Converting a "devilsown" to OEM

[JBW]

My roommate has a Sony Vaio laptop that came with XP Pro. He lost the
recovery CDs, and the hard drive crashed. A new hard drive is on the way.

As for reinstalling Windows, Sony wants $26+ for a new set of recovery CDs,
and they will take time to get here. There is a valid CD-KEY sticker on his
laptop, however I've read that my OEM Dell XP CD (from my laptop) won't even
install on his machine, let alone get to the activation stage.

My proposed solution:

Take my old (and unused, I may add) warez "devilsown" copy of XP Pro, change
the setupp.ini to OEM, and install it on the Sony. If it asks me to
activate, that's fine. His CD-KEY is totally legit.

Will this work?

(I know that the sure-fire solution would be to pay for the replacement Sony
CDs, but if you saw all the crap that the restore CD will install, you'd
think twice too.)

JBW

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Very doubtful.
The Product Key on his computer may only work with a CD from that
company.

Instead of spending time trying and probably failing to get a bad
solution to work, pay the $26 for a sure thing.
The end result will be a more reliable installation sooner.

 

[Jim Macklin]

It won't work, it is illegal. The Sony won't work properly
without the special drivers that Sony uses. $26 is cheap
and over-night FedEx doesn't take long. Do it right.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| My roommate has a Sony Vaio laptop that came with XP Pro.
He lost the
| recovery CDs, and the hard drive crashed. A new hard
drive is on the way.
|
| As for reinstalling Windows, Sony wants $26+ for a new set
of recovery CDs,
| and they will take time to get here. There is a valid
CD-KEY sticker on his
| laptop, however I've read that my OEM Dell XP CD (from my
laptop) won't even
| install on his machine, let alone get to the activation
stage.
|
| My proposed solution:
|
| Take my old (and unused, I may add) warez "devilsown" copy
of XP Pro, change
| the setupp.ini to OEM, and install it on the Sony. If it
asks me to
| activate, that's fine. His CD-KEY is totally legit.
|
| Will this work?
|
| (I know that the sure-fire solution would be to pay for
the replacement Sony
| CDs, but if you saw all the crap that the restore CD will
install, you'd
| think twice too.)
|
| JBW
|
|

 

[Mike H]

After doing this, go to your local Police Dept and tell them about the Cuba
registered really fast boat with stealth superstructure that you have tucked
away in the garage..

 

[JBW]

It won't work, it is illegal. The Sony won't work properly
without the special drivers that Sony uses. $26 is cheap
and over-night FedEx doesn't take long. Do it right.

For discussion's sake, I'm not entirely convinced that it's illegal. Where
in the OEM EULA is there a provision that makes this sort of "creative media
procurement" disallowed given that I'm using a perfectly valid OEM license?
One license, one machine.

And yes, it might still fail. It could refuse to install, or fail to
activate.

But as for the drivers, don't patronize me. They're all on Sony's website,
even the keyboard control utility and libraries.

 

[David Candy]

Pro users have downgrade rights, but we have to find our own media to use them. I asked Mike B (of MS) what to do and he said borrow a CD.

I have 5 license keys for XP and no media. I had to find and burn my own copy (I could have downloaded it from MS but XP is a bit big).

 

[JBW]

How does one download a copy of XP from MS? I'm assuming you have to be a
member of some dev network or buy VLKs right?

jbw

Pro users have downgrade rights, but we have to find our own media to use
them. I asked Mike B (of MS) what to do and he said borrow a CD.

I have 5 license keys for XP and no media. I had to find and burn my own
copy (I could have downloaded it from MS but XP is a bit big).

 

[Michael Stevens]

Answered inline.

For discussion's sake, I'm not entirely convinced that it's illegal.
Where in the OEM EULA is there a provision that makes this sort of
"creative media procurement" disallowed given that I'm using a
perfectly valid OEM license? One license, one machine.

Probably this part.
LIMITATIONS ON REVERSE ENGINEERING,
DECOMPILATION, AND DISASSEMBLY.
You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the
Software, except and only to the extent that such activity
is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding
this limitation.

And yes, it might still fail. It could refuse to install, or fail to
activate.

But as for the drivers, don't patronize me. They're all on Sony's
website, even the keyboard control utility and libraries.

You are right, but I would try the Dell CD over modifying the devilstown
copy, the Dell may or may not have Dell specific drivers included in the
Dell branded XP CD, but it should install and it should accept the valid OEM
Product Key. The BIOS lock only affects whether activation is necessary or
not. The Dell CD used on non Dell system will require activation. The same
CD used on a Dell system that has a recognized BIOS will not need
activation. The install media source is not the important part of licensing,
it is the valid Product Key plus the correct version [OEM Home, Pro] [Retail
Home, Pro, Upgrade or Full] used for the install. If the key is accepted,
the install will be allowed to activate and will be a valid install. Make
sure you backup everything not replaceable from other media sources before
attempting anything. Your friend should also order the restore disks just in
case they need applications installed from the original software bundle.


--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[David Candy]

Yes to Dev (and Beta), don't know about VLKs but probably not (but that's a guess).

Cost you A$5000 to download it (that was the price a few years ago - may be cheaper now.). Though there is more than XP to download. At the time it was $5000 I calculated there was $30 000 of software to download at retail prices. Dev versions aren't allowed to be used for normal work but are identical to Retail. You are on your honour to only use for testing.

 

[Jim Macklin]

By your own words the media is warz, so even am OEM EULA
doesn't make it legal. Also, SONY uses proprietary drivers
for their computers and they won't be on your pirated CD.

But since it is your computer and your responsibility to
assume warranty and other risks, trying, no skin off my
nose.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


in message
| | > It won't work, it is illegal. The Sony won't work
properly
| > without the special drivers that Sony uses. $26 is
cheap
| > and over-night FedEx doesn't take long. Do it right.
|
| For discussion's sake, I'm not entirely convinced that
it's illegal. Where
| in the OEM EULA is there a provision that makes this sort
of "creative media
| procurement" disallowed given that I'm using a perfectly
valid OEM license?
| One license, one machine.
|
| And yes, it might still fail. It could refuse to install,
or fail to
| activate.
|
| But as for the drivers, don't patronize me. They're all
on Sony's website,
| even the keyboard control utility and libraries.
|
|

 

[JBW]

Probably this part.
LIMITATIONS ON REVERSE ENGINEERING,
DECOMPILATION, AND DISASSEMBLY.
You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the
Software, except and only to the extent that such activity
is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding
this limitation.

i'm not sure. setupp.ini in a user-readable, plain-text, uncompiled file.
and making unattended setup discs requires tampering with such text files
(not that my use is so cut-and-dry kosher, but i'm just giving an example).

You are right, but I would try the Dell CD over modifying the devilstown
copy, the Dell may or may not have Dell specific drivers included in the
Dell branded XP CD, but it should install and it should accept the valid OEM
Product Key. The BIOS lock only affects whether activation is necessary or
not.

right -- at least that's what I thought. but some people on some groups say
that it won't even install. it's worth a try, though. the worst that could
happen is that i'll reformat and try again. plus, my Dell cd is SP1, so
that would save some time.

Your friend should also order the restore disks just in
case they need applications installed from the original software bundle.

You're right -- especially if he ever plans to sell it. I just really don't
want to install them because they are "restore" not "reinstallation," so
they'll put back all of the useless junk that comes pre-installed with a
consumer-oriented laptop.

 

[JBW]

By your own words the media is warz, so even am OEM EULA
doesn't make it legal. Also, SONY uses proprietary drivers
for their computers and they won't be on your pirated CD.

I don't understand why people are so caught up on the legality of the
_media_. The license is for the software. If the legality hinged at all on
the media, then network installs would be outlawed. And so would
slipstreaming and burning new install CDs or making slipstreamed distro's
available. Right?

 

[Jim Macklin]

That depends on the license for the original media.


in message
| | > By your own words the media is warz, so even am OEM EULA
| > doesn't make it legal. Also, SONY uses proprietary
drivers
| > for their computers and they won't be on your pirated
CD.
|
| I don't understand why people are so caught up on the
legality of the
| _media_. The license is for the software. If the
legality hinged at all on
| the media, then network installs would be outlawed. And
so would
| slipstreaming and burning new install CDs or making
slipstreamed distro's
| available. Right?
|
|