C-M0n3y

....to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)

thx

Jon Sherry

Technically no, unless you can find EXACTLY the same distribution as
what you had. But even then you'd be taking risks. If its an OEM CD from
someone like HP or Dell, you'll need to contact them for a replacement CD.
Or perhaps find one on eBay. If its a retail (store-shelf) version
Microsoft will replace the CD for a small fee. Downloading it from the
internet exposes you to the risk of viruses, getting a distribution that's
incompatible with your key, etc...

"C-M0n3y" <C-M0n3y@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F91EE345-9278-4B3D-9B1D-51C27EB5C0F9@microsoft.com...
> ...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
> want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)
>
> thx

Malke

C-M0n3y wrote:
> ...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
> want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)
>
> thx

It would be extremely foolish to do that. You can replace your broken CD
with very little trouble. Your license to use Windows is the Product
Key, not the CD. Since you bought a retail copy, contact Microsoft here:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;326246

If a friend has the same version of XP that you do (example - retail XP
Home-Pro-MCE) you can also just make a copy of his CD.


Malke
--
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www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Leythos

In article <F91EE345-9278-4B3D-9B1D-51C27EB5C0F9@microsoft.com>, C-
M0n3y@discussions.microsoft.com says...
> ...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
> want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)

Yes, it's illegal.

Why not just get the media replaced from the vendor you bought it from?

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
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drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
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Ian

Depends on your definition of legal.

Microsoft would say a definite No.

The real-world legal situation is that copyright laws differ depending on
the country/state you're in, so whether Microsoft's (hypercomplex) T&C are in
fact enforcible is a moot point, and one which has seldom been tested in
court.

HST I think there is a scheme for obtaining a replacement CD at moderate
cost. If so that might be your best route.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

Phisherman

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:14:02 -0700, C-M0n3y
<C-M0n3y@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
>want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)
>
>thx

Probably not, unless you are downloading from Microsoft. To know for
sure you can call Microsoft, that is, if you are not connected to an
offshore call center.

Ken Blake, MVP

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:28:04 -0700, Ian
<Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Depends on your definition of legal.
>
> Microsoft would say a definite No.
>
> The real-world legal situation is that copyright laws differ depending on
> the country/state you're in, so whether Microsoft's (hypercomplex) T&C are in
> fact enforcible is a moot point, and one which has seldom been tested in
> court.
>
> HST I think there is a scheme for obtaining a replacement CD at moderate
> cost. If so that might be your best route.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246




To me, even above the legal issues, who knows what may be on that
downloaded file? I wouldn't want to trust it.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Barry Watzman

In my opinion (contrary to what others are saying) it probably is legal
if you have your own legal COA and product key. But it's dangerous,
because you don't know what you are getting (could be virus infected,
for example).

If it's the wrong version (retail vs. OEM, for example), it won't accept
your product key anyway, so that is not an issue.

If two people (unrelated and living in different households) both bought
the same make/model of laptop, and one loses his media, I'm pretty sure
that it is not illegal to borrow the other person's media (not his
product key, but just the media).

In situations like this, I will do what seems to me to be "right" and
"fair" (even taking into account Microsoft's interests) and not worry
too much about the exact letter (as opposed to the intent) of the license.

BUT, that doesn't change the real dangers associated with downloading
software from an unknown source. Microsoft will replace media for a
small fee if it's not OEM media, if it is OEM media (e.g. Dell, Gateway,
HP, Sony, Toshiba, ..... etc.) then you have to contact the OEM. If you
purchased the OS stand alone without hardware then it's either retail
media or "generic OEM" media, either way, call Microsoft.

C-M0n3y wrote:
> ...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
> want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)
>
> thx

Bruce Chambers

Barry Watzman wrote:
> In my opinion (contrary to what others are saying) it probably is legal
> if you have your own legal COA and product key.


It's true that it's the Product Key, and not the physical CD, that
represents the license.

> But it's dangerous,
> because you don't know what you are getting (could be virus infected,
> for example).
>

Correct. Because, unless one has a very expensive MSDN subscription,
there are *NO* legitimate sources for downloading a Microsoft OS.





--

Bruce Chambers

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Plato

=?Utf-8?B?Qy1NMG4zeQ==?= wrote:
>
> ...to download a copy of windws from the net that doesnt come with akey(i
> want to use the one i purchased, but i sat on the cd...)

Stupid idea. Buy a real, officail copy of the OS you want to use and use
that for best results.

--
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