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Michael Green's 'How To' Forum
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How To Forum
Re: Am I entitled to a Windows OS CD with my new system or not?
Posted By: The General In Response To: Am I entitled to a Windows OS CD with my new system or not? (Larry Sands)
Date: Monday, 30 May 2005, at 2:15 p.m.
> I purchased a new custom-built P4 System with Windows XP Professional
> installed. Then, I was told that a CD of the OS costs extra.> What is the legality in this. And, the Microsoft policy for this. I
> thought all owner's of a system with Windows were entitled to a CD of the
> OS with purchase.Larry:
If you had a local computer dealer to build your system, chances are, he simply installed the OS onto your system without any consideration to licensing.
Although Microsoft states that all computers running Windows should be licensed, many disreputable dealers (read here, "local dealers") don't give you a licensed copy. A legitimate license to Windows XP Professional still costs nearly $100.00 (CD media costs extra). Many of these mom & pop businesses either aren't aware of this requirement--or they're ripping off unsuspecting buyers.
Even worse for you, Larry, Microsoft could technically hold YOU responsible for using an unlicensed copy of Windows. In most cases, however, they usually go after the seller.
You still have leverage in this situation, however. Tell your system builder to give you a fully legal copy of your OS, or else, you'll report him to the SIIA (formerly called the SPA). This organization vigorously pursues software piracy. They've won many lawsuits in recent years--where violators of software licening agreements have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for each single instance of illegally copying software. If they still refuse to cooperate, you can report them at:
http://www.spa.org/piracy/report/vendor_form.asp
I'll bet you that you'll get a completely legal copy of XP Pro!
The General
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