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View Full Version : Windows 2003 question.

RaiBlastoise
12-06-2005, 08:24 PM
So, my home computer, which was previously running ME :-P had to go to get fixed because my mother thought it had a "virus". (ME is a virus IMHO) So the computer gets back from the shop and my mother says, "We have Windows 2003 now!" And I was thinking, "wait, isn't that a server system, and if so, why did they install it on a home computer?" It raises some questions in my mind about the legality of the installation and the integrity of the company (they just might have had a 2003 CD and a key kicking around). So, here is my question to you: Is Windows 2003 a suitable home computer operating system? How does it compare to 9x and XP, and will it be a pain to use (i.e. having a bunch of non-needed features that take up space and get in your way)? Also, does "server edition" (if that's what all 2003 systems are) mean that said computer would be a server or that said computer could also be a terminal?

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packardmelan
12-06-2005, 08:33 PM
If a 'shop' took Windows ME and did an upgrade to Windows 2003, without paying for a copy of the OS, they're doing illegal business. I would sincerely report the 'shop'.

Windows 2K3 makes a decent home OS, it just doesn't have some of the Win95/3.1/DOS compatibility layers active that XP has.
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JCE3000GT
12-06-2005, 11:30 PM
> Windows 2K3 makes a decent home OS, it just doesn't have
> some of the Win95/3.1/DOS compatibility layers active that
> XP has.

I've been using it since it came out and I'd conclude it still is better and more stable than XP. And that's not quite true, I've never had a problem running any DOS/Win3.1 software. If it runs on XP it ran on 2003 Server. But this is based on my personal experiece which I'm sure someone else can claim the opposite.
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packardmelan
12-07-2005, 01:33 AM
2K3 locked down some features of XP for stability and security, so your saying it's more stable and better than XP makes sense.
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Stonerfuck
12-07-2005, 06:48 AM
> If a 'shop' took Windows ME and did an upgrade to Windows
> 2003, without paying for a copy of the OS, they're doing
> illegal business. I would sincerely report the 'shop'.

Yeah, sure narc on the shop. I couldn't sleep at night knowing Bill Gates lost 100 bucks out of like 70 billion.

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packardmelan
12-07-2005, 07:35 AM
Narc? Are you fucking retarded? What if that copy of the OS was full of backdoors and viruses? They should have just left Windows ME on the machine, which was legal and paid for.

Dipshit.
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Stonerfuck
12-07-2005, 07:05 PM
> Narc? Are you fucking retarded? What if that copy of the OS
> was full of backdoors and viruses? They should have just
> left Windows ME on the machine, which was legal and paid
> for.

Why the fuck would you assume that it was full of backdoors and viruses? I know how to check for stuff like that when I download OSes from bittorrent, and I assume a computer repair place prolly knows a shitload more about computers than I do.
Also, if I ever left ME on someones computer and told them I fixed it I would be lying because that is the most shit OS I've ever had the displeasure of running. I'd run 95 rather than that piece of crap.

Its all good though, I still love you because you collect power ranger stuff.
packardmelan
12-07-2005, 07:40 PM
It's more a question of business ethics. If you're paying someone to fix your computer and they put a hacked or illegal OS on your system, what does that imply they're capable of?

Many computers have a lot of personal information on them, right? If these people are so willing to pirate Windows to "stick it to the man", then what's stopping them from sticking it to you and stealing personal information?

There's a time when you have to follow "the rules". And when I'm paying you for a service, that's usually the time.
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Freaker
12-07-2005, 07:54 PM
> Why the fuck would you assume that it was full of backdoors
> and viruses? I know how to check for stuff like that when I
> download OSes from bittorrent, and I assume a computer
> repair place prolly knows a shitload more about computers
> than I do.

I think he means the shop deliberately putting backdoors for their own use.
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Ugly Joe
12-07-2005, 08:12 PM
> It's more a question of business ethics.

Right. Pirating Windows for your own use is one thing. You know it's illegal, but you don't care.

Installing it on another computer is an entirely different thing. First, you're making money off of this illegal copy of Windows. Second, you're installing on someone else's computer. This someone else probably does not know that you are installing illegal software on their computer and, more importantly, they may not be alright with you installing illegal software on their computer.
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Isildur
12-07-2005, 09:16 PM
> Second, you're installing on someone else's
> computer. This someone else probably does not know that you
> are installing illegal software on their computer and, more
> importantly, they may not be alright with you installing
> illegal software on their computer.
>

Also, they might encounter problems as a result, like an inability to use Windows Update.
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packardmelan
12-07-2005, 09:28 PM
Imagine going to that "Genuine Windows" page and being told you were using a hacked Windows OS, and your IP was marked, or something.

I guess it WOULD ensure repeat business, for the shop owner.
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soniczip
12-07-2005, 09:39 PM
> Installing it on another computer is an entirely different
> thing.

You're right. The shop owner needs to have his ass kicked.
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RaiBlastoise
12-09-2005, 12:15 AM
I said I THOUGHT there was something sketchy about the installation. Now that I know that 2003 is a decent home OS, I realize it may have been a legitimate installation. And no, I won't narc a computer company for installing a pirated OS my computer. I'll just install one of my own pirated OS's.
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