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Can I loan my Windows XP install disk to friends?

This may be a really stupid question, but I have a family friend who recently bought a 6yr old Compaq computer running Windows98. Her father is currently updating it to be windows2000 but once she found out I still had my windows xp restore/install discs she asked if I could update her to windows xp. I just want to know though - is this legal? Or will I be chased down by guys in black jackets and charged? (lol worse case scenario). I just want to know if it's okay sharing the discs with a friend or not?

Dave's Answer:

Well, this isn't a bad question, per se, but I think you already know the answer, somehow. The answer is that Windows XP and just about every other non-open source operating system, is licensed for you to install on a single computer only.

Even Apple has this restriction and theoretically if you want to upgrade both your desktop and laptop from, say, Panther to Tiger, you'd need to buy two copies of the OS.

Realistically, though, I know of few people who follow the letter of the law with operating systems. If someone has both a laptop and a desktop PC, for example, they'll almost always use the same OS install disk to upgrade them both to a new version of Windows.

For Windows XP Pro, for example, you really need to order additional licenses from Microsoft directly. Theoretically, the additional licenses are at a discount, but there are lots of hoops you have to jump through before you can ascertain the exact price. Want a full version of Windows XP Pro? That'll set you back about $300, just for one computer.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out this Microsoft Licensing Comparison Guide to get a sense of one area where Microsoft makes a lot of money...

As I said, Apple has exactly the same approach too, just to be completely fair. That's why they sell the single user version for $129 and the "family pack" for $199. On the other hand, the family pack lets you install the OS on up to five different computers, so that's not too bad a deal, at approximately $40 per system.

All of this complexity is one big reason that open source Linux is so appealing to corporate types: buy one CDROM set and you are allowed to install it on as many computer as you'd like, without any legal complications.

I hope that clears things up!

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Comments

Dave,

I recall *way* back in the pre-SP1 days that XP only works for awhile without being registered. Your reasons are much better as they're built on morality and money, but I thought I might mention this as well. After all, being unable to boot into your OS can be quite a shock.

Posted by: Larry Brunson at October 12, 2005 4:07 PM

The bigger problem here is that no six-year-old computer could comfortably run XP. You could install it (legally or not), but it would run molasses slow and you probably couldn't enjoy it.

Does the puter have enough RAM? 512 is probably the minimum I'd recommend unless the ONLY thing you're going to do is surf. (Nothing else simultaneously, period. Of course Mac users are kind of used to not being able to multi-task, right?) (Ducking. I'm joking, I'm joking. I'm thinking of my son's first-generation i-Book which will NOT let me browse and quickly shift from browser to word processor to spread sheet quickly ... I have no experience with any higher-end Mac so that's probably fixed.)

And what about the size of the hard drive? A 1 gigabyte drive was BIG six years ago. I have no idea how big XP is, but I'm guessing it would eat up about that much.

I'm thinking that with a low-end puter running $500 or so, purchase of XP to upgrade an old computer is throwing money away because you would be banging your head against that putty-colored monitor, kicking that gigantic tin-covered box under your desk and wishing for a sleek new Dell as soon as you get it installed.

Six year old computer. HAHAHAHAHA. (I don't mean to laugh, but that's as old as MY DAUGHTER!)

Kristine

Posted by: Kristine at October 12, 2005 6:11 PM

I have a legally licensed version of xp pro student. The question is, how many desktops can I install it on legally? Any input would be appreciated!

Posted by: todd at November 26, 2005 4:45 AM

For how many desktops you can install XP Pro Student on, read the EULA that came with the OS (it's on the CD, and it's available from Start/Help and type in EULA) or call Microsoft at 1-800-MICROSOFT (1-800-642-7676) and ask them.

Posted by: David Walker at January 8, 2006 4:43 PM

I need to reinstall windows xp home on my pc but do not have a disk to do it. I have the key code still on my computer. Is there anywhere that i can get a disk? I tried HP and they said that becouse my computer is a 2001 they no longer have disks and that i would have to buy a whole new computer...Is that true?

Posted by: briana at April 19, 2007 9:10 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!