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Clinton Blackmore
Asked: 2009-10-20 06:45:45 +0800 CST

Ethics and Windows License Stickers [duplicate]

  • 772

Possible Duplicate:
Can you help me with my software licensing question?

I've come by some older laptops and want to re-install windows on them. (See my related question on an easy way to do so.) I want to do things in a legal and ethical manner. My thought was that if a computer has a Windows XP Pro COA sticker on it, then I'm allowed to (re-)install Windows XP Pro on it. [And, it seemed to me, it should be reasonable to download a disc with the OS and all the latest updates on it for that purpose, so I don't endlessly reboot or get hacked while installing the OS. This statement, I think, made people think I was interested in piracy, and I'm not.]

Anyways, it appears that there are some subtleties here, and I wanted to know what is legal, what is ethical (if it differs), and if the technology gets in the way of allowing me to do what is legal and/or ethical.

This is my current understanding:

Any computer that has a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity sticker for a particular version of Windows is licensed to run said version of Windows, and it may be re-installed on the computer.

This is where things get a little hazy for me:

Windows installation media come in (at least) three types:

  • Retail CDs, either stand-alone or upgrade disks
  • OEM CDs, which were shipped to you by the computer manufacturer in bygone times (but nowadays you are more likely to have a restore partition)
  • Volume Licensor CDs (where a large organization uses the same serial code for every machine they install Windows on)

Is it the case that you need an OEM CD to re-install Windows on a machine? Is it ethical, but not strictly legal, to use a retail CD, and use the code on the sticker on the machine (and will the anti-piracy measures in Windows, including Windows Genuine Advantage, reject it)? Can you use an OEM CD for a different computer, provided it is the same edition of Windows? Can I re-install Windows (without paying for another license) on a machine that has a restore partition without using the restore partition? Does one have any recourse if they are licensed to use the software but do not have an installation disc? Is downloading the disc any different than borrowing one [not that I'm confident that I could find a reputable place to download from]?

Is the only real difference between an OEM CD, a Retail CD, and a Volume Licensor CD the license code it will accept?

Let me re-iterate that I have no interest in piracy; I want to do what is honourable. As I need to run Windows software, and I believe the machines are licensed for it, it seems silly to, say, install Linux and run things under WINE. The problem lies in the fact that I don't have the OEM CDs for these computers.

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10 Answers

  1. In my travels, i found this:

    http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/A/9/9A90E11E-43A3-4E7E-A919-961AF15820CA/Refurbished%20PC%20License%20Guide.pdf

    According to this, any PC that isn't brand new that you are performing a reinstall on is classed as a refurbished PC.

    From the file:

    A new Windows license is not required for a refurbished PC that has:

    (1) The original Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for a Windows operating system affixed to the PC, and

    (2) The original recovery media or hard-disk based recovery image associated with the PC.

    The operating system identified on the original COA indicates the edition of Windows that was originally licensed for that PC and the refurbisher can use either:

    (1) The original recovery media or

    (2) The original hard-disk based recovery image to re-install the operating system software specified on the COA.

    That's the official Microsoft definition in an easier to digest format than the EULA.

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  2. Best Answer

    According to the licence document referenced by @fortheworld, if you don't have and can't obtain the original recovery solution, you have to buy a new license. That's the legal basis, and if you want to operate strictly by the rules (for instance, if you are a business and need to cover your ass really well), then you should find a way to obtain original install media, or buy another copy of windows.

    On an ethical basis, I fail to see how MS deserves to get paid twice for an OEM copy of XP just because the original recovery solution is missing (or trashed by an idiot computer repair guy or failing HD). From an ETHICS standpoint, if you've got the case sticker, and it's the original PC, then there's no ethical problem with obtaining a plain-jane windows OEM CD and using the product key you have. Other posters have addressed the logistics of this pretty well.

    I can't imagine a situation where you could be successfully prosecuted for having the version of Windows that matches your product key sticker installed on your PC, even if the re-install happened via 'interesting' means.

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  3. Retail, OEM and VLK keys are different and NOT interchangeable. You cannot use a retail CD and expect the key from an OEM sticker to work.

    Ethically, I personally don't see an issue with using say, an OEM HP WinXP Pro CD and using it to install onto a Dell machine and using the Dell OEM WinXP Pro key that is on the box.

    One other thing, and YMMV on this one, but I've seen OEM CDs that were older, like maybe a WinXp SP1, and the key was for SP2 or SP3, and it also may reject, even though both the CD and Key were an OEM.

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  4. You can actually transform a disk to use different types of keys.

    Go to the file i386\setupp.ini in that file there is a value like this: Pid=76487270 which means it is a windows xp sp3 volume license key. If you change it to be Pid=82503OEM it will now only take OEM or COA license key with no Service packs applied disks. You can make a copy of the disk, change setupp.ini and using something like nlite burn it back onto a disk. the last three digits are the type of key, 335 is retail, 270 is volume license and OEM is OEM (which includes the COA) Here is a sample list of the PIDs for common versions:

    **Windows XP RTM**
Retail: 51882335 (Retail edition accepting Retail CD keys)
Volume License: 51883270 (Volume License edition accepting Volume License keys or VLK)
OEM: 82503OEM (OEM edition accepting OEM keys or COA keys)

**Windows XP SP2**
Retail: 55274335
Volume License: 55274270
OEM: 55277OEM

**Windows XP SP3**
Retail: 76487335
Volume License: 76487270
OEM: 76487OEM

    You can also use the repair disk option to change up what key an installation will take: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/08/16/how-to-change-windows-xp-version-between-retail-oem-and-volume-license-channel/ (explaination of the Pids is also in this article)

    Personally I have no ethical qualms about it since I am fully licensed. Often OEMs will send out a RTM disk (released to manufacturing) that they have been sending out for years but slap a COA for windows with service pack 2 on the machine. Naturally the two are out of sync.

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  5. Ethically: I don't see any issue as long as you can get your hands on an install CD that matches the Version of windows you bought (OEM, VL, Retail, MSDN). I'm talking about a full install not a restore cd with an embedded key.

    Technically: This is where you will run into issues. 1) As noted already there are different keys for different version of Windows (OEM, VL, Retail, MSDN) on top of that there are what are called "X numbers" for the keys - these are basically version numbers. If you look at the right hand side (or bottom on older COA's) of your COA sticker there will be Something that looks like X11-xxxxx The X11 part is important. It needs to match the "X Number" on the cd you are installing, otherwise the cd won't accept the key.

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  6. One answer that I don't see on here but is perfectly legal and acceptable is to exercise volume license reimaging rights. Basically, if you have a volume license agreement with Microsoft, you are allowed to install from your volume license media on any computer that is licensed for the same software irregardless of whether that computer was licensed through OEM, FPP, or any other method. Here's the exact wording from Microsoft:

    Reimaging is permitted if the copies made from the Volume Licensing media are identical to the originally licensed product . Volume Licensing customers who have licensed Microsoft software products from an OEM, through a retail source, or under any agreement other than their Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement may use copies made from Microsoft Volume Licensing media. Customers can use these copies from Microsoft media only if they are the same product and version, contain the same components, and are in the same language.

    If you're licensed with an OEM copy of Windows XP Pro, you're allowed to use your Volume License media and key of Windows XP Pro to reinstall on that computer. You are not allowed to use XP Pro for a XP Home OEM license (obviously). Also, keep in mind that any volume licenses you obtain are only going to qualify you for an upgrade (from an eligible product). You cannot obtain full licenses for desktop OSes through a Volume License program.

    Source: http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/D/4/3D42BDC2-6725-4B29-B75A-A5B04179958B/Reimaging.docx

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  7. In my previous life I recall that certain licenses wouldn't work with certain media. If that is still the case my thought would be that if the license works with the media it doesn't matter what media you use. If the media mattered wouldn't ghosting become problematic? As long as you have the license and COA I think the BSA would be satisfied. I've never heard of anyone asking for your install media for existing installations.

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  8. It's a grey area. On one side, the License states that

    The transfer has to include all component parts, media, printed materials, this EULA, and if applicable, the Certificate of Authenticity

    on the other side, the Product Key is usually seen as "good enough". I am not aware of any case where Microsoft sued people that had a valid COA but no valid Installation media. I've even had my Windows activated over the phone (by a human) after I used a different installation media (64-Bit English Vista instead of 32-Bit French Vista) and there were no problems.

    But then again, the EULA is not really specific about "What is part of the license". For OEM Versions there sometimes isn't even an installation Medium. As said, very grey area.

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  9. My opinion:

    • with label => Any XP installation CD (but not a recovery CD, meant for another type of computer) should 'enable' you to install (=is ethical). When asked to enter the license, use the one from the sticker on the computer your installing onto.
    • No label => you need to buy a license!

    This does not mean that any install CD will work.

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  10. Is the only real difference between an OEM CD, a Retail CD, and a Volume Licensor CD the license code it will accept?

    If they are the full install media, I believe the answer is: "yes they are the same". BUT different sets of media use different keys. OEM, VLK, and Retail all use different keys to activate different discs.

    If you've downloaded a pirated VLK version to install your copy of Windows. You're still using the pirated VLK. Which means you may not be able to us MS Genuine Advantage.

    Even if you are trying to act "honorably" you still might get screwed.

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