RE- Donated XP HOME for Disabled Kid

[jonah]

Hi Guys,

Took some advice earlier in this NG re getting hold of a copy of XP
for an autistic kid.

I eventualy got a copy and a MB / Processor which was very generous
from a local computer firm who do a lot of stuff for disabled people,
so I can build the PC now.

What I got XP wise was a legit OEM certificate of authority sticker
for XP Home but no CD. The license code is genuine and un activated
but I do not have a full copy of XP Home, all I have is an original
XP Home Upgrade version (full retail). Got XP Pro and Linux distros by
the ton but no XP home.

So am I OK to install the old retail upgrade version I have with the
new OEM license code?

I would ask the people I got the license off for a CD but I don't want
to "look a gift horse in the mouth" and all that.

Jonah

 

[paulmd]

Hi Guys,

Took some advice earlier in this NG re getting hold of a copy of XP
for an autistic kid.

I eventualy got a copy and a MB / Processor which was very generous
from a local computer firm who do a lot of stuff for disabled people,
so I can build the PC now.

What I got XP wise was a legit OEM certificate of authority sticker
for XP Home but no CD. The license code is genuine and un activated
but I do not have a full copy of XP Home, all I have is an original
XP Home Upgrade version (full retail). Got XP Pro and Linux distros by
the ton but no XP home.

So am I OK to install the old retail upgrade version I have with the
new OEM license code?

I would ask the people I got the license off for a CD but I don't want
to "look a gift horse in the mouth" and all that.

Jonah

The upgrade numbers are incompatible with OEM numbers. Really
incompaitble. I've tried that.

However, the presense of an OEM product key would make it legal for you
to borrow an OEM CD, and make a copy of it. The easiest way may be to
just ask the fellows you got the Licence from for a burned copy. Or you
can ask your friends and neighbors. With all due thanks, and stuff.

You can try the "how to replace lost media thing" and see if MS will
send you the media. But I have a feeling it would be a lot quicker if
you just went ahead and burned one.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

 

[jonah]

The upgrade numbers are incompatible with OEM numbers. Really
incompaitble. I've tried that.

However, the presense of an OEM product key would make it legal for you
to borrow an OEM CD, and make a copy of it. The easiest way may be to
just ask the fellows you got the Licence from for a burned copy. Or you
can ask your friends and neighbors. With all due thanks, and stuff.

You can try the "how to replace lost media thing" and see if MS will
send you the media. But I have a feeling it would be a lot quicker if
you just went ahead and burned one.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

OK I will get a copy of another OEM, thought that may be a problem.

Ta Paul

Jonah

 

[Larry Samuels]

The COA comes with the CD and CANNOT be legally distributed without the
disk.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[jonah]

The COA comes with the CD and CANNOT be legally distributed without the
disk.

Yeah Larry I will be sure to mention this fact and bang on at some
length about the purported legal technicalities when I go round to
thank the PC builders concerned for their generous donation of
Hardware and the OS.

What's it matter anyway the CDs are just CDs its the License Key /
activation that makes it a legit installation innit?

Besides which

"The COA comes with the CD and CANNOT be legally distributed without
the disk"

Needs to be tested in court in this particular legal environment which
is an offshore legal oddity and is therefore bollocks.

But hey................thanks for the positive attitude!

Jonah

 

[Larry Samuels]

Hi Jonah,

See the following site for details on COAs
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx

PS--the pc builder may not be aware what they did was wrong. They probably
thought they could simply donate the COA from a dead pc, but unfortunately
this is not the case.

I am also an OEM System Builder that donates pcs and services to worthy
causes. The OS must be included with all pcs donated or the system
formatted. This is one reason a lot of us have been pushing MS to make
obsolete software such as 98 and Me freeware.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[jonah]

Hi Jonah,

See the following site for details on COAs
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx

PS--the pc builder may not be aware what they did was wrong. They probably
thought they could simply donate the COA from a dead pc, but unfortunately
this is not the case.

I am also an OEM System Builder that donates pcs and services to worthy
causes. The OS must be included with all pcs donated or the system
formatted. This is one reason a lot of us have been pushing MS to make
obsolete software such as 98 and Me freeware.

OK Larry I see where you are coming from, this is in fact a new unused
COA not one from a dead PC - they just did not give me the disk probably
assuming I had one, ( I do - loads of em but no XP home ) or as you said
they do not know / care? that a disk should be provided as well in this
case as I am not buying actually buying it. The PC is made up of various
bits and bobs, the OS is the genuine article. Got it sorted anyway they
gave me the disk this PM.

Good luck with talking the worlds most generous philanthropist into
giving away 98SE and ME -

Jonah

 

[Larry Samuels]

Hi Jonah,

Glad to hear you got it sorted out. Your heart is in the right place and I'm
sorry if it seemed like I was coming down on you for the software. That was
never my intention.

There are so many older PCs out there that could be put to good use and
would be gladly donated to charities if it weren't so expensive to include
OS disks when the original media is missing.

Charities can apply for free licenses with MS, but most of the charities
doing the best work are not large enough to qualify.

I donate copies of XP when the use of the donated pc requires it, but for
most of the older pcs I give away I simply blow away Windows and install a
free version of Linux.
The loss is MS's since the kids growing up using Linux quickly discover they
are not shackled to Windows to perform everyday tasks.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[jonah]

Hi Jonah,

Glad to hear you got it sorted out. Your heart is in the right place and I'm
sorry if it seemed like I was coming down on you for the software. That was
never my intention.

There are so many older PCs out there that could be put to good use and
would be gladly donated to charities if it weren't so expensive to include
OS disks when the original media is missing.

Charities can apply for free licenses with MS, but most of the charities
doing the best work are not large enough to qualify.

I donate copies of XP when the use of the donated pc requires it, but for
most of the older pcs I give away I simply blow away Windows and install a
free version of Linux.
The loss is MS's since the kids growing up using Linux quickly discover they
are not shackled to Windows to perform everyday tasks.

Yeah I know what you mean, I am dual booting it with Suse10, the
Windows is only required for school stuff because thats what his
school uses but I am being a bit clever here. He is getting a limited
account only on XP with nothing but the OS and Works on it. Linux will
have all the games, browsers and goodies so he will be forced to learn
Linux to do any real computing. I would not be putting Windows on at
all if it was not for the autism, he needs a base he knows to progress
from according to his mum.

Jonah

 

[Steve N.]

OK Larry I see where you are coming from, this is in fact a new unused
COA not one from a dead PC - they just did not give me the disk probably
assuming I had one, ( I do - loads of em but no XP home ) or as you said
they do not know / care? that a disk should be provided as well in this
case as I am not buying actually buying it. The PC is made up of various
bits and bobs, the OS is the genuine article. Got it sorted anyway they
gave me the disk this PM.

Good luck with talking the worlds most generous philanthropist into
giving away 98SE and ME -

Jonah

They already do for educational organizations who receive donated PCs:

http://www.microsoft.com/education/FreshStart/FreshStart.asp

Steve N