Is this illegal?

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 18:40

mrk said:
MS have released downloadable images of Vista which you can download from any source, just confirm the MD5 hash and all is good.

Sauce?

mrk · 22 Sep 2008 at 18:49

It's the SP1 downloadable image MS released when Vista SP1 came out. I don't have a source to hand but MS provided the mD5 checksums and mirrors cropped up outside of the MS/MSDN network shortly after.. it did not come with any product keys or anything, just a DVD image so you need your own product key to activate and install.

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 18:59

Got a link to the MS page with the MD5s?

mrk · 22 Sep 2008 at 20:02

Info here: http://keznews.com/4137_Download_32-bit_and_64-bit_Vista_SP1_RTM_Slipstream_ISO_Images

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:02

mrk said:
Info here: http://keznews.com/4137_Download_32-bit_and_64-bit_Vista_SP1_RTM_Slipstream_ISO_Images

So your post of:

MS have released downloadable images of Vista which you can download from any source, just confirm the MD5 hash and all is good.

is really quite misleading then? MS released SP1 for testing which hardly constitutes them supporting a full product downloadable from anywhere.

mrk · 22 Sep 2008 at 22:09

It's hardly for testing is it, it's a RTM release of Vista with SP1 integrated.

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 22:13

mrk said:
It's hardly for testing is it, it's a RTM release of Vista with SP1 integrated.

It's hardly meant as a proper distribution channel for a released product either.

mrk · 22 Sep 2008 at 23:01

There is no big red lettering that says that it's only meant for specific purposes which was my point - it's a retail product in digital form. As long as you have a valid license then what is the problem.

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 23:10

mrk said:
it's a retail product in digital form.

This is my point, it's not a retail product. It was never released for licence fee paying customers.

mrk · 22 Sep 2008 at 23:19

But they have no issues activating it for anyone who has it ?

Burnsy2023 · 22 Sep 2008 at 23:40

mrk said:
But they have no issues activating it for anyone who has it ?

We all know that activation is not an indication of anything.

geo139 · 23 Sep 2008 at 02:42

I recently tried that with windows xp, but the files in it were modified in some way and it kept on crashing until i finally got my original disk and did a repair (basically reinstalled all the files). So i would say find a legit copy of the software, but either way you shouldnt be breaking any laws!

Energize · 23 Sep 2008 at 03:17

Considering the law allows you to make a backup of the software regardless of what the eula says I would say downloading it is probably legal as it would be classed as making a copy of software you own the right to use, the more important question is whether Microsoft would care, but since Microsoft have suffered no loss they wouldn't be able to sue you anyway even if they did care.

Meatball · 23 Sep 2008 at 11:34

I've just lost my retail OEM XP Home cd just when I need it. What's annoying is I tried the official website to order replacement media but I can only pay by credit card and bankers draft

. Why can't they just accept a bog standard Solo card/Maestro card? I might try phoning them up and seeing if they can accept different payment methods.