Buying a Laptop off Ebay & WIndows Licensing?

[Edward]

Money is tight these days and I'm buying a laptop off ebay. Its used
but the seller has alot of good feedback along with a warranty.

Once I get the thing, do I have to call up Microsoft and get that copy
of XP put in my name?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Money is tight these days and I'm buying a laptop off ebay. Its
used but the seller has alot of good feedback along with a warranty.

Once I get the thing, do I have to call up Microsoft and get that
copy of XP put in my name?

No...
But you should format and reinstall the OS and any applications from
scratch.

 

[Edward]

No...
But you should format and reinstall the OS and any applications from
scratch.

Yes, I agree.
Its not that I don't trust people, its that I don't trust people.

 

[randommale9999]

But you should format and reinstall the OS and any applications from

scratch.

Jsut curious as to why you should do this. And how would you if it
doesn't come with full CD.

thanks

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[Shenan Stanley]

Money is tight these days and I'm buying a laptop off ebay. Its
used but the seller has alot of good feedback along with a warranty.

Once I get the thing, do I have to call up Microsoft and get that
copy of XP put in my name?

No...
But you should format and reinstall the OS and any applications from
scratch.

Just curious as to why you should do this. And how would you if it
doesn't come with full CD.

Why?

Because you have no idea what was done with/to the computer before you got
it. You could be hooking that thing to the internet and it is spouting off
all your information its collected every time. It could be that computer
was used to ush child pornography and has some left on it. To me - buying
an used laptop/computer and not doing a clean install on it is akin to
buying an used vehicle without getting it checked by a mechanic first. You
don't know what you are getting into and it's not worth the rsik and when
you end up on the 'People's Court' -it's not funny - it's just sad.

As for how if you don't get a CD - you should get a CD and/or a way to
restore it to the 'as originally purchased state' (not as you originally
purchased - as the system itself was originally purchased...) - and if you
don't check for that before you buy - see the first why. heh

The point it - you are buying used. Let the buyer beware holds even more
true than normal - and if you don't cover all your bases - who will?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Jsut curious as to why you should do this.

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.

And how would you if it
doesn't come with full CD.

If you buy a computer that's been sold to you without any means of
reinstalling the operating system, first you don't have a valid
license to use that operating system, and second you are in a very
precarious position, since you never know when you may *have to* do
it.

 

[Edward]

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.


If you buy a computer that's been sold to you without any means of
reinstalling the operating system, first you don't have a valid
license to use that operating system, and second you are in a very
precarious position, since you never know when you may *have to* do
it.

Bingo, and I always reformat about once a year.
The machines I'm bidding on all have CDs and COAs - so even if they
don't have a CD I'll get ahold of one.
I'm an IT guy by trade so I pretty much know what to look for.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

... and I always reformat about once a year.

I don't know if I agree with that. Baby with bathwater...

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I don't know if I agree with that. Baby with bathwater...

I know... it's bad advice if the system is working fine.

I've been running the SAME installation since January of 2002. It's
now on its second machine.

No reformats. No system repairs.

Just good backups and regular maintenance.

 

[PD43]

I've been running the SAME installation since January of 2002. It's
now on its second machine.

No reformats. No system repairs.

OOPS... except for the one I had to do when I pulled the HD outta the
old computer and put it into the new build.

 

[Edward]

I know... it's bad advice if the system is working fine.

I've been running the SAME installation since January of 2002. It's
now on its second machine.

No reformats. No system repairs.

Just good backups and regular maintenance.

You guys misunderstand.
I do alot of crap with my machines, lots of installing and
uninstalling. After a while things start to fall apart.
That and I upgrade my hard drives once a year too; so technically its
not a REformat.
Its a format.