Buying "branded" xp pro disk-as supplied with new pc -dodgy?

[tarquinlinbin]

Hello,
i notice on ebay that there are lots of xp pro packages being sold
new sealed and they are branded to various computer manufs such as
dell/compaq etc. This sounds a bit iffy. Presumably these are being
sold to those who have access to them via pc dealerships ?.

Could i buy one of these and install it on my pc/are they usually sold
with a key that i could use to legitemise my current installation?

thanks

eg here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3670197568&category=4619

 

[Jym]

Sure , two illegitimate copy are better than one. Jym

Hello,
i notice on ebay that there are lots of xp pro packages being sold
new sealed and they are branded to various computer manufs such as
dell/compaq etc. This sounds a bit iffy. Presumably these are being
sold to those who have access to them via pc dealerships ?.

Could i buy one of these and install it on my pc/are they usually sold
with a key that i could use to legitemise my current installation?

thanks

eg here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3670197568&category=4619

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Any branded OEM installation CDs that are being sold without a
complete PC are not legitimate. If you waste your money on them, all
you'll have for your troubles will be non-absorbent coasters.

You should report any such sellers, who are software pirates,
plain and simple, to both eBay and Microsoft.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[tarquinlinbin]

Greetings --

Any branded OEM installation CDs that are being sold without a
complete PC are not legitimate. If you waste your money on them, all
you'll have for your troubles will be non-absorbent coasters.

You should report any such sellers, who are software pirates,
plain and simple, to both eBay and Microsoft.


Bruce Chambers

Yes i had thought that this was the case but wasnt sure. It seems like
people are going to buy a CD but will then find they will not have an
install key and therefore the cd is worthless?.

The thing is,where are these cd's sourced from? If they are from
dealers then presumably they are also supplied with a CD key for it
otherwise how could they install it on a new pc?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It's hard to say where or how the seller "acquired" the CDs. It
could be stolen, or it may be just that he/she purchased a Compaq PC
with the OEM license, opted to use a different OS on it, and it trying
to make a little extra money by pulling "a fast one" on some
unsuspecting buyer. After all, that Compaq OEM Recovery CD _won't_
even install on any computer other than the brand and model for which
it was designed, even if the Product Key (which is on a CoA label
affixed to the side of the computer) were included.

On the whole, eBay is a very questionable place to purchase
software. There are a great many people who take advantage of the
system to sell illegitimate software. eBay itself makes virtually no
effort to ensure that only legitimate licenses are advertised and sold
via its servers, unless one files complaints with them. Additionally,
a great many sellers have no clue that what they're selling is a
violation of their EULA.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH