:: Is it legal to borrow a disk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fishy
  • Start date Start date
Fishy said:
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?
Click to expand...
If the scratches are on the bottom of the disk you may be able
to recover it. The data layer is at the top of the disk, and if it's not
damaged, you can get one of those CD polishing kits. It polishes
the bottom surface to below the depth of the scratches. After
polishing, the first thing to do is copy the disk. Even if there are
a few remaining scratches, a disk copy could be successful even
if the disk couldn't be used for installation. Copying uses a more
aggressive error recovery algorithm than normal reading. If the
copy is successful, I would immediately make a second copy.
 
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.

<*(((><
Fishy Lives!
Click to expand...

Fishy said:
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?
Click to expand...


Fishy...
And, in addition...

Take a look at this link and see if can help resolve your problem...
https://om.one.microsoft.com/opa/Va...c9dfbad47d0&LocaleCode=en-us&JavaScriptOn=yes
Anna
 
Anna -- I went to the link and this is what I got:
Error
English We?re sorry, we are unable to process your order at this time.
???? ??? ?????, ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ?????
Dansk Vi kan desv?rre ikke behandle din ordre p? nuv?rende tidspunkt.
Deutsch Wir k?nnen Ihre Bestellung im Augenblick leider nicht bearbeiten.
Espa?ol Desafortunadamente, no podemos procesar su pedido en este momento.
Francais Nous ne pouvons malheureusement pas traiter votre commande pour le moment.
Italiano Purtroppo attualmente non siamo in grado di elaborare il tuo ordine.
??? ????????????????????????????
??? ???????????????????
Nederlandsch Uw orderkanop dit moment niet worden verwerkt.
Norsk Vi kan dessverre ikke behandle ordren din.
Portugues N?o ? poss?vel processar a sua encomenda nesta altura.
???? ????????????
Suomi T?ll? hetkell? emme voi k?sitell? tilaustasi.
Svenska Tyv?rr kan vi inte behandla din order f?r tillf?llet.
??????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????
???? ????????????
Ti??ng Vi??t Chu?ng t?i chu+a th?? xu+? ly? y?u c??u ?a(?t ha?ng hi??n tho+?i cu?a ba?n
 
Thanks -- but can you explain further what you mean by

"essentially ... no different from the retail CD"

Does that mean I've got a retail CD?

BTW -- the shop is out of business. This was about 7 years ago that they built it. I
wish I'd had you build it instead of them.

<*(((><
Fishy Lives!
 
Fishy

Well I guess you had good value for your money.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Fishy said:
Thanks -- but can you explain further what you mean by

"essentially ... no different from the retail CD"
Click to expand...

He means that *functionally*, an OS installed from an OEM CD will be no
different from that installed from a retail CD.

Does that mean I've got a retail CD?
Click to expand...

No. How many times do you need to be told this?


--

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
 
Bruce said:
He means that *functionally*, an OS installed from an OEM CD will be
no different from that installed from a retail CD.



No. How many times do you need to be told this?
Click to expand...
Are you sure about your answer? You can buy a retail OEM disk at any
number of places including Fry's and Newegg. The only difference
between them and a Full or Upgrade disk is the license. They have no
vendor specific drivers or programs such as those received with a new
Dell or HP computer.
 
Fishy said:
Anna -- I went to the link and this is what I got:
Error
English We?re sorry, we are unable to process your order at this time.
???? ??? ?????, ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ?????
Click to expand...
(SNIP)


Fishy:
I may have given you an incorrect URL. Sorry if I did. This should work...

https://om.one.microsoft.com/opa/st...9ABE-1C9DFBAD47D0&NewTrans=1&localecode=en-us
Media Replacement for End Users of System Builders

If there's a problem accessing the above link, try...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246
and scroll down to the "Media replacement for users of system builders'
computers" section.

And keep us informed how you make out...
Anna
 
Michael said:
Are you sure about your answer? You can buy a retail OEM disk at any
number of places including Fry's and Newegg. The only difference
between them and a Full or Upgrade disk is the license. They have no
vendor specific drivers or programs such as those received with a new
Dell or HP computer.
Click to expand...


--

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
 
Michael said:
Are you sure about your answer?

Yes.


You can buy a retail OEM disk at any
number of places including Fry's and Newegg.
Click to expand...


"Retail OEM" is an oxymoron. There is, once again, so such thing.

What vendors like NewEgg sell are System Builder single-pack licenses
that give the purchaser an OEM license for a single machine. The
differences between a system builder license and an OEM license seem
obscure and arcane to the average layman, but they're important,
nonetheless. Read the fine print on the sites that sell these licenses.

The only difference
between them and a Full or Upgrade disk is the license.
Click to expand...


.... and the user's recourses for obtaining free support are limited to
himself (or Internet forums and newsgroups). He'll get no help from
either Microsoft or the vendor.

They have no
vendor specific drivers or programs such as those received with a new
Dell or HP computer.
Click to expand...


Precisely. That's why I said there was no *functional* difference.


--

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
 
Michael

There is a difference between a generic OEM and a Retail version. Why do
you think a Retail version is so much more expensive? The first is
intended for a system builder and the second for an existing computer.
An OEM once installed stays with the computer. A Retail copy, if removed
from the first computer it is installed on, can be installed on a second
computer. That is a simple explanation of the licensing differences as
there are conditions which are involved and have many twist and turns,

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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