preloaded software

[sbb155]

I may buy an imac that has preloaded final cut, etc. It is a used machine. The original owner doesnt have the dvds of the original software. Is there any way to burn the software onto DVDs in case the mac's hard drive crashes? I want to make sure I can reinstall before I buy.

 

[yg17]

If he doesn't have the DVDs, chances are, its pirated software.

 

[WildCowboy]

It may not be pirated software. He may very well have the discs and is just telling you that he doesn't have them because he wants to keep them and use them for himself on another computer. That would put you in violation of the software license if you continue to use the software on the computer. Or it could be pirated software.

 

[sbb155]

it actaually isnt pirated. He just moved, and he even has the boxes for the software, just not any of the disks (including the os disk!) Lost them moving.

 

[CanadaRAM]

It may not be pirated software. He may very well have the discs and is just telling you that he doesn't have them because he wants to keep them and use them for himself on another computer.

That would make the software that the seller left on the hard drive pirated the moment the machine changed ownership; its the seller who is the pirate in either case.

The sale of software is generally only legal if the serial number and original media are transferred, and a transfer of license is made, giving you the ownership of the license, and revoking the seller's rights and interest in the software (including, he deletes all copies and doesn't keep those CDs he 'lost'.) Some companies require that you register a signed transfer of license form with them. A couple of companies charge a fee for transferring license.
That said, some software (notably any Microsoft or Adobe Educational or Academic version, and any software acquired under a site or volume license) that cannot be sold, transferred or given to another person under any circumstances.

To the OP: Consider this: If the seller is prepared to cheat by copying software in order to enhance the saleability of their hardware, what's stopping them from lying to you about the machine to get you to buy it? You already established that they are a cheat...

Of course you can make a backup of the hard drive. However, you won't have the software installers, and many software packages require either reinstallation, or reauthorization with the serial number and/or original CD if they are copied from one drive to another.