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Microsoft Software Licences

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I had 5 Compaq Ipaqs which came supplied with Windows 2000.These machines had the software Licence and key codes labeled on the machines themselves.These machines have since been stolen.I have a record of these
license codes and keys.Can I legally install
Windows 2000 on other machines on our network and use these keycodes and licences?

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Microsoft Software Licences

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Depends upon which license you used to build the machines in the first place.

You most likely used the copy of W2k that came with the machines, which is the OEM license. Technically, an OEM license is only good for the machine that it came on andyou are not entitled to use that license on any other machine. If you want to remain legal, you will need to purchase other licenses.

Microsoft Software Licences

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Microsoft Software Licences

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You’ve wandered into a very grey area with your question. I think it could be argued both ways. You PAID for a license. You have a reciept to prove that. You may also have the Microsoft book with the license sticker on it. That certifies that you have the license. If you read the license agreement, you may not transfer the license to anyone unless they agree to abide by the EULA terms.
Under that assumtion, you still own the license.
On the otherhand, answer 1 is correct. The license may only apply to that machine. Further, if your company burned down, yet you could prove that you owned the license, it’s doubtful that either Compaq or Microsoft would give you new media disks. Their response would be to buy new software.
The third point is that all software companies view license agreements differently, so no one standard applies.
You may want to consult an attorney, but 3 attorneys would give you 3 different answers. So what do you do?
I think you have to view it in worst caseterms. If you continue to use the licenseand MS finds out , what are they going to do? Prosecute you? You can make a valid case that you own the licenses. At that point, you would just say igoofed and buy the new licenses. After all, you are not trying to pirate the software. You can prove that you did pay for it.
Hope that helps.

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