Another new Legal/Ilegal Software question.

[EvelKnievel]

I know someone who has a New, Still wraped form Microsoft, Windows OEM XP Discs. One has no COA, the other has COA. Both of the disks or COA have ever been activated or registered.

The non COA disc (clean) installs w/o the product Key, but still needs to be activated, wich it does w/o problems.

I was wondering, since the discs are still sealed, plus, they need to be activated, and CAN be activated without any problems, would it be legal for me to buy/use a Disc? Thank you, Evel Knievel.

 

[ImpetusEra]

My take it as long as the product activation key isn't being used by someone else and it is in your possesion then you can use it legally.

 

[EvelKnievel]

The thing I can't figure out is the sealed one without a COA. It is new, wrapped, but doesn't have a COA. It is actavateable, and registerable. I thought every software has a COA? How can that be without a COA?

When, or under what cercomestances would I need a COA? Don't you need one to activate XP?

 

[edfair]

Technically, your having these without the new hardware they are licensed with are a violation if you install them.

Microsofts policy has been to allow the transfer if some hardware is transferred with it, processor, memory, or hard drive. This is the way the transfers are handled on ebay. If you will look there, you'll see that OEM stuff is being sold regularly with some piece of hardware to vailidate it under Microsoft's policies.
Note also that the hardware doesn't even have to work to fulfill the requirements.

I'm not the SW police, so you are responsible for your own compliance as far as I'm concerned.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[EvelKnievel]

He did say that he would give me some hardware with it. I wasn't sure what he was talking about.
If he got it legally with hardware, why don't they include (to him) a COA with it? What's the difference between one with COA and one without (I know, one has a little sticker you put on the side of your case)
Doesn't MS require a COA to activate XP? When would someone need a COA?

 

[edfair]

On some earlier stuff, you didn't get a COA, just a sticker on the jewel case. This was for some OEM builders.
As far as I know, having a valid CD key is the only thing required. That generates a serial number, which then accesses the MS database.

Haven't been into XP that much. It would probably be better to listen to those who work with it regularly.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[mainegeek]

My experience is that the Retail copies have the COA on the box and the key code is in the box on the user guide.

The OEM (bundled) copies have the COA and the key code on a sticker located on the machine that it was bundled for.

The COA is the physical license.