i`m interested here what is your opinion guys on downloading windows copy from a torrent site (retail or untouched), installing it and using your own key you have already paid for. Of course, you must install only one copy and you must activate it. Is it legal or illegal. I recently reinstalled my friend`s PC and used this copy with the serial that was located on the bottom of their laptop. It worked perfectly and I was able to activate it too. I download from torrent sites but doing this for somebody else and putting then at risk is not something I want. If nothing else, OS should be genuine.c1: BTW I think that it is legal since you have already paid for one copy and you are using the same serial and only one installation. It`s like transferring your old car`s license plate to a new one.
I don't see why it would be illegal considering the fact you've already previously paid for a license, don't see where there's a problem.
This is totally legal, why did so many people vote that it wasn't? Apparently hardly anyone actually read the thread. But yes, it is legal, and quite useful to do for OEM computers that have lost their install disks.
There's probably actual rules made by Microsoft on how you can obtain their software through legal channels. The methods used is probably against their EULA, but you still own the key so you should technically ok.
Yep, no problem with that. What you can't do is use the OEM key from one machine on another (even if the orginal is scrapped)
When you buy a windows os, you're buying the license to use it, not the actual os. So yes it's legal.
It should be legal imo. It's like getting a trial version of the OS and you use your key to use the rest of the program. Now if you can access the program/OS without having to use a key then that is illegal .
I think it should be legal since you are paying for the 'license'. not the disk nor the actual software (the OS).
Voted legal, Windows was legally owned, misplaced a disk...so what. The key was bought and that's what matters. MS got their money.
Thank you guy for your opinions...I`m just disappointed that none of the "illegal" voters expressed their opinions here. MS would probably say that it is illegal, but since you have paid and you are using one installation...only bureaucratic rats would be against.
As long as you do own a license to Windows, you can burn and/or download Windows as many times as you like, as long as it's for that license, it's perfectly legal. Microsoft could really care less about the Windows media than the license that you purchased. Many IT departments in companies keep dozens of copies of the original discs (or they are downloaded from Technet) and Microsoft could care less because these companies would buy license packs which do not have the physical medium that we're used to. deltatux
woah woah wait a sec.... everyone saying legal but... he said he's downloading from a torrent, meaning he's distributing too... i have to vote illegal lol - although if he's just "downloading" and upload would somehow stay at 0 the whole time then i'll vote legal