downloading an os for my pc is it illegal?

Question

right i bought a pc from currys an electronics store in england it had windows xp home edition pre installed on it so therefore had no installation disks 3 years on now want to format and start a fresh install of windows but no installation disk so is it illegal to download a copy of the windows edition i have and install it i have the product key and things for my pc

Answer 1

That is really a grey area. If your downloading it to install on a machine without a license it would definitly be not be as legal. Although doing it to install on a machine with a license is not recommended either. Finding a clean XP torrent might be a difficult task.



Most newer computers have a recovery partition. To access the recovery partition. Hold F10 at start up. Some computers use F11 or F1. Checking the flash screen at start should tell you which one to hold for recovery. Hold the proper F key at start up. When the recovery screen starts. Choose Advanced>Destructive Recovery>Follow the on screen prompts. Choosing Destructive Recovery will return your computer to factory specifications. Returning it to factory specifications will remove everything except what originally came with the computer. The recovery will take about an hour. Then go to Microsoft and, download all of the latest updates for your computer. This could take several more hours and, could require several restarts. After you have all the latest updates. Reinstall your anti-virus and, any other programs you want or, need. Avast, AVG or, Avira are free if you do not already have an anti-virus. Be sure to save any photos, music or, other files you want to keep to CD or, DVD before starting Destructive Recovery.



Creating a restore point on your computer will go a long way in preventing you from having to do a destructive recovery in the future. Once the Destructive Recovery is completed. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore>Create a restore point>Next>Name the Restore point todays date>Create>Close. You should create a restore point about once a month. If in the future you need to restore your computer you can simply use any of the previous restore points. Start>All Programs>Accessories>System tools>System Restore>Restore My Computer to Previous Date>Choose Previous Restore Point>Next>Next.



If your computer does not have a recovery partition. You will need to do a recovery using the recovery disks. These either came with your computer or, you made them when it was new. If you do not have the recovery disks. You can buy them from your computer's manufacturer or, http://restoredisks.com/ for about $25

Answer 2

If you download any OS your are not doing anything illegal. If the OS is a proprietary OS (ie You unusually have to pay for the OS) it is against the license agreement to download the OS and if the company really wanted to they can take you to small claims court to get the value of the OS from you (this would never happen as it is bad PR, and isn't work the trouble). The person distributing the OS though is breaking copywrite law. You can not take copywrite material, copy it, and then mass distribute it.



The only thing I would warn you about is your product key may be an OEM key which means that with a different version of Windows or a major upgrade to the Hardware it will no longer work. Be ready to deal with that situation if it comes up.



If you really need to use Windows and you see yourself installing it more then 5 or 6 times over the next couple of years, it is a good idea to get a Retail copy of Windows (make sure it is retail and not OEM). This way you can install it any number of times you want. If Windows 7 turns out to be as good as the hype is making it out to be, it might be a good idea to get a retail copy of that for your future computers.

Answer 3

As D mc C says it will have a recovery partition somewhere on it but also try "F8" and "F11" as different setups could have been used. I would recommend you DON`T download a copy of XP from the net unless it is a last resort. Preferably borrow ANY XP original disk from a friend. When you install it if it is not the same as your original when you enter your XP number from the sticker it will ask you to ring Microsoft. Don't panic as it is so they can give you another code which will allow you to continue to install windows at no extra cost. Its because there are so many different versions of windows XP that one key wont necessarily run the install disk from another. But Microsoft know if your sticker is Genuine and that's all that matters so they will work you round the problem.

Answer 4

Your computer came with an OEM licensed version of Windows XP and the product key for your machine will not work off of a standard XP installation disc. Most packaged computers with OEM Operating Systems have a function to create a restore disc or activate a restore function from a hidden restore partition which will restore the computer back to original factory settings.



It is not illegal to download an installation of Windows, it is however, illegal to install it without a valid license.

Answer 5

Technically, probably illegal.



The reason you didn''t get install disks is because you didn't pay for them. Your machine was cheaper because the manufacturer chose to buy the cheap one-time preinstall license from Microsoft instead of the full deal with disks.



Plus as a preinstall version, your key may not work with a lot of full-version installs.



Contact the computer manufacturer, and ask them if you can buy an install disk set, most manufacturers make these available for $20 - $50.

Answer 6

if it had no discs with it when new it will have a recovery partition built into the hard drive, some pcs are different but normally to access the recovery menu turn the pc on and as soon as you have pressed the start button start tapping F10 button until the recovery menu appears and select the option you want, a full format is usually called a destructive recovery. when you got it new you should have burnt a set of recovery discs from an option that should have appearedyou may still be able to do this from the start menu and look in all programs for some sort of recovery option, not sure what it will be called on your pc

Answer 7

You can get away with downloading and installing the same version that you have a license for. It is somewhat of a grey area, but you won't have issues. Make sure that you download an OEM copy with the corresponding service pack level.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I believe it's called a Hackintosh. I don't think it's illegal at all. I wouldn't do it, not because I think it's illegal but because I hate Mac OSX.

Answer 10

If you download it with paying for that software it is legal. But if you download it without paying it is illegal