Is it legal?

[Guest]

Can anyone advise.

I am confused here.
I have 2 PCs using Windows XP Pro OEM Version.
Eg : PC A Product Key is xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-1234.
PC B Product Key is xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-5678.

I just want to know whether the procedure I am using is legal.

If PC A crashes and I do not have the CD for PC A. I use PC B CD to install
on PC A. NOTE : Thereafter, I use the Product Key Update tool to update PC A
to its original product key which is xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-1234 then activate it
via phone.

At the end of the day, everything is successful and that PC A is using the
product key xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-1234. Is this legal or consider illegal?

Thanks


Alvyn

 

[Richard Urban]

Sounds good to me.

As long as the install key matches the media, and you have two separate
keys, you are OK.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Dear Mr Richard Urban

Thanks for your reply.

However, if let say I am using a Volume License CD instead to install onto
PC A then use the Product Key Update tool to update it to use the OEM product
key and get it activated, is this consider illegal? Presume that I can get
everything successfully process.
Similarly, at the end of the day, the product key of PC A is still
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-1234,
which is the OEM product key originally for PC A.

Thanks

Alvyn

 

[Haggis]

Dear Mr Richard Urban

Thanks for your reply.

However, if let say I am using a Volume License CD instead to install onto
PC A then use the Product Key Update tool to update it to use the OEM
product
key and get it activated, is this consider illegal? Presume that I can get
everything successfully process.
Similarly, at the end of the day, the product key of PC A is still
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-1234,
which is the OEM product key originally for PC A.

Thanks

Alvyn

the volume license CD would probably not install using the OEM key.

basically if you end up with the legal OEM key , I see no problems
....licenses are tied to the key's ,not the media

 

[Richard Urban]

You MUST use the exact same media CD. You can not substitute one for
another.

If you have two Dell computers, exactly the same - purchased at the same
time with the same hardware, you could do as you say.

Please stop throwing additional information into the equation. State
everything completely during the first post.

Thank you!

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Dear Haggis

Thanks,
What I meant here is I install PC A using the Volume License CD with the
Volume License Product key. Thereafter I use the Product Key Update tools to
change the Volume License product key back to the original OEM product key
for this PC A and get it activated.

Although it is wrong to use the Volume License with the Volume license
product key to install on another PC, BUT at the end of the day, after using
the Product Key update tool, PC A is still using the original OEM product key.

What I am concern here is whether this procedure is proper or illegal?

Thanks

Alvyn

 

[Guest]

I apologised for not stating everything clearly in my first post.

To put it directly, I only want to know whether it is illegal to use any
other type of CD, be it Volume License, Retail or OEM CDs to install on
another PC but after installation use the Product Key Update Tools to change
the product key back to its original product key that comes with the system
and get it activated.

At the end of the day, the PC is still tied to its own original product key.

Thanks

 

[Richard Urban]

Legal, or not, you need a volume license key to run a volume license copy of
Windows XP. Another key will not suffice.


--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bob I]

Are you disposing/selling off the OEM license and PC. You will need to
contact the Microsoft licensing folks if you want an "official"
determination as to the switch.

 

[Guest]

Hi Bob

I am not disposing or selling off the PC and the license. I only want to
know should a PC crash and requires re-installation of the OS and it happen
that the orignal CD is damaged or lost, can I make use of other CD and its
product key to install first and then use the Product Key Update tools to
change the product key back to its original product key and get it activated.

This results the same PC using back its own original Product Key.
Calling give me a mixed answer, that is why I post here to see anyone
encountering the same problem and have a firm answer on this issue.

Regards

 

[Bob I]

In reality, if the license key and the CD work together, all fine and
dandy. IF you want a LEGAL opinion, ASK Microsoft licensing.

 

[HeyBub]

I apologised for not stating everything clearly in my first post.

To put it directly, I only want to know whether it is illegal to use any
other type of CD, be it Volume License, Retail or OEM CDs to install on
another PC but after installation use the Product Key Update Tools to
change
the product key back to its original product key that comes with the
system
and get it activated.

At the end of the day, the PC is still tied to its own original product
key.

Thanks

You're asking: "If I have a valid hunting license, is it legal to shoot a
deer with a stolen gun?"

Others might care, but the game warden won't.

 

[Kerry Brown]

In reality, if the license key and the CD work together, all fine and
dandy. IF you want a LEGAL opinion, ASK Microsoft licensing.

If you want a legal opinion pay for a lawyer. They will likely tell you it
would have to be tested in court. If you want to know if it's within the
EULA in Microsoft's opinion then ask Microsoft. Personally I would ask
Microsoft but their answer would not be a legal opinion.

 

[Bob I]

If you want a legal opinion pay for a lawyer. They will likely tell you it
would have to be tested in court. If you want to know if it's within the
EULA in Microsoft's opinion then ask Microsoft. Personally I would ask
Microsoft but their answer would not be a legal opinion.

Yes that is phrased better.