FRAUD ALERT! DON'T BECOME
A SOFTWARE PIRACY VICTIM!

It has come to our attention that a system builder advertising in the local newspaper is "hard disk loading" Microsoft software (Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Office97, Office 2000).  

Make sure you receive a CD-ROM and License for EACH software product installed on the computer system at the time of purchase. 

Below are a few paragraphs from the Microsoft Anti-Piracy website.  Please visit this site if you have any additional questions or concerns about software piracy. 

Hard Disk Loading

A common form of piracy affecting the end user is generally referred to as "hard disk loading". Under this practice a system builder will illegally pre-load a copy of the software onto the computer prior to sale. In this case the system builder makes a deliberate decision to load illegal software onto the computers he sells, usually as an incentive for the end user to purchase from him. In most cases, he doesn't even bother supplying any media, license agreement, a manual or documentation. Hard disk loading is particularly prevalent in less developed markets where there is no end user expectation of such "extras", or indeed a full understanding of software being a separate concept to hardware.

Why You Should Care

Software Piracy represents a major threat to system builders and their customers worldwide. For honest system builders it creates an uneven playing field, giving unscrupulous competitors an unfair advantage in the marketplace. In addition to this, piracy is a crime and the legal implications for offenders are severe. System builders who engage in piracy risk heavy fines, business closure and a ruined reputation.