How can I take a program that I use @ my school and use it @ home w/out having to buy it?

Question

I heard that you could copy the program files, is this true?

Answer 1

You can't because you'd need to installation fileset (ie the install CD)

Also it's ILLEGAL

Answer 2

You must first see if the product is licensed for you to do that, otherwise it is illegal. Your schools system administrator should be able to help, as long as the software has a compatible license.

** Edit **
Not all software is illegal to copy. It all depends on the license. Yes, most software you would find on a school computer is licensed to a single system, but you might find some that permits installation by a second user or maybe it is covered under a site license or some special arrangement by the school system.

For most MS Windows based applications you will need the installation CD (or a fairly good understanding of the application to know the registry entries and shared DLL locations). There are some though that are just a copy to a folder and manually setup some environment variables. These are generally applications that have a history of running on UNIX/Linux systems.

Answer 3

The only way is to get the install CD. When software installs, it doesn't just copy files to one directory. It makes changes to system files and the registry. Check with the campus computer lab and see if your school offers a discount on the software or has it for free.

Answer 4

ask for the installation and the key else go to program files and copy the whole folder where its installed copy it over on your pc works for mst programs other than some of those which require licences and have new file extensions or registry details

Answer 5

Can't. You will need a product key to install. Inasmuch as the program was already installed at school and the product key given, the key was mixed with information about the school's system and an "installation ID" was composed. When you try to install at home, the information will not match.

Answer 6

you could clone the whole system.....but generally stealing software from school is frowned upon...

if the software is simple enough, yes you may be able to copy the whole folder from the program files.....but this may or may not work depending on the complexity of the install.....

Answer 7

this is illegal but if you listen to the guys above you arent really committing much more of a crime than if you were to steal the harddrive out of the schools computer which would not be right because while it will work you are depriving the other students of the program and the schools computer wouldnt work unless you put a harddrive with operating system in to replace the one you stole of course if it was a blank harddrive the system administrator could have it running quickly but it is illegal and you wouldnt want to commit a crime WOULD YOU?

Answer 8

You can't do that. It's illegal. Keep in mind, though, that most software programs give big discounts if you can prove that you are a student.