Re: Dell and OS CDs

The message <dus0a6$34n$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
from Nigel Wade <nmw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> contains these words:

GB wrote:


"Xmas" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:MPG.1e7ab35778614f12989682@xxxxxxxxxxxx
A little off-topic for this group, but I know that people here can help
me :)

I was going to build my own computer, but chickened out and got one from
Dell Outlet instead. All seems great so far except that they didn't
include an operating system CD with it - it's got Windows XP installed
on it, but no disk in case I need to reformat.

Is this an oversight or is it normal for Dell?

Xmas

I don't want to upset M$, but if you have a licence for windows on
your PC
is there anything to stop you getting a copy of somebody else's Win
CD (and
using it legitimately)?

If the license you have is for an OEM copy of Windows which was
supplied with
the system then it will not cover installing any other copy of
Windows. It will
also not cover installing the that OEM copy an any other system (and
M$ regard
a change of motherboard as being a different system).

The usage would not be legitimate. If that bothers you don't do it.

Not when the qualifying 'hardware' can be as humble as a mouse pointing
device or even a 10 amp IEC mains lead.

Microsoft's main concern is to stop an OEM license being used on more
than one machine at a time. The hardware changes points system is a
compromise to allow modest hardware upgrades or repairs.

In the event of a major repair, Microsoft are quite happy to let you
re-activate over the freephone line without question. I guess, they
realise they're treading on eggshells regarding the potential bad
publicity that can so easily arise if they started treating their
customers as "Guilty as Charged.". That's one 'Can of Worms' Microsoft
_don't_ want to open.

--
Regards, John.

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