Re: [tlug] WINDOWS

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

Godwin Stewart writes:
 > On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:57:36 +0900, Nick Bikkal <nickbikkal@example.com>
 > wrote:
 > 
 > > Sorry to bring up an irrelevant OS :) but I'd like to ask if there's
 > > anyone who knows that I can do to for a scratched Windows XP
 > > Professional?

Throw it out and use the legally permitted backup you made when you
received it. ;-)

 > > Do you know if Microsoft would give me a new one?

Ask them.  I think it unlikely, though.

 > > Can I download a version and burn it on to a CD?

It's physically possible, but you'll run a bunch of legal risks.

 > If you're within the EU, law allows you to make a copy of an original CD as
 > a personal backup.

The U.S. does too.

 > I'm guessing (you'd need to get *real* legal advice to be on the
 > safe side) if you could copy someone else's CD-ROM and claim you'd
 > copied your own before it was scratched, you'd be ok.

This won't work anywhere, AFAIK there is identifying data on each disk.