripped, but are they legal or illegal?

 

[tarik]

we also must not confuse what is illegal according to LAW and illegal according to Microsoft. Microsoft say its against their license agreement BUT until a case goes to court then for all we know their license agreement may not hold up in court.

 

[XFalloutX]

I'm pretty sure on this but the Dell CD's will only work on a Dell. There is information burned onto the mother board that the CD looks for to verify it is a Dell computer before it continues. I had a Dell tech CD that is used to burn that info onto mother boards too somewhere.

As far as using a CD on another computer you can. Its the key that is the legal part you have to worry about. As long as the owner of the computer legally has a key you can use any CD that will work with it and hasn't been used on other computers and so forth blah blah blah

I'm like 99% sure you could put all the copies of windows CD's you have on a website and be fine as long as your not putting up keys for windows.

 

[PC Ops]

I support your statement for 99%
The 1 % left is about the Dell oem. As I mentioned (#16) I have a Dell oem with XP sp2. I got this years ago along with a Dell desktop I bought. I've slipstreamed this cd (updates/drivers) and have been using it for many, many reinstalls on both Dell and non-Dell computers. No probs whatsoever. So I somewhat confused about your story on Dell and the part about 'burning info somewhere on the mobo' sounds plain ....uhm... strange

I can't imagine I'm the only tech using a Dell oem? I'm pretty sure I've seen posts where others mention using Dell oems.

 

[XFalloutX]

Maybe slipstreaming it did something? I know in the past when I tried doing a reinstall with a Dell CD I've gotten a message saying that its not a Dell computer. I will say its been a few years since I tried though.

 

[PC Ops]

No, I made no fancy changes wse, just sp3, updates and drivers. Also, I've used the cd in it's original state on numerous occasions. The cd is from feb. 2005.

Perhaps others here use a Dell oem as well and want to let us know here?

 

[Martyn]

I used one a couple days ago with no problems.

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

I know I've got OEM disks for most manufacturers (HP, Dell, IBM) for most OS and they install fine. They often only work for that brand but otherwise no problems.

 

[Belteck]

I know I've got OEM disks for most manufacturers (HP, Dell, IBM) for most OS and they install fine. They often only work for that brand but otherwise no problems.

Currently using a Dell win7 disk on a HP vista machine, seems to be fine so far

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

Currently using a Dell win7 disk on a HP vista machine, seems to be fine so far

Well I should rephrase that I guess. The preactivation is what will fail usually but yeah I can usually use other media to install. I don't usually like to if I can help it because it often puts oem logos and such for the wrong brand in there.

 

[Belteck]

Well I should rephrase that I guess. The preactivation is what will fail usually but yeah I can usually use other media to install. I don't usually like to if I can help it because it often puts oem logos and such for the wrong brand in there.

I can attest to this, the only reason im using a dell disk on a hp is because its for a friend and they already knew the consequences of the wrong logo under system properties. I was lucky enough to go threw my work to get the matching key for that disk from a new machine. Since we just put our on XP image on it, they didnt care. But I have not tried using that dell disk on a machine that already has 7 on it and using the key thats on the sticker of that machine. Say your in a situation where customer does not have recovery disks but has the sticker on the computer with the key. What are your options?
1. Technet oem iso?
2.Dell,hp,ect install disk (but what if the manufacturer disk doenst match your customers machine)
3.Retail install from best buy..ect

 

[PC Ops]

But I have not tried using that dell disk on a machine that already has 7 on it and using the key thats on the sticker of that machine. Say your in a situation where customer does not have recovery disks but has the sticker on the computer with the key. What are your options?
1. Technet oem iso?
2.Dell,hp,ect install disk (but what if the manufacturer disk doenst match your customers machine)
3.Retail install from best buy..ect

I'm not sure what you mean with xp on a 7 machine but the 7 COA will not work on xp.

Most of us have all os' on disc or usb drive. AFAIK Technet doesn't have oem iso's. But you can alter a Technet os' pid so that it will be recognized as an oem. There's a lot about this topic to be found here on TN.

As mentioned earlier in this thread I often use an altered Dell oem. I also use non-branded oems and have yet to come across a system that won't take my oem with the user's coa. And if I do I'll give the MS helpdesk a call.

Search TN on "oem" and you'll find loads of info.

Cheers.




Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Martyn]

I'm not sure what you mean with xp on a 7 machine but the 7 COA will not work on xp.

Most of us have all os' on disc or usb drive. AFAIK Technet doesn't have oem iso's. But you can alter a Technet os' pid so that it will be recognized as an oem. There's a lot about this topic to be found here on TN.

As mentioned earlier in this thread I often use an altered Dell oem. I also use non-branded oems and have yet to come across a system that won't take my oem with the user's coa. And if I do I'll give the MS helpdesk a call.

Search TN on "oem" and you'll find loads of info.

Cheers.




Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I think Technet will work on any version of 7 and Vista, it's just XP that needs the different builds

 

[PC Ops]

I think Technet will work on any version of 7 and Vista, it's just XP that needs the different builds

You're right. I was referring to xp on that. Forgot to mention
Thank God they've changed that!!!

 

[Belteck]

I'm not sure what you mean with xp on a 7 machine but the 7 COA will not work on xp.

Most of us have all os' on disc or usb drive. AFAIK Technet doesn't have oem iso's. But you can alter a Technet os' pid so that it will be recognized as an oem. There's a lot about this topic to be found here on TN.

As mentioned earlier in this thread I often use an altered Dell oem. I also use non-branded oems and have yet to come across a system that won't take my oem with the user's coa. And if I do I'll give the MS helpdesk a call.

Search TN on "oem" and you'll find loads of info.

Cheers.




Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Wish I knew how to slipstream and alter os discs sadly I am just a newbie in that department. Ill have to look into it. Untill then ill have to be extra careful and learn about cloning hdds to play it safe. I would gladly pay for the technet subscription if I fully understand what I can it for lol. I cant quite understand it and what the purpose of technet cds are.