Computer auctions w/OS but no disc legit?

[James]

I keep seeing auctions like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250002878656&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1


Auctions states that the computer comes with some version of WinXP,
sometimes stating has COA, but doesn't actually come with the installation
CD. How is this possible? I thought the COA was specific to each copy of
Windows? Is this a legitimate way to sell an op. sys? I personally always
want the O/S discs.

Also, when someone indicates a system has the "restore disc", is that that
the same thing as the installation disc?

 

[OhNo]

I keep seeing auctions like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250002878656&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1


Auctions states that the computer comes with some version of WinXP,
sometimes stating has COA, but doesn't actually come with the installation
CD. How is this possible? I thought the COA was specific to each copy of
Windows? Is this a legitimate way to sell an op. sys? I personally always
want the O/S discs.

Also, when someone indicates a system has the "restore disc", is that that
the same thing as the installation disc?

Yes all legit but,

1. There should be a Windows holographic sticker on the machine. Ask the
seller, if not then give it a miss.
2. Dell do not provide the Windows CD anymore, you either have to buy it in
the options or take a copy off the hard drive..........this should appear
somewhere under Control Panel.
3. Also with Dell ask for the Service Tag number and then check it out
through the Dell site.

 

[SteveH]

Yes all legit but,

1. There should be a Windows holographic sticker on the machine. Ask the
seller, if not then give it a miss.
2. Dell do not provide the Windows CD anymore, you either have to buy it
in the options or take a copy off the hard drive..........this should
appear somewhere under Control Panel.
3. Also with Dell ask for the Service Tag number and then check it out
through the Dell site.

Or, the even easier option with a Dell - don't bother.

 

[OhNo]

Or, the even easier option with a Dell - don't bother.

or in my case bother and get one of the best machines I've ever
owned...............what model have you owned and why did you not get on
with it.

 

[TVeblen]

I keep seeing auctions like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250002878656&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1


Auctions states that the computer comes with some version of WinXP,
sometimes stating has COA, but doesn't actually come with the installation
CD. How is this possible? I thought the COA was specific to each copy of
Windows? Is this a legitimate way to sell an op. sys? I personally always
want the O/S discs.

Also, when someone indicates a system has the "restore disc", is that that
the same thing as the installation disc?

Major PC builders are licensed by MS to install the OS from a single source
onto many machines. They pay a discounted rate per computer for the OS. A
recovery disk is a copy of the PC builders installation setup on a CD. It is
very far from the same thing as an installation disk. It includes not only
the OS, but everything else that was pre-loaded on the computer when it was
shipped from the factory (Streets 98!). These recovery discs make great beer
coasters. Buy a copy of the OS. Then you will have the disk. And you will be
able to set up and configure your computer the way you want.

 

[Weird Beard]

Major PC builders are licensed by MS to install the OS from a single
source onto many machines. They pay a discounted rate per computer for
the OS. A recovery disk is a copy of the PC builders installation
setup on a CD. It is very far from the same thing as an installation
disk. It includes not only the OS, but everything else that was
pre-loaded on the computer when it was shipped from the factory
(Streets 98!). These recovery discs make great beer coasters. Buy a
copy of the OS. Then you will have the disk. And you will be able to
set up and configure your computer the way you want.

I remember my Packard Bell recovery disk.

It had two options:

Erase hard drive and reinstall everything.
Erase hard drive and reinstall Windows.

 

[blank]

I keep seeing auctions like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250002878656&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1


Auctions states that the computer comes with some version of WinXP,
sometimes stating has COA, but doesn't actually come with the installation
CD. How is this possible? I thought the COA was specific to each copy of
Windows? Is this a legitimate way to sell an op. sys? I personally always
want the O/S discs.

Also, when someone indicates a system has the "restore disc", is that that
the same thing as the installation disc?

Even new computers dont come with a disc anymore. And trying to sell
an OS is almost impossible. Since you have a valid honest copy of the
OS on the disc, download a cracked warez copy and don't worry about
it. You paid your dues.

BTW a "restore" disc is half an operating system and it actually
restores stuff about half the time. But its what they do these days.

 

[~^Johnny^~]

Since you have a valid honest copy of the
OS on the disc, download a cracked warez copy and don't worry about
it. You paid your dues.

Yup.

Perfectly legal, too, if you own a valid license AND are only
installing on the allowe number of machines (usually just one).

Especially, since XP is activated online, anyway.
When it gets illegal is when you use a key generator or a serial
number changer to circumvent authentic activation.

 

[SteveH]

or in my case bother and get one of the best machines I've ever
owned...............what model have you owned and why did you not get on
with it.

Never owned one and wouldn't want to, I always prefer to build my own PC's.
However, I have been given several of them to repair or upgrade for people -
let's say I always seem to get problems that I never get with other PC's.

SteveH

 

[OhNo]

Never owned one and wouldn't want to, I always prefer to build my own
PC's. However, I have been given several of them to repair or upgrade for
people - let's say I always seem to get problems that I never get with
other PC's.

SteveH

so NO other PC break down then..............not even ones you
build............Mike Dell should be shaking in his boots.

 

[Impmon]

Auctions states that the computer comes with some version of WinXP,
sometimes stating has COA, but doesn't actually come with the installation
CD. How is this possible? I thought the COA was specific to each copy of
Windows? Is this a legitimate way to sell an op. sys? I personally always
want the O/S discs.

Probably illegal and Microsoft is a real big nazi about that. If M$
thinks the auction is questionable, they can make eBay yank it.

Also, when someone indicates a system has the "restore disc", is that that
the same thing as the installation disc?

No. Restore disc, at least the legimate ones do contain the OS but
they are generally coded to the specific PC model it comes with so
people can't use them on other PC.

 

[SteveH]

so NO other PC break down then..............not even ones you
build............Mike Dell should be shaking in his boots.

Ok then, customer asks me to put a cd burner in his Dell box. I go out and
buy a Lite-On, which I then test in my PC, needless to say it works fine. I
take said burner to customer and install it in his Dell. In NO configuration
of IDE settings (and I tried the lot!) and cables will the bloody thing
work. I take it out and put it in the customers other PC (not a Dell) and
guess what? Works immediately - go figure.
This is not the first instance I've had of something like this and I'm
hardly the only one in these groups that's experienced it either. Oh and of
course, there's the other old Dell favourite - non standard PSU's (although
they may have fixed that one now).
And as it happens no, my PC's hardly ever break down.
I don't build cheapo PC's and use the best components I can get for the
money the customer wants to pay.

SteveH

 

[OhNo]

Ok then, customer asks me to put a cd burner in his Dell box. I go out and
buy a Lite-On, which I then test in my PC, needless to say it works fine.
I take said burner to customer and install it in his Dell. In NO
configuration of IDE settings (and I tried the lot!) and cables will the
bloody thing work. I take it out and put it in the customers other PC (not
a Dell) and guess what? Works immediately - go figure.
This is not the first instance I've had of something like this and I'm
hardly the only one in these groups that's experienced it either. Oh and
of course, there's the other old Dell favourite - non standard PSU's
(although they may have fixed that one now).
And as it happens no, my PC's hardly ever break down.
I don't build cheapo PC's and use the best components I can get for the
money the customer wants to pay.

SteveH

yaawwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

[vangoogle]

Mate dont get offensive, lots of People use and like Dell pcs.

Then you have the computer repairers who know better and wont touch
them but hay each to their own.....

 

[Ed Medlin]

Probably illegal and Microsoft is a real big nazi about that. If M$
thinks the auction is questionable, they can make eBay yank it.

A lot of the 'big box' companies including Dell, Gateway and HP now have the
OS stored on the HDD in it's own partition instead of supplying a restore
disk unless you pay extra for an OS. My neighbor recently had his HDD fail
on his Dell and had to send it in (out of warranty of course) and the cost
to resore it was about $200 plus shipping. He still has no OS cd.

Ed