Is this considered Pirating?

I have a Windows XP disk that I have used a lot (on only one machine). I do a complete reinstall of Windows every 2 months and about a month ago I did another reinstall and it asked me to call a number to get it activated! WHY!!! I am using a legitimate copy of Windows Xp and I only have it install on one computer, but Microsoft is still treating people like me as pirates for no reason. So I want to just download a new version of XP so I do not have to deal with being on the phone for 3 hours again. Would this be considered piracy if I have a legitimate copy of XP, but I downloaded a new EXACT copy of XP for the same machine? It is probably going to be another year before I get vista so I do not want to have to deal with doing this phone thing every time I want to reinstall.

I will not download it if it is illegal, I just want to know so I don't download it and have the cops bust through my door right after :P.

I dunno if it's been a while or not, but it only took me 15-20 minutes or so when I went through the phone process a couple months ago. :)Makari

Lucky :x! I had to wait about an hour, then got disconnected. I waited another hour and then had to spend 30minutes trying to understand someone who I couldn't understand.

why do you reinstall every time sabbath2gamer

I like keeping my computer fresh and clean and antivirus+firewall+updates is still not enough. I do a lot of different things on my computer and my 150gig. harddrive fills up pretty fast. I also use this computer mostly for gaming and graphics design, and I need to keep this rig as fast as possible:).

cops bust thru ur door. lol. ive pirated so much and pirate so much i cut off my leg and made it a peg and hallucinate a parrot on my shoulder. u wont get caught, and ya its illegal, u have to buy again.thisoldman

I know there is a very small chance of getting caught, but I am still not too fond of the idea. It makes me feel so "dirty" :P.

Wouldn't the time it would take to download it dwarf the amount of time it would take to call MS? The fastest that I have ever been able to download stuff like that was 4KB a second through a bittorrent. Am I doing something wrong?

Note: I was downloading a demo

I have a Windows XP disk that I have used a lot (on only one machine). I do a complete reinstall of Windows every 2 months and about a month ago I did another reinstall and it asked me to call a number to get it activated! WHY!!! I am using a legitimate copy of Windows Xp and I only have it install on one computer, but Microsoft is still treating people like me as pirates for no reason. So I want to just download a new version of XP so I do not have to deal with being on the phone for 3 hours again. Would this be considered piracy if I have a legitimate copy of XP, but I downloaded a new EXACT copy of XP for the same machine? It is probably going to be another year before I get vista so I do not want to have to deal with doing this phone thing every time I want to reinstall.

I will not download it if it is illegal, I just want to know so I don't download it and have the cops bust through my door right after :P.

Basic_Instinct

Well, MS limits the number of times theirprograms can be installed and re-installed even if it's a retail version being used on the same machine. Even if you own one copy of a MS product it is illgeal to download another copy unless you are paying for it in a legitmate way were MS get's their cut. It's not consider a "back up" because you are not backing up the disc you paid for, you are getting it from a 3rd party. All MS products have to be registered with in 30 days of install or they stop working, that's why MS programs require an internet connection to use. MS limits the number of installs and re-installs to keep people for just re-installing every 29 days to avoid regestering. Every copy of MS programs, even OS, have their own individual license for use and even if you have one, you can not use a copy of some one else's because they have a different license then you do. That's why MS has seperate versions of their programs for mass use like for schools and businesses. Those versions are usually water down compared to full retail versions and will not allow you to upgrade beyond necessary security upgrades.Now, if someone else has a copy they no longer use it can be used on a new machine but that copy can not be in use any where else. Again, it's another reason why they limit installs so you can't just keep passing along their product with out paying them again. The only way a copy of a MS program will even work on more then one machine at a time is through a hack or crack which again makes it illegal.

Lucky :x! I had to wait about an hour, then got disconnected. I waited another hour and then had to spend 30minutes trying to understand someone who I couldn't understand.Basic_Instinct

[QUOTE="Basic_Instinct"]Lucky :x! I had to wait about an hour, then got disconnected. I waited another hour and then had to spend 30minutes trying to understand someone who I couldn't understand.kodex1717

Then I may have been really unlucky that day. That day my new motherboard didn't have an IDE cable and I had to buy a new SATA one. I thought I broke my CPU when I installed it (though it was okay) and my graphics card kept giving me troubles. I like to block out that day as much as possible :(. I also shouldn't blame it all on microsoft because it was actually my fault for the first 15 min. the first time and the next time actually took only 30 min :oops:. Okay, so I may have exaggerated slightly, but spending even over an hour on the phone is still ridiculous for just getting it activated. I guess I will try to activate it over the phone again when I get to the reinstall.

Well, MS limits the number of times theirprograms can be installed and re-installed even if it's a retail version being used on the same machine. Even if you own one copy of a MS product it is illgeal to download another copy unless you are paying for it in a legitmate way were MS get's their cut. It's not consider a "back up" because you are not backing up the disc you paid for, you are getting it from a 3rd party. All MS products have to be registered with in 30 days of install or they stop working, that's why MS programs require an internet connection to use. MS limits the number of installs and re-installs to keep people for just re-installing every 29 days to avoid regestering. Every copy of MS programs, even OS, have their own individual license for use and even if you have one, you can not use a copy of some one else's because they have a different license then you do. That's why MS has seperate versions of their programs for mass use like for schools and businesses. Those versions are usually water down compared to full retail versions and will not allow you to upgrade beyond necessary security upgrades.Now, if someone else has a copy they no longer use it can be used on a new machine but that copy can not be in use any where else. Again, it's another reason why they limit installs so you can't just keep passing along their product with out paying them again. The only way a copy of a MS program will even work on more then one machine at a time is through a hack or crack which again makes it illegal.

jmaster299

Thank you for that detailed response :). I actually never thought about that. Pirates can easily get their hands on it and not have to worry about activation, but the people that get it legitimately have to pay for it. That is my problem with this whole situation.

[QUOTE="jmaster299"]

Well, MS limits the number of times theirprograms can be installed and re-installed even if it's a retail version being used on the same machine. Even if you own one copy of a MS product it is illgeal to download another copy unless you are paying for it in a legitmate way were MS get's their cut. It's not consider a "back up" because you are not backing up the disc you paid for, you are getting it from a 3rd party. All MS products have to be registered with in 30 days of install or they stop working, that's why MS programs require an internet connection to use. MS limits the number of installs and re-installs to keep people for just re-installing every 29 days to avoid regestering. Every copy of MS programs, even OS, have their own individual license for use and even if you have one, you can not use a copy of some one else's because they have a different license then you do. That's why MS has seperate versions of their programs for mass use like for schools and businesses. Those versions are usually water down compared to full retail versions and will not allow you to upgrade beyond necessary security upgrades.Now, if someone else has a copy they no longer use it can be used on a new machine but that copy can not be in use any where else. Again, it's another reason why they limit installs so you can't just keep passing along their product with out paying them again. The only way a copy of a MS program will even work on more then one machine at a time is through a hack or crack which again makes it illegal.

Basic_Instinct

Thank you for that detailed response :). I actually never thought about that. Pirates can easily get their hands on it and not have to worry about activation, but the people that get it legitimately have to pay for it. That is my problem with this whole situation.

Isn't that the way it usually goes?

"hey, he got his coat for free, but I had to pay for mine!" :D

The problem that I have with all of this, is that MS is the real pirate because they charge outrageous amounts of money for their stuff and only allow it on one computer! $200 per computer! Thank you, but I only need one windows system MS. Linux looks better anyway.

I have a Windows XP disk that I have used a lot (on only one machine). I do a complete reinstall of Windows every 2 months and about a month ago I did another reinstall and it asked me to call a number to get it activated! WHY!!! I am using a legitimate copy of Windows Xp and I only have it install on one computer, but Microsoft is still treating people like me as pirates for no reason. So I want to just download a new version of XP so I do not have to deal with being on the phone for 3 hours again. Would this be considered piracy if I have a legitimate copy of XP, but I downloaded a new EXACT copy of XP for the same machine? It is probably going to be another year before I get vista so I do not want to have to deal with doing this phone thing every time I want to reinstall.

I will not download it if it is illegal, I just want to know so I don't download it and have the cops bust through my door right after :P.

Basic_Instinct

its ok, i got a laptop in the mail that had a legal COA, and i downloaded a dell xp pro copy. i have the right to use that Dell OS because my laptop was a Dell and i got it off ebay. the CDKEY that came with my laptop was legal. ITS a legal COA anyway. i dont know why you would wanna download another copy considering its almost the same. you should just format altogether then install.

I don't see what you are trying to achieve anyway by doing this.

You still need to use your CD Key, and that's what they'll get you to ring up for to activate.

its ok, i got a laptop in the mail that had a legal COA, and i downloaded a dell xp pro copy. i have the right to use that Dell OS because my laptop was a Dell and i got it off ebay. the CDKEY that came with my laptop was legal. ITS a legal COA anyway. i dont know why you would wanna download another copy considering its almost the same. you should just format altogether then install.

NikoBellic

Actually, just because you have a Dell doesn't mean you automatically have the right to use another copy of Windows just because it's from another Dell Machine. Every copy of Windows that get's put on a PC has it's own special license for one user only. You legally can use another copy from some one so long as it's the original media with it's own CD Key and License and as long as it's not being used by anyone else.You can only resell new, unused, unregistered retail versions. OEM software like your Dell copy has it's own set of protections because each copy is strictly meant for the PC it was installed on making what you bought on Ebay Illegal in it's own right since it's copy protected media by both MS and Dell. MS makes special copies of Windows for redistribution by places like Colleges so students can meet the minimum requirements for what is need for their classes and even those copies have their own individual license that can only be used on one machine at a time. Copyright owners can set what ever restrictions they want on redistributing or reselling their product. Just look at The Orange Box. Valve decided to upset their loyal fans by cancelling The Black Box and making all the people, like myself, who alreadyowned HL2 and Episode 1 pay more money and end up with extra copies of two games. Valve, who owns STEAM and STEAM being the only way to play on-line for Valve Games, said for people who already have copies of HL2 and Episode were NOT allowed to resell their extra copies to someone else. You were only allowed to give them away for free as a gift through Steam. If Valve catches people asking for or charging money for their extra copies Valve will ban their Steam Accounts andthey will not be able to play in any VAC, Valve Anti Cheat, servers for any oftheir STEAM games and would have to open a new Steam account and re-buy any gamethey want to play on-line. Their are few non VAC servers out there but you wouldn't want to play in them.