Genuine Software

[Carla V.]

I have been looking at the MS piracy site, as well as many others, but can't
find any definitive test to determine if a piece of MS software is genuine.
I have read about the new edge to edge hologram and other anti-piracy
measures MS has taken.

Our very small company is close to buying between one and two thousand
dollars worth of MS software (this is new to us) and we don't want to get
burned. The only protection anyone here can think of is to buy it with a
credit card so at least we have a record and 30 days (I think) to verify it
or have the charge reversed back to the seller. Obviously, we are trying to
pay the lowest price possible and deals appear to be available. I know all
the caveat emptors but just can't arm myself with enough information for
protection.

I couldn't even find a telephone # to contact MS about piracy. We are in no
hurry, won't buy anything until we can be sure and don't want to have go
through the steps of a return if we can avoid it. Thanks for any help!

 

[Galen]

In Carla V. <carlav2865(***)@aol.com> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I have been looking at the MS piracy site, as well as many others,
but can't find any definitive test to determine if a piece of MS
software is genuine. I have read about the new edge to edge hologram
and other anti-piracy measures MS has taken.

Our very small company is close to buying between one and two thousand
dollars worth of MS software (this is new to us) and we don't want to
get burned. The only protection anyone here can think of is to buy it
with a credit card so at least we have a record and 30 days (I think)
to verify it or have the charge reversed back to the seller.
Obviously, we are trying to pay the lowest price possible and deals
appear to be available. I know all the caveat emptors but just can't
arm myself with enough information for protection.

I couldn't even find a telephone # to contact MS about piracy. We are
in no hurry, won't buy anything until we can be sure and don't want
to have go through the steps of a return if we can avoid it. Thanks
for any help!

Contact information here:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.asp

Beyond that, buy from reputable dealers. If you're in a large enough area
try that, that way you have local resources to rely on in case you get
burned.

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Carla V.]

Galen, thanks but I have seen that. What if the software has a perfect
hologram and therefore looks to be authentic. (Art and jewelry has been
counterfeitted this way.)

Is there a way to buy, pay for it and know that it is legitimate without
having to send it to MS to look at it?

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I repeat Galen's sage advice:

Buy from a reputable source.

If you are paying bargain-basement prices for software or if the deal looks
like it's "too good to be true" - then it almost surely is. If the software
is touted as "OEM" software and you're not buying it as part of a PC bundle
or other hardware purchase you're probably getting gray-market software and
won't get any support from Microsoft even if it is legitimate since an OEM
vendor must support the software they sell.

But if you buy from a known, reputable source, you will have none of these
worries.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Carla V.]

Well OK then. If it is OEM but has the hologram would it be legitimate? I
have made note of "won't get any support from Microsoft ".

I repeat Galen's sage advice:

Buy from a reputable source.

If you are paying bargain-basement prices for software or if the deal
looks like it's "too good to be true" - then it almost surely is. If the
software is touted as "OEM" software and you're not buying it as part of a
PC bundle or other hardware purchase you're probably getting gray-market
software and won't get any support from Microsoft even if it is legitimate
since an OEM vendor must support the software they sell.

But if you buy from a known, reputable source, you will have none of these
worries.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Galen, thanks but I have seen that. What if the software has a perfect
hologram and therefore looks to be authentic. (Art and jewelry has been
counterfeitted this way.)

Is there a way to buy, pay for it and know that it is legitimate without
having to send it to MS to look at it?

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I can't guarantee that any OEM software you buy will be legitimate whether
or not it has the hologram. OEM software can be counterfeit as well as
retail. But OEM software is not supposed to be sold as-is, it must come
with a qualifying hardware purchase. If you're being sold OEM software
without a hardware purchase this is known as "gray-market" software -
legitimate software it may be but the ethics of the people selling it to you
should be seriously questioned since they know they're doing it "wrong".

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Chuck]

I repeat Galen's sage advice:

Buy from a reputable source.

If you are paying bargain-basement prices for software or if the deal
looks like it's "too good to be true" - then it almost surely is. If the
software is touted as "OEM" software and you're not buying it as part of a
PC bundle or other hardware purchase you're probably getting gray-market
software and won't get any support from Microsoft even if it is legitimate
since an OEM vendor must support the software they sell.

But if you buy from a known, reputable source, you will have none of these
worries.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Galen, thanks but I have seen that. What if the software has a perfect
hologram and therefore looks to be authentic. (Art and jewelry has been
counterfeitted this way.)

Is there a way to buy, pay for it and know that it is legitimate without
having to send it to MS to look at it?
In Carla V. <carlav2865(***)@aol.com> had this to say:

I have been looking at the MS piracy site, as well as many others,
but can't find any definitive test to determine if a piece of MS
software is genuine. I have read about the new edge to edge hologram
and other anti-piracy measures MS has taken.

Our very small company is close to buying between one and two thousand
dollars worth of MS software (this is new to us) and we don't want to
get burned. The only protection anyone here can think of is to buy it
with a credit card so at least we have a record and 30 days (I think)
to verify it or have the charge reversed back to the seller.
Obviously, we are trying to pay the lowest price possible and deals
appear to be available. I know all the caveat emptors but just can't
arm myself with enough information for protection.

I couldn't even find a telephone # to contact MS about piracy. We are
in no hurry, won't buy anything until we can be sure and don't want
to have go through the steps of a return if we can avoid it. Thanks
for any help!

Contact information here:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/reporting/default.asp

Beyond that, buy from reputable dealers. If you're in a large enough
area try that, that way you have local resources to rely on in case you
get burned.

Galen

Well OK then. If it is OEM but has the hologram would it be legitimate? I
have made note of "won't get any support from Microsoft ".

Carla,

In addition to what Richard says about the OEM issue, remember that the economy
is in the toilet (no I know everybody knows that). The bad guys can hire
technicians who know how to manufacture holograms, and equipment to do that.
There's big money in crime, and no lack of bad guys.

 

[Carla V.]

Richard,

My dilemma is that I want ONLY legitimate, genuine software. However when
shopping for it from all the sources availble to me I want a reasonable
price too. If I buy with a credit card and have a way to determine the
software is not genuine I can return it (I'm sure with a fair amount of
effort on my part). That is why I asked if there was a definitive test I
could apply to the disc's when received. As long as the software is genuine
MS will support it for a fee.

I can't guarantee that any OEM software you buy will be legitimate whether
or not it has the hologram. OEM software can be counterfeit as well as
retail. But OEM software is not supposed to be sold as-is, it must come
with a qualifying hardware purchase. If you're being sold OEM software
without a hardware purchase this is known as "gray-market" software -
legitimate software it may be but the ethics of the people selling it to
you should be seriously questioned since they know they're doing it
"wrong".

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Well OK then. If it is OEM but has the hologram would it be legitimate? I
have made note of "won't get any support from Microsoft ".

 

[Richard G. Harper]

The only definitive test is to submit it to Microsoft for analysis. There
is nothing you or I can do to guarantee that it's legitimate.

And no, if the software is OEM, you will not get support from Microsoft, fee
or no fee. They will refer you to the OEM who sold it to you for support.
That's the contract between Microsoft and legitimate OEM providers. I can't
say what would happen if you buy gray-market because I won't. You'd
probably have to purchase legitimately-licensed software to get support -
and there went your savings.

The questions you're asking make it reasonably clear that you're not sure
you're using a reputable source - SO DON'T. Period. Spend the extra bucks
per copy and be sure.

<EOM>

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Carla V.]

Thank you Richard. I wasn't sure about the legitimancy or the support. I had
to keep asking because like everyone else I like a bargain...if it is a
bargain! I will find to lowest cost reputable source I can and buy it there.
Thanks again.

The only definitive test is to submit it to Microsoft for analysis. There
is nothing you or I can do to guarantee that it's legitimate.

And no, if the software is OEM, you will not get support from Microsoft,
fee or no fee. They will refer you to the OEM who sold it to you for
support. That's the contract between Microsoft and legitimate OEM
providers. I can't say what would happen if you buy gray-market because I
won't. You'd probably have to purchase legitimately-licensed software to
get support - and there went your savings.

The questions you're asking make it reasonably clear that you're not sure
you're using a reputable source - SO DON'T. Period. Spend the extra
bucks per copy and be sure.

<EOM>

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Richard,

My dilemma is that I want ONLY legitimate, genuine software. However when
shopping for it from all the sources availble to me I want a reasonable
price too. If I buy with a credit card and have a way to determine the
software is not genuine I can return it (I'm sure with a fair amount of
effort on my part). That is why I asked if there was a definitive test I
could apply to the disc's when received. As long as the software is
genuine MS will support it for a fee.