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Thread ID: 42937	2004-02-27 05:57:00	TradeMe selling Windows C.O.A.	Nigel Thomson (629)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
218572	2004-02-28 20:33:00	OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer OEM versions of Windows (and MS Office) are significantly cheaper, and must be purchased at the same time as hardware. Some places will sell it with something as simple as a $16 IDE cable as qualifying hardware. There is no support from MS but supposedly the OEM software is supported by the seller ( ... right!) OEM software cannot be reused on another system according to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) and is supposed to die with the system. Neither can OEM versions of MS Office be used on 2 PCs as full versions can. Windows is always restricted to 1 installation in any circumstance. A recent laptop purchased here has both a full restore CD plus a Windows XP OEM CD, while many systems these days done even have a CD, just a restore partition on the Hard Drive. All reputable PC supplier companies abide by the licence agreements in my experience. Its just too risky not to. MS can and do audit conformity,and its very expensive to get caught wanting. I am aware of one national company (not an IT company) that manages its own computer system and software that has just been audited by MS and found to have insufficient licences for the software installed. Ouch, big time!	godfather (25)
218573	2004-02-28 20:54:00	Thank you Godfather That makes it much clearer. One more question, however... If I find that my disk is something other than a Windows restore disk (Merely a copy of Internet Explorer or suchlike), how do I find out if I have a restore partition on my hard disk? I have Win98SE	Laura (43)
218574	2004-02-28 22:00:00	The restore partition will be hidden, and usually about 1 or 2 GB. I have never owned a system that uses one despite having 5 brand name PCs. Seriously would doubt that a W98 would have used one as it seems to be a more recent (ME and XP) phenomena. You would need to know the actual installed size of the HDD and the usable size (after adjusting for disk maker GB=1,000,000 bytes not the binary 1,024,000 that is reported). Your PC should have the sticker on the case with the product key for Windows on it as well, if its got OEM version. Most likely the CD is OEM or full Windows or a restore CD though.	godfather (25)
218575	2004-02-28 22:30:00	> Depends on you definition of an "illegal burn". > > I thought that was a copy without a C.O.A. - therfore > once you have a C.O.A it effectivly stops being an > illegal copy and is no different to a ligitimate > backup. So you're saying that I can buy a COA and then go make a copy of my friend's OS and that'd be legal because I bought a COA? It doesn't sound right to me. Mike.	Mike (15)
218576	2004-02-28 22:54:00	> So you're saying that I can buy a COA and then go > make a copy of my friend's OS and that'd be legal > because I bought a COA? It doesn't sound right to > me. To be honest, I think as long as you have a COA it's fine... the rights to use the OS surely lie with the COA and not the media? You don't have to use the exact same disc to install the OS or software, right? As long as you have a legitimate key... IMO, if you get sold the COA, it is up to the seller to ensure they have not kept a copy of the COA, or that the software the COA was originally for has been uninstalled from their systems. Lo.	Lohsing (219)
218577	2004-02-28 23:14:00	> To be honest, I think as long as you have a COA it's > fine . . . the rights to use the OS surely lie with the > COA and not the media? > > You don't have to use the exact same disc to install > the OS or software, right? As long as you have a > legitimate key . . . But there's still the issue of copyright here . Microsoft (and most other software companies) software is copyrighted . I'm sure that you won't read anywhere on Microsoft's website or in their EULAs that you are free to copy any of their software as long as you have a legitimate COA to go along with it . Mike .	Mike (15)
218578	2004-02-29 01:04:00	"OEM software cannot be reused on another system...". Just move the "$16 IDE cable" to the new system and there's no problem.:D I think W98 will have been preloaded on some machines. Some Compaqs came with W95/W311 installation on the HD--- you got a oneoff choice of OS at the first boot. The non-selected one was deleted,and you were given the option of creating a set of floppies as backup of the chosen one.	Graham L (2)
218579	2004-02-29 02:18:00	I guess that option was always a no-brainer huh Graham.	PoWa (203)
218580	2004-02-29 02:20:00	> OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer > > OEM versions of Windows (and MS Office) are > significantly cheaper, and must be purchased at the > same time as hardware . Some places will sell it with > something as simple as a $16 IDE cable as qualifying > hardware . This supports the definition of HARDWARE on the EULAs-- ie computer component . > There is no support from MS but supposedly the OEM > software is supported by the seller ( . . . right!) Spot on . > OEM software cannot be reused on another system > according to the EULA (End User Licence Agreement) > and is supposed to die with the system . Not accorting to various EULAs For example the NT4 one states one MAY sell the licence with the hardware . You don't HAVE to sell them together . > Neither can OEM versions of MS Office be used on 2 > PCs as full versions can . Can you comfirm this? > Windows is always > restricted to 1 installation in any circumstance . True . > A recent laptop purchased here has both a full > restore CD plus a Windows XP OEM CD, while many > systems these days done even have a CD, just a > restore partition on the Hard Drive . True . > All reputable PC supplier companies abide by the > licence agreements in my experience . Its just too > risky not to . MS can and do audit conformity,and its > very expensive to get caught wanting . I am aware of > one national company (not an IT company) that manages > its own computer system and software that has just > been audited by MS and found to have insufficient > licences for the software installed . Ouch, big time! There's been a few .	mark.p (383)
218581	2004-02-29 04:23:00	> > Neither can OEM versions of MS Office be used on 2 > > PCs as full versions can . > Can you comfirm this? Yes . Its in the EULA . A full retail version of an Office application allows: You may install and use one copy of the Software Product on a single computer, device, workstation, terminal, or other digital electronic or analog device ("Device") . You do not have the right to allow other people to access and use Your copy of the Software Product from Your Device unless You follow the restrictions described in the alternative license grant in the next paragraph . If You run a business or enterprise, You may install a second copy of the Software Product on a portable Device owned by You for the exclusive use of the person within Your business or enterprise who is the user of the primary copy of the Software Product, provided that such person only uses the second copy for business purposes, and provided that such installation and use otherwise comply with all the terms and conditions of this EULA . On an OEM version it simply says: Except as otherwise expressly provided in this EULA, You may only install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on the COMPUTER . The SOFTWARE PRODUCT may not be installed, accessed, displayed, run, shared or used concurrently on or from different computers, including a workstation, terminal or other digital or analog electronic device ("Device") . . . No mention at all about installing it on a second "portable device" . But then, the full version only allows it if you run a business anyway . . . As to the OEM OS, yes of course you MAY sell it will the hardware . Thats the very intent . You MAY NOT sell it without the hardware though . See the XP OEM EULA: The SOFTWARE is licensed with the HARDWARE as a single integrated product and may only be used with the HARDWARE .	godfather (25)
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