Cheapest XP

Pie123

Right thanks to all of you. You have been a great help.

[Deleted User]

Barry_Scott wrote: »

Originally Posted by Pie123
so will this be allright to install on my linux laptop
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windows-Home...MEDAJGS271DH85




Its not intended but not illegal, two very different things, so Yes purchase and use and as Little John says get some hardware with it (you have already done this as stated by LJ)

Simply buying hardware is not enough any more to qualify the OEM license as valid. It's been clarified by Microsoft that the OEM license is only valid when the machine it is installed on is sold on with you acting as the reseller. Any deviation in this is breaking the license agreement.

Marty_J

The licence agreement says you have to be a system builder to distribute OEM software. It doesn't say you have to be a system builder to purchase and/or install it.

asininity

I'm a system builder distributing the finished product to myself for free.

Marty_J

Well it all works out then.

gjchester

asininity wrote: »

I'm a system builder distributing the finished product to myself for free.

Microsoft define System builder as someone who's registered with them (it's free and an online think I think). You may be but it's not as simple as declaring yourself as a system builder.;)

In any case it's not being delivered with a system, however it's unlilkey anyone would ever check.. MS have tightened up the OEM terms you can't just sell it with a IDE cable anymore to qualify, it's supposed to be a non trivial bit of hardware (mobo/hdd etc)

gjchester

Barry_Scott wrote: »

Originally Posted by Pie123
so will this be allright to install on my linux laptop
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windows-Home...MEDAJGS271DH85

Its not intended but not illegal, two very different things, so Yes purchase and use and as Little John says get some hardware with it (you have already done this as stated by LJ)

Correct but this is not being supplied with a system so it's illegal from that point of view. I doubt anyone will check, but it doesn't make it any more legal.

Pie123

So if it gets supplied with say a mouse would it still be illegal

[Deleted User]

Marty_J wrote: »

The licence agreement says you have to be a system builder to distribute OEM software. It doesn't say you have to be a system builder to purchase and/or install it.

The System Builder license states;

To distribute the Software or Hardware in this Pack, you must be a
System Builder and accept this license. “System Builder” means an original equipment manufacturer, an assembler, a
refurbisher, or a software pre-installer that sells the Customer System(s) to a third party. You accept this license when
you open this Pack.

So in effect by purchasing the software, you are confirming you are a System Builder. If you are not, you aren't authorised to use the software for distribution, which leads onto;

To meet your obligations under the Software Builder License you need to install the software via the OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit) that is available to you when you are registered with Microsoft OEM Partner Centre as a System Builder.

If you do not install the software via the OPK then you are further breaking conditions in the System Builder License, which has the overall effect that the end product installation has not been installed in compliance with the terms, therefore is not a valid installation.

Whether this would cause any repercussions down the line I wouldn't expect so, but in any case you do would not have licensed copy of your software.

Edit: I acknowledge this is a 180 on my previous advocation of OEM vs Retail software. The clarification now makes my recommendation to be the Upgrade versions of Windows. The preinstalled OEM license will become an integral part of the Retail Upgrade and continues your fully licensed product.

gjchester

Pie123 wrote: »

So if it gets supplied with say a mouse would it still be illegal

Yes.

See http://oem.microsoft.com/public/sblicense/2008_sb_licenses/fy08_sb_license_english.pdf

It's quite clear this has to be installed by a system builder before it's given to the end customer.