Would this be considered pirating?

Well, my friends computer has been in a endless booting chain after he let a moron at Qwest use teamviewer on his computer to delete "unneccesary files" something i probably could of done a bit better. They told him he needs to buy a windows 7 disk and install that on there, which will combust his pc because of how terribad the specs are. I'm not going to try and download the windows 7 disk, im wondering if downloading the windows xp disk to install it would be considered pirating. That is the current OS on it, and its my second option to try and fix the computer. My first option is to try and get to the recovery menu, and hope the moron didn't edit that partition of the computer and reformat it. My third option, would be to install Linux on it, but since he plays WoW and i read that configuring WoW for Linux is a pain in the but.

Yes and no. It is definatly illegal to upload that, however it is not illegal to download it and install if you have a valid serial number. Your best best would be to find the OEM xp install for his brand system. The OEM are pre activated, and would match what he should have on his system. But it is shady, but considering that they don't even ship new pc's with these disc anymore, it may be your only choice.

Also you should know that even if you have a valid serial number, it will not activate will all xp install discs, even if it matches the version. I once tried my father in laws pc. I made him a new xp disc, xp home with n-lite. I used my dell xp disc to make it and put in his SN. No luck with that, the damn thing would not active. So a made another disc with nlite using his disc, and that worked just fine- both disc where xp home.

If he has an xp home sticker on the side of the pc and you install xp, I think your fine, at least in my book of ethics. Now if you put pro on, that is different.

If it is distributed illegally then its not legal to download regardless of if you have a valid serial number. If he has a valid serial number you should be able to get microsoft to send you the disc (I know they do this with win7 and PC's that come with it pre-installed....but not sure about XP).

I believe the illegal activity is the distribution of copyrighted material.

You can ring up and activate with Microsoft. I don't think they mind you downloading it but don't hold me to that lol. Its just so long as you activate it (money in Billy's pocket)

What is the spec on the laptop?

I don't think there necessarily is a problem with downloading Windows. You can download time trialed demos that can be converted to full versions directly from Microsoft. Probably not for XP anymore though. The piracy comes in if you crack it rather than actually pay for a license and activate it.

This is what I dont get when you buy a pc the operating system is already installed and they dont give you a hard copy for if you were ever in need of a fresh install.

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Originally Posted by narse1979

This is what I dont get when you buy a pc the operating system is already installed and they dont give you a hard copy for if you were ever in need of a fresh install.

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I though the PC manufacturer was supposed to? You should get an OEM disc along with the PC when you buy a pre-built PC even though it's already installed for instances like that. I haven't bought a pre-built PC in well over a decade but that's the way it used to work.

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Originally Posted by narse1979

This is what I dont get when you buy a pc the operating system is already installed and they dont give you a hard copy for if you were ever in need of a fresh install.

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The last computer I bought that didn't come with the discs for the operating system came with a program to burn them myself. The store even tried to charge me $75 for them to click on one icon and swap a couple blank discs in as needed to make them. With those discs and the product key on the back of the computer your all set if you need to start fresh.

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Originally Posted by JoostinOnline

Are you trying to install Windows 7 with an upgrade disc? If you are, I know how to get around needing the XP disc. Of course, it is only legal if you actually own a copy of XP (which you do).

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Originally Posted by LiNkZoR

They told him he needs to buy a windows 7 disk and install that on there, which will combust his pc because of how terribad the specs are.

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I am guessing no... lol