Is Your Windows A Genuine Or An Illegal Copy? - Windows Copy = Legit/bootleg? [poll]

9block

Aug 7 2007, 08:28 PM

Just wondering how many people have a legit/bootleg copy. The price of the OS, I think it should be a bit cheaper and bootlegging might not be so common. I realise those who download torrents and what not will always... but perhaps some others would rather buy a copy and have the support/no issues rather than save a few hundred bucks and deal with the problems.

Topic title modified.

Saint_Michael

Aug 8 2007, 02:33 AM

I will never touch a bootleg or Illegal copy of an OS, its bad enough people can do damage to your computer with smaller downloads, but to download and run an OS that most likely has nasty surprises in it. I might as well just private information to them right now.

9block

Aug 8 2007, 03:52 AM

Well if you know what your doing and where its coming from you can usually pull it off. You definitely should stay away from torrents, and Im not going to explain where or how I managed to score a bootleg. I know its wrong and I want to buy a legit copy soon. But scene rips is where to be at, as they will and should not have virus's unless altered somewhere down the line depending how quick/early you get them.

But I wouldn't suggest downloading off shady sites or torrents (wouldn't suggest downloading in any illegal form). Often if it has a .nfo and .svf with about files at 14megs you can supect it is a scene rip and good to go. Other iso's/que's ect I would stay away from always.

Hopefully, you don't bootleg or have bootlegs and I wouldn't recommend downloading anything illegal. If you do download the software illegally and you do like it, buy the software and dispose of the bootleg copy. If you don't like it, just dispose of the bootleg copy.

Support software developers.

fffanatics

Aug 8 2007, 04:50 AM

First of all, how do you not have a legal copy of XP? Like every computer in the past three or four years come with a legal version of XP. Plus, if you want a free OS get Linux. As for the price comment, OS's take years to create, develop, and research. This means it costs a very large sum of money to create it and then maintain it. This forces companies to sell the OS's at a high cost. If they did not, the company would not be profitable at all and that means no one would invest in it and the company would fail. If you do not like this fact, you can always go open source and get a free os. The price does not cause more pirated software, people who do not realize how much work goes into an os are the ones that are too naive and thus try to cheat the system.

tigercat

Aug 26 2007, 10:13 PM

I have an OEM copy of Windows XP. Even if it didn't come with the computer, I would have bought the retail version. With the Windows Genuine Advantage, Windows Activation, and other stuff like that, it seems that an illegal copy would be too much hassle. Not only that, illegal copies are obviously illegal, and I really don't want to get into trouble.

csp4.0

Aug 27 2007, 02:47 AM

I have 2 operating systems winxp and winVista
WinXP is genuine, but my version of winVista is somewhat half genuine half not genuine.

FolkRockFan

Aug 27 2007, 08:13 AM

Linux is free, comes in all sorts of flavors, and has a large community of developers and users who are willing to help with support, troubleshooting, et cetera. So if you can't afford Windows, you can always afford Linux. And if you don't want to use Linux, you can use a library computer.

There is no good excuse to steal from somebody else. Period. Just because some people hate Microsoft and can't stand the high prices does not mean that it is okay to rip off the developers, programmers, et cetera who put their time and effort into creating the software. Yes, Bill Gates has a stranglehold on the market. No, he won't notice if you rip off just one little copy of his operating system. But the software belongs to him, so he deserves whatever he can get for it.

There are alternatives to piracy. I just mentioned Linux as one of them. You can also use a public/school computer, work to save up your money until you can buy Windows, see if your school or workplace offers some sort of discount on legit copies (my school does that with Microsoft programs), et cetera.

Besides: the excuse of "It's so expensive" doesn't really fly with me when I meet people who will rip off the OS...and also rip off a five-dollar card game because they can get away with it. SUUUUURE the price is a factor in that choice.

odomike

Aug 27 2007, 12:44 PM

Well, I am using an OEM Windows Vista that came with my laptop. And also, the Windows XP I have installed is also an OEM version.

I used to have a pirated version which I downloaded from internet but I found out that Microsoft wont allow me to install and enjoy most of their Windows updates, so I had to get an OEM version to install and use. It doesn't require activation on my HP Compaq Laptop.

9block

Aug 27 2007, 04:23 PM

My computer is roughly 6-7 years old. AMD 1800+/60GB/256MB Ram (Upgraded to 7**mb). It was from a random guy with classified ads who builds/sells computers from his living room. Now, the PC has lasted me a long time and I don't turn it off for very long so it was practically been running for 6 years. It came with a copy of Windows 98 and I upgraded to a downloaded copy of XP.

I plan on getting a new computer soon, and it comes with Windows Vista Home Premium. I plan or possibly downgrading to Windows XP - but I am not sure yet.

Codemaster Snake

Aug 27 2007, 06:51 PM

Well I am not into windows much! But do have a original copy of it! I am a proud UBUNTU USER!

Ok Tell me what will bill gates think if he reads these kinda threads?

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darran

Feb 22 2008, 02:08 AM

Though I am using Leopard on a Mac, I still install Windows XP (there is a reason why it's not Windows Vista) via bootcamp on my other partition. I bought the home edition off a store for SGD 143, quite pricey if you ask me, it costs slightly more than a Vista basic. The most ridiculous thing that happened was that the serial key was pasted on the package's plastic, and due to my carelessness, I threw it away.

As a result, I had to call up Microsoft and thankfully they regenerated my serial key at no extra charge. Though the blame properly comes down to me solely, I find it extremely weird that they would paste something so sensitive on the package's plastic.

[John]

Feb 21 2008, 10:23 PM

Theres OEM, Retail, and Corporate... and different versions of each like VLK etc

mine is a retail copy i modified myself... stripped it down to 89 mb .ISO for gaming

gameratheart

Feb 21 2008, 03:39 PM

All of my computers to date have had their Windows OSes built-in. Coincidentially, they've all come without a disk as well - even though the company I bought my current computer from was supposed to supply the disk as part of the price

Oh well, it's their only mistake.

I don't see how anyone could even think of downloading any Windows OS, especially through torrents. Not only is it illegal, but torrents are incredibly prone to illegal activity, and it's hard to trust unknown websites. Often the downloaded OS will cause more problems than actually buying a legal copy, especially when it comes to privacy (Spyware and Malware is often installed on OS Downloads from unscruptulous sites). Bootleg copies are a no-no too.

saitunes

Feb 21 2008, 02:17 PM

Personally, I don't like microsoft products anymore, ever since i starrted using mac, i've not had to re-install, i've not lost files unexplainedly, its easier to understand... yada yada yada

this morning the family computer (running windows XP) wouldn't boot up. I gave a bsod (blue screen of death) and it said 'boot volume not mountable' or something to that description. it suggested safe mode (which I don't get... It can't start up windows at all... so it can't start up safe mode yes?) which i tried to no avail, then i tried different 'debug' modes of windows... still not working. So i stuck in a linux live cd of puppy linux- an AWESOME distro which is basic, simple and fast. I didn't want to erase the disk or anything... so i tried to mount it... no problem (except it can't write values to it, regardless) i thought ok, it's mounting lets try a reboot... it rebooted same bsod, so i booted up linux and ran a disk util, tried to change a property about the disk (write like 5mb before the windows partition) and then i applied the changes, and rebooted... fixed...

The reason I don't like windows is at times its not thought out properly... above is a prime example, if it can't read the harddrive with the OS on it... then it can't boot up in safe mode. And I don't like how when something crashes explorer dies... its annoying, (xp not vista, never used vista)

I've said this a few times in the forums, but my favorite computer, that i had no unexplained problems was a pc that had 32mb ram, 1.5GB HD, and i think a 300-odd mHz processor... it has since been given away... I will probably buy one simmilar to it and use it for personal/business use. Web, email, invoicing etc. etc.

tricky77puzzle

Feb 18 2008, 06:05 PM

I have an OEM copy of Vista, and my old compy had a disk version of XP. They're both legal, or at least the Vista version is. I'm not sure about the XP one, since I didn't buy it. (The computer or the operating system.)

The reason there are so many illegal copies around is because it costs so much. If people actually paid $400 every time they bought a Windows operating system, then Microsoft would have a real monopoly and there'd probably be a lot less computer users in China right now, as well as probably North America. Then the rich-poor gap would widen even more until the poor people start dying off, and Microsoft would then have the whole world to provide for. And about 94% of computer users (not a valid statistic; can someone refer?) don't know Linux exists. What will they do then? Will they just have to drop their computers? Will computers become an invaluable asset of the rich, like they were back in 1970?

I can see why Bill Gates is leaving.

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