Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify whether
or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it has not
been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc? If this is possible, on
the web or on the phone to MS any details you have would be
appreciated.
Thanx in advance.

Cookie wrote:

> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify
> whether or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it
> has not been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc?


I don't know any way to do this.

Has this copy previously been installed? If so, be aware that the OEM
license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on, and it
can never legitimately be moved to another.

Also be aware that if it's an OEM copy that came with a brand-name OEM
computer, it may be BIOS-locked to that computer and physically may not
install on any other.

All in all, buying an OEM copy from an individual like this is very risky,
and I personally wouldn't do it.

Besides, I think that OEM copies are generally poor deals because of the
restrictions they come with (even if it never has been installed on another
computer, you would never be able to move it to a different computer if your
computer died). Retail Upgrade copies usually cost only slightly more than
OEM copies, and are well worth that small additional cost, as far as I'm
concerned. And if you don't realize it, Upgrade copies *can* do clean
installations, as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying version to
insert as proof of ownership when the installation prompts you to.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Cookie wrote:
> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify whether
> or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it has not
> been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc? If this is possible, on
> the web or on the phone to MS any details you have would be
> appreciated.
> Thanx in advance.
>


Is he also selling you the computer on which that OEM license was
initially installed and to which it is permanently bound? If not, it's
not likely to be a legitimate sale.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

And is he an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offering you a computer
with XP installed? If not, it probably is not legitimate.

"Cookie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify whether
> or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it has not
> been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc? If this is possible, on
> the web or on the phone to MS any details you have would be
> appreciated.
> Thanx in advance.
>

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> Cookie wrote:
>
>> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
>> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify
>> whether or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it
>> has not been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc?
>
>
> I don't know any way to do this.
>
> Has this copy previously been installed? If so, be aware that the OEM
> license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on, and it
> can never legitimately be moved to another.
>
> Also be aware that if it's an OEM copy that came with a brand-name OEM
> computer, it may be BIOS-locked to that computer and physically may not
> install on any other.
>
> All in all, buying an OEM copy from an individual like this is very risky,
> and I personally wouldn't do it.
>
> Besides, I think that OEM copies are generally poor deals because of the
> restrictions they come with (even if it never has been installed on another
> computer, you would never be able to move it to a different computer if your
> computer died).

You could, however, replace the part or parts that died.

Alias

Jone Doe wrote:
> And is he an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offering you a computer
> with XP installed? If not, it probably is not legitimate.

Are you saying that stores like NewEgg that sell generic OEM versions of
XP are not legitimate because they don't sell any hardware, much less a
computer, with their XP CDs?

Alias
>
> "Cookie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
>> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify whether
>> or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it has not
>> been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc? If this is possible, on
>> the web or on the phone to MS any details you have would be
>> appreciated.
>> Thanx in advance.
>>
>
>

Alias wrote:
> Jone Doe wrote:
>> And is he an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offering you a
>> computer with XP installed? If not, it probably is not legitimate.
>
> Are you saying that stores like NewEgg that sell generic OEM versions of
> XP are not legitimate because they don't sell any hardware, much less a
> computer, with their XP CDs?
>
> Alias

Stores like newegg work with that restriction. They require you to
purchase some sort of hardware along with the cd to satisfy the
requirement. Typically they will have you purchase some sort of
inexpensive item <$5 and actually bundle it in so it won't cost you
anything.

P.S. - I pretty much buy everything there anymore. I even bought my
digital camera there. Got a really good deal. Canon SD600 for $207
shipped... but that wasn't the topic.

Alias wrote:
> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>> Cookie wrote:
>>
>>> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
>>> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify
>>> whether or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it
>>> has not been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc?
>>
>>
>> I don't know any way to do this.
>>
>> Has this copy previously been installed? If so, be aware that the OEM
>> license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on,
>> and it can never legitimately be moved to another.
>>
>> Also be aware that if it's an OEM copy that came with a brand-name OEM
>> computer, it may be BIOS-locked to that computer and physically may
>> not install on any other.
>>
>> All in all, buying an OEM copy from an individual like this is very
>> risky, and I personally wouldn't do it.
>>
>> Besides, I think that OEM copies are generally poor deals because of
>> the restrictions they come with (even if it never has been installed
>> on another computer, you would never be able to move it to a different
>> computer if your computer died).
>
> You could, however, replace the part or parts that died.
>
> Alias

Also the part about upgrading will change come Vista. With Vista you
will need to have a validated copy of the OS you are upgrading from
already installed so we should really compare Apples to Apples vs Apples
to Oranges here (OEM vs Retail Full rather than OEM vs Retail Upgrade).

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. Designed to be pre-installed on
a computer. License is non-transferrable except in the event that the
motherboard requires replacement. Can only do a clean installation and
does not require a previous os. Typically costs about half of the price
of the Retail Full copy so tends to be a feasible alternative.

Retail Full = A regular off the shelf product. Can do both and upgrade
and clean install. Can be installed on one machine at a time. This
license is transferable between machines as long as it is removed from
the other machine. You end up paying the full expense here. $199 for
Home; $299 for Pro

Retail Upgrade = A regular off the shelf product. Can only do upgrades.
Clean installs are possible when presented with a cd for the version
you are upgrading from (XP and older only) Can be installed on one
machine at a time. This license is transferable between machines
however the license that you were upgrading from should be as well.
With XP and prior versions it was sufficient to present the CD to the
installer to have it continue with a clean install. Vista will require
the OS that you are upgrading from to be already installed on the
machine before doing so. Certain scenarios will however require a clean
install anyways so one is possible on Vista as long as the OS is
installed already. When upgrading from XP the copy must be activated
and validated.

Cookie wrote:
> Someone (who is a stranger to me) is offering an OEM version of XP for
> sale. If I get the serial number is there any way I can verify whether
> or not this is a legitimate version and also be sure that it has not
> been stolen or lost en route in the mail etc? If this is possible, on
> the web or on the phone to MS any details you have would be
> appreciated.
> Thanx in advance.
>

I would never purchase ANY software on eBay unless it didn't require
activation. Even then I would be very wary of who I am purchasing it from.

Robert Pendell wrote:
> Alias wrote:
>> Jone Doe wrote:
>>> And is he an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offering you a
>>> computer with XP installed? If not, it probably is not legitimate.
>> Are you saying that stores like NewEgg that sell generic OEM versions of
>> XP are not legitimate because they don't sell any hardware, much less a
>> computer, with their XP CDs?
>>
>> Alias
>
> Stores like newegg work with that restriction.

Not any more.

> They require you to
> purchase some sort of hardware along with the cd to satisfy the
> requirement.

Not any more.

Typically they will have you purchase some sort of
> inexpensive item <$5 and actually bundle it in so it won't cost you
> anything.

Not any more.

> P.S. - I pretty much buy everything there anymore. I even bought my
> digital camera there. Got a really good deal. Canon SD600 for $207
> shipped... but that wasn't the topic.

I just bought a copy of a generic OEM XP Pro from NewEgg and it shipped
with no hardware or anything else for that matter. I had it shipped to a
friend in the States who mailed it to me.

I bought two generic OEM XPs in Spain back in 03 without any hardware as
that has never been a requirement in Spain. In fact no store sells
Retail XP, be it Home, Pro or Media Center. The only thing I have seen
is a Retail Upgrade Home at almost $USD300.

Alias