Can you do this w/winxp?

[GoodAndyBadPizza]

Can you install your copy of winxp pro retail on several computers for a lan game network, no internet? Or does something stop you from doing this?
Thanks

[peoplessi]

Nothing stops you from doing that, except that is illegal to continue using them after the 30-day period. With one license, you are allowed to use it on 1 PC.

If you use the same license on all the machines, it's not allowed. You can use them without license for 30 days.

[d3ad connection]

Can you install your copy of winxp pro retail on several computers for a lan game network, no internet? Or does something stop you from doing this?
Thanks
Microsoft requires you to get a license for each PC, but in my experience, nothing really stops you from doing it. You might have problems activating all of the copies though.

[Marty Chang]

Assuming the computers never have Internet access, there's nothing really stopping you. As other people mentioned, however, it's illegal, and you'll be a very very bad man for doing it. ;)

[Phait]

I liken the illegality of that to tearing off the tag on mattresses (http://www.wisegeek.com/why-cant-you-take-the-tag-off-of-a-mattress.htm) that has some legal claimer about not removing.

[Yatta]

Doesn't Windows lock you out after 30 days?

[d3ad connection]

If it's not activated, yes.

[Yatta]

Well he won't be able to activate it more than once and I'm assuming he's already done that on his primary machine.

[GoodAndyBadPizza]

My xp retail activated itself I guess? I never had to do anything, no notice or anything, never had to phone or do anything?

[JR Ewing]

I'm not sure if this is related or not but in Office 2007, the idea is you're only allowed to install it on 2 PC's. I've installed and successfully activated Office 2007 on about 5 PC's, all within the household of course.

I've always felt that if you purchased the software, you should be entitled to install it on as many PC's as you want, so long as you own those PC's.

[peoplessi]

My xp retail activated itself I guess? I never had to do anything, no notice or anything, never had to phone or do anything?

It will activate through internet connection, most times it works like that. But if you are activating it too frequent it might demand you to phone MS and explain yourself :)

[ZuljinRaynor]

I'm not sure if this is related or not but in Office 2007, the idea is you're only allowed to install it on 2 PC's. I've installed and successfully activated Office 2007 on about 5 PC's, all within the household of course.
Sure it will activate and it'll install.


I've always felt that if you purchased the software, you should be entitled to install it on as many PC's as you want, so long as you own those PC's.
You didn't purchase the software, but the license to it. You're in breach it seems so probably that means you are obligated to delete your copies and destory any physical data. Or get 2 more of these 2 PC licenses.

Unless the license says that you could have two copies running in RAM on two different computers, then it's fine as long as only 2 PCs have it running. Otherwise buddy, you're in breach of contract.

[Phait]

And nonetheless, one you couldn't read before purchasing :D

[ZuljinRaynor]

And nonetheless, one you couldn't read before purchasing :D

Techincally if you disagree with the EULA, you phone up the owner and tell them you disagree. Some companies will say they can do nothing but some actually do do something.

Also some places do have them online.

[peoplessi]

Those don't hold in European courts, but as the activation is the key factor hear, not EULA :)

[ZuljinRaynor]

Those don't hold in European courts

That's cause when it comes to computers, Europe is messed up and rapes Microsoft for everything but lets Apple do their shit which is exactly the same.

Still, if that's how European courts roll, then that means go and install your thing on every computer in Europe and YAY FOR PIRACY! Woo! :insomnia: Honestly, a contract is a contract and it shouldn't matter. If Europe is gonna be like that, then meh.

[peoplessi]

It was a joke, but honestly, the EULA doesn't mean a thing, since you couldn't activate it on more than 1 PC anyways.

[IwantMORE]

That's cause when it comes to computers, Europe is messed up and rapes Microsoft for everything but lets Apple do their shit which is exactly the same.

I think Apple get's away with it by learning from MS.

Safari, Itunes and iLife apps sold with a new computer are not integrated into OS. They can all be easily removed and replaced with alternatives.

Most of the problems with MS and the European gov has been to do with integration or putting pressure on OMD's not to install 3rd party apps.

Apple has also fallen foul of Europe on other counts, mainly iTunes, but they seem to be able to win their cases. I guess it helps that they don't work with 3rd parties so they don't have to make deals with 3rd party companies to stop other software going on their machines.

Back on topic, installing your copy of winxp pro retail on several computers is fine, it's running them at the same time is not. You are only allowed to have one copy running at a time.

[Crosma]

That's cause when it comes to computers, Europe is messed up and rapes Microsoft for everything but lets Apple do their shit which is exactly the same.Microsoft is regarded throughout the world as an illegal monopoly (found guilty once in the EU and twice in the USA). Companies recognised as monopolies are required to interoperate and allow competition as much as is possible. This is what anti-trust law is all about.

The illegal monopoly bit comes in because Microsoft have been found guilty for doing the exact opposite. Leaked emails/memos/letters showed that Microsoft only released Internet Explorer to stop Netscape from being competitive, made the Microsoft JVM incompatible with Sun's JVM to stop Sun's version from being useful (i.e. trying to steal Java away from Sun, effectively), and released improved versions of Windows Media Player (complete with their own video codecs) with the intention of removing RealNetworks' business. All of these things were done to primarily to damage their competitors (i.e. not with the motive of succeeding through superior products). That's what the courts found.

One good thing about the EU case was that RealNetworks were able to add WMV support to their non-Windows versions of RealPlayer. So you can actually play WMVs in Linux legally now. Microsoft are loosening up their licensing of almost all of their technology to avoid getting into more anti-trust trouble. Expect a lot more Microsoft technology in Unixland in the future.

Apple are in for a world of pain if they don't follow Microsoft's suit. With the iTunes/iPhone/iPod trinity, they can't expect to keep it all so tightly controlled for long. MacOSX isn't popular enough for anti-trust laws to apply.

Honestly, a contract is a contract and it shouldn't matter. If Europe is gonna be like that, then meh.A EULA isn't a contract. You have to sign or verbally agree to a contract. Clicking through doesn't count anywhere.

[IwantMORE]

As if to prove a point...Apple get screwed in France ;)

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/oranges-french.html

[Phayzon]

I never saw how Apple avoided all the shit that MS got for anti-trust, Apple appears to be a far greater monopoly than MS.

[peoplessi]

...but they are so small minority compaired to Microsoft, but I agree that Apple has gotten out of the hook :)

[Crosma]

I never saw how Apple avoided all the shit that MS got for anti-trust, Apple appears to be a far greater monopoly than MS.A monopoly at what? Or are we talking music players?

I don't think you guys really understand how anti-trust laws work and how a monopoly is defined legally.

[Bit-Cloud]

(Sigh) if only Linux supported all of Windows's Shit