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is this legal

hello im not sure if this is allowed so forgive me if it is and i wont comment any further, all i would like to know is it possible to get a free copied cd of windows 7 home eddition 64 bit, when i say copy i dont need the product key as i have a original one i bought, all i need is a copy of 7 and i can enter my own key. like i say if this is legal then please could i be directed to where i can get this if its illegal then please reply and i will post no further.

thank you.
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Comments

  • Not 100% sure on the legality, but if you have a genuine paid for key there's nothing ethically wrong with it IMO, there's plenty of places online to download an original CD image with which you can then enter your key, just google something like "windows 7 64 bit home edition original iso"
  • pcombo
    pcombo Posts: 3,429 Forumite
    Yea well your paying for a serial key not the actual software in reality as without the serial you cant use, So since you do have a serial download a copy from technet if u can or another source.
  • poppy10_2
    poppy10_2 Posts: 6,583 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You pay for the software license, not the physical CD, so I don't think you would be doing anything too wrong here. depending on circumstances Microsoft will supply you with a new disk if you give them the product key or other proof of purchase (link). Otherwise just follow nick's instructions above.
    poppy10
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I think that technically it breaches the EULA, and not sure on the legality, but it will work and give you a legitimate installation (or at least an installation that is identical to a legitimate one - Windows will activate and won't be detected as a pirated version, etc.). It seems to be a common practice and I don't see anything morally wrong with it.

    I'm not 100% sure about Windows 7, but with XP the CD version had to match the type of product key you had (i.e. a "retail" version of XP could only be activated with a "retail" product key; an OEM CD would require an OEM product key, etc.).
  • out of interest this sounds like a newish PC/laptop. The PC may have a windows restore feature built into the system (take a look at your bootup options). I'd highly recommend buying a windows upgrade disc then using your code apposed to downloading a copied version. You can sometimes fiind that your code wont work with a pirated CD. I did this with VISTA, i bought an upgrade disc for £15 and this will install any version of VISTA you like as long as you have legit product key
    You can't beat an egg.........................NO WAIT!
  • Pikeyp
    Pikeyp Posts: 494 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    As far as I'm aware it's perfecly legal , you can download a copy of Windows 7 from Microsoft , install it and use it .. if you don't enter a legit key you can use it for 30 days I think.
    After that it will run but with reduced functionality.
  • Lil306
    Lil306 Posts: 1,692 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    esuhl wrote: »
    I think that technically it breaches the EULA, and not sure on the legality, but it will work and give you a legitimate installation (or at least an installation that is identical to a legitimate one - Windows will activate and won't be detected as a pirated version, etc.). It seems to be a common practice and I don't see anything morally wrong with it.

    I'm not 100% sure about Windows 7, but with XP the CD version had to match the type of product key you had (i.e. a "retail" version of XP could only be activated with a "retail" product key; an OEM CD would require an OEM product key, etc.).

    I believe esuhl is correct on this one

    Morally, nothing wrong with it. You've got a legitimate laptop with a legitimate serial of XP

    EULA wise, I believe it's illegal. If it was a retail copy of XP, the CD should have been provided to you. If it was lost, you can apply to Microsoft for one (for about £100), however, most shops also build laptops with system builder CD's. So you never get the CD that comes with them, more of a pre-installed recovery image, in the event it fails you can download a disc copy of the operating system in ISO format and use your existing serial :)
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  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Its illegal to copy a Cd of Windows but not illegal to download a copy from Microsoft .
    But who is going to know if you copy a cd as you have a legal key .
    jje
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    JJ_Egan wrote: »
    Its illegal to copy a Cd of Windows...

    I think you're right. It's illegal to copy copyrighted works without permission even for (ostensibly) legitimate use. So it's just like buying a CD and ripping it to MP3 to use on a portable media player: completely illegal, but not unethical, and you're extremely unlikely to be prosecuted.

    Anyway, I would guess that it would be hard for Microsoft to sue the copyright infringer for damages, since they couldn't claim a loss of revenue (except maybe for buying a replacement CD through them).
  • Why do you need one?

    (Please don't read into that as being blunt, just depending what function you require it for will change what courses of actions are available to you)..
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