windows licence question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gabriel Knight
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Gabriel Knight

Hi all

from time to time I find pcs thrown out at hard rubbish time around home
here in oz and now and then on the case is a sticker/licence
for the os , I have win xp, win me and maybe win 2000 , is it safe to use
these? am I now the rightfull owner of the licences? the stickers have the
windows install code on them....

Regards
GK
 
Gabriel Knight said:
from time to time I find pcs thrown out at hard rubbish time around home
here in oz and now and then on the case is a sticker/licence
for the os , I have win xp, win me and maybe win 2000 , is it safe to use
these? am I now the rightfull owner of the licences? the stickers have the
windows install code on them....
Click to expand...

Since OEM licenses supposedly go with the machine, you do inherit the
license with the machine. That doesn't prevent the original owner from
using it on his new machine, though...

I wouldn't worry at all about the 2000 licenses. XP should activate if the
original owner doesn't have it activated on another computer (though you
should be able to activate it by phone anyhow)... I'd stay away from ME,
though if you have a specific purpose for it, go for it!
 
Gabriel said:
from time to time I find pcs thrown out at hard rubbish time around home
here in oz and now and then on the case is a sticker/licence
for the os , I have win xp, win me and maybe win 2000 , is it safe to use
these? am I now the rightfull owner of the licences? the stickers have the
windows install code on them....
Click to expand...

If they're OEM licenses, those stick with the first computer on which
they are installed. You cannot transfer them. You could, however,
repair the discarded computer (so much so that you've basically built a
new computer). Yes, you own the OEM license if you legally own the
hardware on which it was installed but that license will be of no value
until you get THAT computer running again.

If they are branded versions of Windows, the product key matches for
that version and not the generic or Microsoft version you might have.
Some branded versions of Windows are even BIOS-locked to a specific
brand and model. Unless the BIOS has the proper firmware signature,
that BIOS-locked version won't install.

It appears you do NOT have the installation media for Windows and only
have the stickers (which will be obvious in their damage that you
removed them from the case for the original computer to which the OEM
license is attached).
 
Gabriel Knight said:
Hi all
Click to expand...

Hi one
from time to time I find pcs thrown out at hard rubbish time
around home here in oz and now and then on the case is a
sticker/licence for the os ,
hmm

I have win xp, win me and maybe win 2000 , is it safe to use
these?
Click to expand...

In countries that do have and enforce intellectual-property law,
practically speaking the most important thing IMO is that the
license is used on only one machine. Unfortunately, you probably
cannot tell for sure, so there is no easy answer.
 
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