:: Is it legal to borrow a disk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fishy
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Fishy

I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched that it isn't
reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or that, I'm out of luck.
It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has SP3 integrated into
it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own original key.

Question #1: Will it work? Will it let me continue to get updates? Will it let me
reinstall the OS (using my own key)?

Question #2: Is it legal?

My impression is that when we buy Windows XP, we are really buying a license--hence the
license key. Isn't that right?
 
Fishy said:
I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched that it isn't
reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or that, I'm out of luck.
It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has SP3 integrated into
it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own original key.

Question #1: Will it work? Will it let me continue to get updates? Will it let me
reinstall the OS (using my own key)?
Click to expand...

Yes, to all 3 questions.

Question #2: Is it legal?


Certainly.


My impression is that when we buy Windows XP, we are really buying a license--hence the
license key. Isn't that right?
Click to expand...


Absolutely.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Fishy said this on 1/11/2009 3:20 PM:
I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched that it isn't
reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or that, I'm out of luck.
It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has SP3 integrated into
it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own original key.

Question #1: Will it work? Will it let me continue to get updates? Will it let me
reinstall the OS (using my own key)?

Question #2: Is it legal?

My impression is that when we buy Windows XP, we are really buying a license--hence the
license key. Isn't that right?
Click to expand...

You are buying the key, Yes a portion of that is the CD, but you're
really buying the license key. And a retail license is for a retail CD.
I use my wife's CD to load since mine is SP1 and her's is SP2. (until I
learned to slipstream CD's that is).
 
As long as you and your friend both have XP Home
or you both have XP Pro Retail versions slipstreamed
or not slipstreamed it will work.

Your key code is the important part of using friend's CD.
 
Great news! Thanks.

To confirm: I have to make sure my friend's disk is also XP Home. If it's XP Pro, my
license key won't work?

<*(((><
Fishy Lives!
 
Wow. My original disk was a "retail" disk for "OEM" system builders. When I check My
Computer > Properties, is shows that Windows XP is registered this way:

Registered To: <MY NAME>
xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

So what the heck does that mean? Do I have "OEM" or Retail? Note -- the computer was
built by a local shop; it wasn't one of the common makes.

<*(((><
Fishy Lives!
 
You have OEM, that's why it says OEM in the number.
Now, the OEM disks must match...such as if it's a Dell, it must be the exact
same Dell disk, etc...

: Wow. My original disk was a "retail" disk for "OEM" system builders.
When I check My
: Computer > Properties, is shows that Windows XP is registered this way:
:
: Registered To: <MY NAME>
: xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx
:
: So what the heck does that mean? Do I have "OEM" or Retail? Note -- the
computer was
: built by a local shop; it wasn't one of the common makes.
:
: <*(((><
: Fishy Lives!
:
:
:
:
: >Correct, it also has to match the type, retail, vs. OEM. vs. upgrade.
:
: >
: >: >> Great news! Thanks.
: >>
: >> To confirm: I have to make sure my friend's disk is also XP Home. If
: >> it's XP Pro, my
: >> license key won't work?
: >>
: >> <*(((><
: >> Fishy Lives!
: >>
: >>
: >>
: >> On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:50:31 -0700, Bruce Chambers
: >>
: >>>Fishy wrote:
: >>>> I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched
: >>>> that it isn't
: >>>> reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or
that,
: >>>> I'm out of luck.
: >>>> It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has
: >>>> SP3 integrated into
: >>>> it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own
: >>>> original key.
: >>>>
: >>>> Question #1: Will it work? Will it let me continue to get updates?
: >>>> Will it let me
: >>>> reinstall the OS (using my own key)?
: >>>>
: >>>
: >>> Yes, to all 3 questions.
: >>>
: >>>
: >>>> Question #2: Is it legal?
: >>>>
: >>>
: >>>
: >>> Certainly.
: >>>
: >>>
: >>>> My impression is that when we buy Windows XP, we are really buying a
: >>>> license--hence the
: >>>> license key. Isn't that right?
: >>>>
: >>>
: >>>
: >>> Absolutely.
 
It's either retail or OEM, not both. Retail means it came in the pretty
colored blue or green box and refers the the license, it does not mean that
you bought it "retail".
 
David

Isn't it a generic OEM licence for sale only with a new computer, and
commonly used by small computer suppliers. Big suppliers like Dell
provide customised OEM disks with other software added. A generic OEM
licence is tied to the original computer. I have one. The licence terms
for a retail version permit transfers from one computer to another,
providing it is only on one computer at any given time. This is one
reason why retail licences are that much more expensive.

Transfers involving generic OEM licences are not allowed. You have to
take care when changing components, especially if a motherboard is
involved as other components can also need changing.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Fishy said:
I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched that
it isn't
reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or that,
I'm out of luck.
It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has SP3
integrated into
it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own original
key.

Question #1: Will it work? Will it let me continue to get updates? Will
it let me
reinstall the OS (using my own key)?
Click to expand...

The answer is no, at least not for any installs. An OEM key will not work
with a Retail (or VL) disk.

While you can't do an install, you *can* use that disk for the recovery
console, and possibly for adding Windows components.
Question #2: Is it legal?
Click to expand...

The license is represented by the install key, not by the disk. It
really doesn't matter as long as you use an appropriate disk.

You need to find and borrow another OEM CD, or possibly try to make a copy
of the one you have now.

My impression is that when we buy Windows XP, we are really buying a
license--hence the
license key. Isn't that right?
Click to expand...

Yep.

HTH
-pk
 
Fishy said:
Wow. My original disk was a "retail" disk for "OEM" system builders.
When I check My
Computer > Properties, is shows that Windows XP is registered this way:

Registered To: <MY NAME>
xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

So what the heck does that mean? Do I have "OEM" or Retail? Note -- the
computer was
built by a local shop; it wasn't one of the common makes.
Click to expand...

You have an OEM CD and an OEM install, and a retail CD will not accept your
license key.

You need to find another OEM CD, and copy that one.

HTH
-pk
 
Fishy said:
I've got Windows XP. The original disk has become so badly scratched that
it isn't
reading anymore. So whenever I have to "insert disk" for this or that,
I'm out of luck.
It's retail; not OEM. I have a friend with a retail version that has SP3
integrated into
it. Can I borrow his copy and use it? Of course, I have my own original
key.
Click to expand...

You should perhaps clarify a bit exactly why you think your friend's disk is
"retail". An OEM key will not work with a retail disk, and vice versa.
 
Fishy said:
Great news! Thanks.

To confirm: I have to make sure my friend's disk is also XP Home. If it's XP Pro, my
license key won't work?
Click to expand...

That's correct.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of
CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) 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 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/license types cannot usually (it's been reported
that the Product Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be
mixed & matched.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Fishy said:
Wow. My original disk was a "retail" disk for "OEM" system builders.
Click to expand...

There's no such thing.
When I check My
Computer > Properties, is shows that Windows XP is registered this way:

Registered To: <MY NAME>
xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

So what the heck does that mean? Do I have "OEM" or Retail?
Click to expand...


As the Product ID clearly specifies, you have an OEM license.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
I'm getting more and more confused.
I cannot use the disk anymore because it is so badly scratched. I cannot install or
uninstall any additional components. Whenever Windows wants me to insert the original
disk, it fails.

I didn't make copies of the disk when I first got it because it said right on it: "Do not
make illegal copies of this disk." I thought copying was prohibited. I now realize that I
could have made a copy and put the original in a safe place, and used the copy until it
got all scratched up, then make another copy.

The disk came in a sleeve. Not in a box. The shop that built the computer installed it
and gave me the CD. I told him I wanted RETAIL XP, and he told me it was Retail--Same as
Retail. Whatever the hell that means. And yes, it's got OEM in the registration number,
which I now know means OEM.

The computer is not a Dell.
Not a Gateway.
Not HP.
Not Compaq.
Not anything else.

It has an ASUS motherboard and this XP Disk. And now the disk won't work. So what am I
to do?
 
If the person that built the computer can't give you another disc, you're on
the hook for buy a new retail copy of XP..if you can find one.

: I'm getting more and more confused.
: I cannot use the disk anymore because it is so badly scratched. I cannot
install or
: uninstall any additional components. Whenever Windows wants me to insert
the original
: disk, it fails.
:
: I didn't make copies of the disk when I first got it because it said right
on it: "Do not
: make illegal copies of this disk." I thought copying was prohibited. I
now realize that I
: could have made a copy and put the original in a safe place, and used the
copy until it
: got all scratched up, then make another copy.
:
: The disk came in a sleeve. Not in a box. The shop that built the
computer installed it
: and gave me the CD. I told him I wanted RETAIL XP, and he told me it was
Retail--Same as
: Retail. Whatever the hell that means. And yes, it's got OEM in the
registration number,
: which I now know means OEM.
:
: The computer is not a Dell.
: Not a Gateway.
: Not HP.
: Not Compaq.
: Not anything else.
:
: It has an ASUS motherboard and this XP Disk. And now the disk won't work.
So what am I
: to do?
:
 
Fishy

You have a generic OEM not a retail version of Windows XP. This means
that it is tied to the computer. Those coming from large companies like
Dell can be customised and often have included other bundled software. A
generic OEM version is much cheaper than a retail version -60%(?) of a
retail copy.

You can still buy a generic OEM version but not for much longer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP

Several months ago my generic OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition
exploded in my DVD drive. I bought a relacement disk as insurance.

In the UK you can buy a generic OEM copy of Windows XP Home Edition for
£65. You will pay considerably more for a retail version if you can get
one. You can buy for much less in the US.

Whilst the lack of a CD limits what you can do, it need not prevent you
using your computer. Many users clone their disk to an external drive
and use this copy to restore if the hard drive fails. They copy the copy
on the external drive to a replacement drive. What is the pressing need
for a CD at this time?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
If your 25 digit product key is on a sticker on the side of your PC (or
still on the cellophane on the cardboard sleeve), you have OEM, not retail,
if the shop charged you for retail, you need to contact them to provide with
a proper replacement.
 
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