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Installing Windows for customers without activating it

Question
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It is my understanding that the Windows installation media can be obtained legally for free through Digital River, for example, from here:
http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso
If one was to download and install this on a computer without an operating system, they have 30 days to purchase a retail copy of Windows so they can activate it.
My question: if I was to use this to install Windows on a computer, but not activate it, would it be legal to sell that computer? Of course, I would make the customer aware that they need to activate Windows within 30 days with a separately purchased copy of Windows, or use another operating system. The idea is that I am installing Windows as a service for evaluation purposes, I am not selling software licenses in any form.
I know that this is not how software licensing is supposed to work, and yes, I have read the whole EULA and all of the licensing information that I have found on the Internet, but I can't get a clear answer. Nowhere does it explicitly say that something like this is not allowed. If it is not, on what grounds would Microsoft make a legal claim against it? Or in other words, why not?
I would really rather ask Microsoft about this directly, but I can't find a way to do that without registering for the System Builder program- if anyone could tell me how to contact MS about this that would also be helpful.
- Edited by John Max1k Wednesday, January 14, 2015 9:15 AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 9:13 AM
Answers
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It is a violation of Microsoft's software licensing terms to install Microsoft Windows on a PC and then sell it without a genuine Microsoft Windows license. Microsoft support gets phones calls all the time from irate users who thought they purchased a PC complete with a Windows license and it turns out they did not.
Carey Frisch
- Proposed as answer by Carey FrischMVP, Moderator Wednesday, January 14, 2015 4:31 PM
- Marked as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:29 AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 4:30 PMModerator -
The Windows License Terms to which you agree during install state that it is a requirement that the installer has a license PRIOR to the install.
There is no such thing as a 'Trial' period - there is only the 'Grace' period which allows the user to delay activation while optimising the system.
Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors. - Marked as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:29 AM
Thursday, January 15, 2015 11:07 AMModerator
All replies
-
It is a violation of Microsoft's software licensing terms to install Microsoft Windows on a PC and then sell it without a genuine Microsoft Windows license. Microsoft support gets phones calls all the time from irate users who thought they purchased a PC complete with a Windows license and it turns out they did not.
Carey Frisch
- Proposed as answer by Carey FrischMVP, Moderator Wednesday, January 14, 2015 4:31 PM
- Marked as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:29 AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 4:30 PMModerator -
The Windows License Terms to which you agree during install state that it is a requirement that the installer has a license PRIOR to the install.
There is no such thing as a 'Trial' period - there is only the 'Grace' period which allows the user to delay activation while optimising the system.
Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth No - I do not work for Microsoft, or any of its contractors. - Marked as answer by Noel D PatonModerator Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:29 AM
Thursday, January 15, 2015 11:07 AMModerator