Do non-Microsoft companies (legally) produce DOS5, Win3.1?

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#1723

From: Ernest Y. Chuang
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 08:06

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I just bought a new computer which came with MS-DOS 5.0 and Win 3.1,
but they weren't just preloaded on the hard drive -- they were in
shrink-wrapped boxes complete with manual and floppies.  What confuses
me is that they don't appear to be the genuine Microsoft products.
(I already have the MSDOS 5.0 and Win 3.1 that I bought for my previous
computer.)

Although both boxes say "Microsoft" MSDOS and Windows, there are also
other names on the boxes -- "MTD" on the DOS5 box, and "Electron" on
the Win3.1 box.  The names are prominently displayed and the box
designs are distinctly different from my "real" Microsoft boxes, so
it doesn't seem like they're trying to disguise their origin, but I
wouldn't have thought that Microsoft would license anyone else to
produce their software.

I haven't opened the shrink-wrap, since I was wondering if I could
sell these, so I don't know if the manual or registration card would
tell me anything more about them.  Anyone know if these are legit?

- Ernest Chuang
  echuang@cco.caltech.edu

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From: echuang@cco.caltech.edu (Ernest Y. Chuang)
Subject: Do non-Microsoft companies (legally) produce DOS5, Win3.1?
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Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 08:06:27 GMT
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