ASUS Notebooks Shipped with Illegal Software Cracks

As most notebook users know, some models are offered with pre-installed operating systems and a bunch of software applications that most don't even require. It is generally believed that these pre-installed applications are original copies, which a user is entitled to use upon purchasing the notebook.

However, it looks like that is not the case for one of ASUS' portable computer systems, which some users report as containing a copy of Microsoft's Windows Vista in addition to an illegal crack and a number of files that have nothing to do with the notebook itself.

 

A user on apc forum reports that he has recently bought an ASUS notebook that came with an ASUS Vista DVD. It appears that this DVD contained an illegal keygen.exe for Winrar. In addition, the same user reports that the DVD in question also has confidential and private Vista documentation. Furthermore, after the first notebook owner posted his issue with the ASUS F3JC device, others have also noticed that same files on their notebooks and provided DVD, which goes to confirm that this isn't an isolated case.

 

Moreover, according to PC Pro magazine, the notebook model in question also contains a directory with a large number of confidential Microsoft documents for PC manufacturers, including associated keys and program files, and various internal ASUS documents and source code for ASUS software. It appears that one of the above mentioned ASUS documents includes a presentation that details 'major problems' and application compatibility issues, identified by the company.

 

The user who has initially reported the problem, says that he has contacted ASUS in relation to his discovery, but that the company has refused to replace his notebook, on several occasions. Also, PC Pro contacted an ASUS spokesman who apologized to the customers and said that the company would investigate on the matter "at quite a high level."