so if to install software, you have to enter S/N then it is not a bootleg?

Question

to install a legal software a S/N is required to make it work. so if it was a bootleg it would not have this requirement, is that right?

Answer 1

Most copied software keeps all of the protections, etc. that the other software had. The only thing that may be different is any copy protection would have been broken and may not exist in the new copy of the software. Everything else, including any prompts for serial numbers or requiring that the CD be installed will likely still be in place. Some software is even smart enough to know that you have a burned copy of the game and won't work without an original copy of the software in the CD drive.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. This has been a big issue with Microsoft. Just for example, Dell computers installs Windows XP on all of it's products. They pay Microsoft for a Volume License Key and this one key is used to activate and make legal every XP that leaves the factory. Let's say I find out what the key is. I can use it to install my personal and legal copy of XP on all my friends and relatives computers and those computers will pass the Microsoft validation checks.

One day Microsoft realizes that the key assigned to Dell is showing up on other computers besides Dell. Or maybe Dell reports that the key was stolen or leaked. Microsoft will now block the key so it can no longer be used, and all those computers that used to pass the validation scan will no longer be able to. Even computers that were legally purchased before the Volume License Key was stolen will no longer pass the validation scan because Microsoft doesn't know which computers are legal and which are running bootleg copies of XP.

That's why legal owners have to go back to the place of purchase with proof of ownership so their copy of XP can be made legal again with a new key.

Hope this answers your question.