Is it safe to buy Win XP Pro from eBay ??

[Phyberlink]

Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just built.
Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to eBay.
I have been looking at Win XP Pro ACTIVITIES on eBay for about a month now,
but I do not have the guts to plunge in, and BID.
I am really confused of all these numbers and I do not have a clue as to how
to decipher these number or what exactly these numbers mean,
Do you really have to work at Microsoft to understand these numbers ?

E86-01011
E85-00289
E85-02665

Some of these numbers are in a box, some are in a folder, some are shown in
a picture just a plastic wrap.
Can someone please advise me as to what to do, or what not to do ? Why are
the boxed ones more expensive?
A box is just a card board, Also all XP Pro, now should be SP 2 right?,
Then why some are SP1 and yet the price remains the same?
What am I missing here? Please help.

I am not an eBay person, and no one knows at work about eBay. I am sorry if
this is not the right place to ask.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Phyberlink

 

[Smoker]

Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just
built.
Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to eBay.
I have been looking at Win XP Pro ACTIVITIES on eBay for about a month
now, but I do not have the guts to plunge in, and BID.
I am really confused of all these numbers and I do not have a clue as to
how to decipher these number or what exactly these numbers mean,
Do you really have to work at Microsoft to understand these numbers ?

E86-01011
E85-00289
E85-02665

Some of these numbers are in a box, some are in a folder, some are shown
in a picture just a plastic wrap.
Can someone please advise me as to what to do, or what not to do ? Why
are the boxed ones more expensive?
A box is just a card board, Also all XP Pro, now should be SP 2 right?,
Then why some are SP1 and yet the price remains the same?
What am I missing here? Please help.

I am not an eBay person, and no one knows at work about eBay. I am sorry
if this is not the right place to ask.

There are many Buy It Now versions being offered. The box is a retail
version and entitles you to some support from Microsoft. The folder as you
call it or just a disk in a paper sleeve is OEM and is the same disk but the
support is different or you may only be entitled to free support from where
you buy it or whatever their terms are which could be no support ast all.

It's more convenient to buy your XP with SP2 already on the disk. Those can
run a bit higher. You can probably download the entire service pack and put
it on your own CD to save some bucks. If you don't think you'll need help
from Microsoft (you can get all the help you need here and elsewhere) buy an
OEM disk because they're cheaper.

Not many of us memorize numbers like you gave so if you provided links to
the pages you see this on it would help us help you. As a guess I'd say the
E86 number is a more recent version if that's what it applies to. Decide
what you want and go for the best price and forget about why someone is
charging the same for the older version as what some else is asking for the
newer SP2 version. Read the seller's feedback rating at the top right of the
page. It should be 100% or very close. If you aren't sure click to read his
feedback comments from other buyers. eBay and PayPal tend to protect the
sellers moreso than the buyer if a dispute should arise.

 

[Bob Harris]

To expand a bit on the previous reply:

The full retail version can be activated many times, and on different
computers, although only one computer at a time. (about $300 for pro in a
computer store)

The OEM version can be activated only one one computer. In this context a
computer is usually defined as the motherboard. Thus, with the OEM version,
if the motherboard dies, or if you choose to replace it as an upgrade, then
you may need to buy a new version of XP. (about $200 for pro in a computer
store, although physical stores rarely sell these, but many on-line stores
do)

Both full-retail and OEM come in upgrade versions, which are about $100
cheaper. The upgrade version requires either that 98, ME, or 2000 be
pre-installed on the PC, or that you have proof of ownership of one of
these. Proof of ownership means a CD that you must insert for the XP
installer to read when requested.

Additionally, there are corporate versions of XP, which are intended to be
installed multiple time on different machines. The license fee is still per
machine, but is handled differently than retail licenses. It is some of
these versions that have "pirated", and when discovered, Microsoft refuses
to accept their license keys for activation. If it seems too cheap to be
true, it might be one of these.

Finally, there are the versions of XP that come pre-installed on major-brand
computers, like Dell and Gateway. If the owner of such a PC was given an XP
CD, it is probably rigged to only install if it senses the right PC, as
determined by the motherboard's BIOS. Such CDs can not be installed on
another PC.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just built.
Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to eBay.
I have been looking at Win XP Pro ACTIVITIES on eBay for about a month now,
but I do not have the guts to plunge in, and BID.
I am really confused of all these numbers and I do not have a clue as to how
to decipher these number or what exactly these numbers mean,
Do you really have to work at Microsoft to understand these numbers ?

E86-01011
E85-00289
E85-02665

Some of these numbers are in a box, some are in a folder, some are shown in
a picture just a plastic wrap.
Can someone please advise me as to what to do, or what not to do ? Why are
the boxed ones more expensive?
A box is just a card board, Also all XP Pro, now should be SP 2 right?,
Then why some are SP1 and yet the price remains the same?
What am I missing here? Please help.

I am not an eBay person, and no one knows at work about eBay. I am sorry if
this is not the right place to ask.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Phyberlink

Getting a legitimate software license of any kind from eBay, or any
other on-line auction site, is something of a crap shoot. One should be
very careful buying any software on such sites, as they make no prior
effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate. The problems stem from
two completely different sources, but have the same results: the buyer
gets ripped off. A great many people don't fully understand the terms of
the license they own, and don't understand that they may not be able to
legitimately resell it, or - worse still - there are a great many
sellers who do know that they're selling bogus licenses, but don't care.
The auction sites react only when someone files a complaint, and then
all that really happens, especially in the case of the many deliberate
fraudsters, is the seller of the pirated software returns using a
different alias, to continue selling illegitimate licenses.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

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

 

[Guest]

You can purchase WindowsXP Pro (OEM) from TigerDirect.com for $139.99
The Home version (OEM) sells for $89.99
TigerDirect is a WebSeller with a nationwide respectible reputation.
Tigerdirect.com

--
XP - WNP
Today is the first day of the
rest of your life.
If you find this response helpful,
rate it below.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just
built. Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to
eBay.

Answered in another newsgroup. Please do not send the same message
separately to more than one newsgroup (called multiposting). Doing so just
fragments the thread, so someone who answers in one newsgroup doesn't get to
see answers from others in another newsgroup. And for those who read all the
newsgroups the message is multiposted to, they see the message multiple
times instead of once (they would see it only once if you correctly
crossposted instead). This wastes everyone's time, and gets you poorer help
than you should get.

If you must send the same message to more than one newsgroup, please do so
by crossposting (but only to a *few* related newsgroups).

Please see "What is the accepted way to share a message across multiple
newsgroups?" at http://smjg.port5.com/faqs/usenet/xpost.html

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

To expand a bit on the previous reply:

Although I agree with most of what you say, I'd like to clarify a couple of
points, below:

The full retail version can be activated many times,

*All* versions can be activated as many times as you need to, whether they
are Retail or OEM, and whether they are Full or Upgrade.

and on different
computers, although only one computer at a time. (about $300 for pro
in a computer store)

The OEM version can be activated only one one computer.

Yes. The license for OEM versions ties them permanently to the first
computer they are installed on.

In this
context a computer is usually defined as the motherboard.

The issue of OEM licenses and what constitutes the same computer is a can of
worms. The EULA doesn't specify what constitutes the same computer, and the
EULA is what you agree to. If I had my druthers, all licenses would be the
same, with the retail rules, and there wouldn't be such a thing as an OEM
license.

There are people here (and elsewhere) who claim that if you change the
motherboard, it's a different computer. Although that certainly sounds
logical, the OEM EULA does *not* say that. Some of these people will point
to a Microsoft site for System Builders (one that can't even be accessed by
the general public) that states that changing the motherboard makes it a
different computer. Again, the EULA, which is what you agree to, does *not*
state that, so as far as I'm concerned, what this site states is irrelevant.

My guess is that if it ever came before a court (which is highly unlikely)
and Microsoft ever pointed to that web site, they'd be laughed out of court.

The real issue in my mind is what happens if you change the motherboard and
have to reactivate an OEM version over the phone. If you talk to a Microsoft
representative and he defends the "motherboard defines the computer" point
of view and won't activate you, you're out of luck unless you want to take
Microsoft to court (which is probably highly unlikely).

My own view is that you might be able to successfully argue in court that,
silly as it may sound, the computer is defined by the case, since that's
where Microsoft requires that the product key sticker be affixed. You could
therefore change everything inside the case, and it would still be the same
computer.

However, don't rely on that last paragraph unless you're willing to go to
court over it. I wouldn't be.

Thus, with
the OEM version, if the motherboard dies, or if you choose to replace
it as an upgrade, then you may

"May" is the correct word. Not necessarily.

need to buy a new version of XP. (about $200 for pro in a computer store,
although physical stores
rarely sell these, but many on-line stores do)

Both full-retail and OEM come in upgrade versions,

No. Retail versions are either Full or Upgrade. OEM version are clean
installations only, and can not do upgrades.

which are about
$100 cheaper. The upgrade version requires either that 98, ME, or
2000 be pre-installed on the PC, or that you have proof of ownership
of one of these.

True with regard to being installed, but regarding having a CD as proof of
ownership, a Windows 95 CD also works.

Proof of ownership means a CD that you must insert
for the XP installer to read when requested.

Additionally, there are corporate versions of XP,

The term "corporate version" is used only for pirated versions of Windows.
There is no such official name. What you are calling a "corporate version"
is properly called a copy sold under a volume license.

which are intended
to be installed multiple time on different machines. The license fee
is still per machine, but is handled differently than retail
licenses. It is some of these versions that have "pirated", and when
discovered, Microsoft refuses to accept their license keys for
activation. If it seems too cheap to be true, it might be one of
these.

Yes!


Finally, there are the versions of XP that come pre-installed on
major-brand computers, like Dell and Gateway. If the owner of such a
PC was given an XP CD, it is probably rigged to only install if it
senses the right PC, as determined by the motherboard's BIOS. Such
CDs can not be installed on another PC.

Yes, many such major brand OEM copies are BIOS-locked to the original
computer they came with.

As I said in an earlier message to Phyberlink, I would personally never risk
buying a copy on eBay.

 

[Stan Brown]

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:28:58 -0500 from Phyberlink

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just built.

Please don't multipost -- it's next door to spamming.

http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost

 

[Phyberlink]

First of all, I apologize for the multipost, I did not even know that those
things exist, but, live and learn.
Secondly, I thank you all for all your responses, for me this is very
educational.
Thirdly, I got burned, Yes, eBay ripped me off. I was so greedy thinking
I was saving a few dollars, and I end up losing $109.00
I should have waited until all of you responded, then I would have been more
careful.
What happened is, I saw one person selling not for "bid" selling a Win XP
PRO New Sealed Package,
And so I thought a new "BOX" and so I purchased it. after 4 days, USPS
delivers a simple envelope.
I open it up and found a Golden Genuine Win XP PRO, sealed in a sleeve, but
a sticker on top of the plastic states:
You will need to contact Microsoft to purchase a ONE USER LICENSE in order
to be able to activate this software before the 30 days trial period ends.
Until now I am shocked as to what the $109.00 covers, just the MEDIA?
I really hate the Internet now, I will never, ever buy anything online, It
is a terrible feeling.
Now I am really in favor for the Internet to be regulated by Washington DC.
All I wanted is a legal retail XP, I will even settle for the Home edition.
eBay will get back to me, but I do not think that I will ever see my money
again.
As far as my new machine. I will borrow RED HAT from a friend and settle for
that.
Thank you all, but I am really upset.

Phyberlink

 

[David Cherry]

First of all, I apologize for the multipost, I did not even know that
those things exist, but, live and learn.
Secondly, I thank you all for all your responses, for me this is very
educational.
Thirdly, I got burned, Yes, eBay ripped me off. I was so greedy
thinking I was saving a few dollars, and I end up losing $109.00
I should have waited until all of you responded, then I would have been
more careful.
What happened is, I saw one person selling not for "bid" selling a Win
XP PRO New Sealed Package,
And so I thought a new "BOX" and so I purchased it. after 4 days, USPS
delivers a simple envelope.
I open it up and found a Golden Genuine Win XP PRO, sealed in a sleeve,
but a sticker on top of the plastic states:
You will need to contact Microsoft to purchase a ONE USER LICENSE in order
to be able to activate this software before the 30 days trial period ends.
Until now I am shocked as to what the $109.00 covers, just the MEDIA?
I really hate the Internet now, I will never, ever buy anything online,
It is a terrible feeling.
Now I am really in favor for the Internet to be regulated by Washington
DC.
All I wanted is a legal retail XP, I will even settle for the Home
edition.
eBay will get back to me, but I do not think that I will ever see my money
again.
As far as my new machine. I will borrow RED HAT from a friend and settle
for that.
Thank you all, but I am really upset.

Phyberlink

What you can do is
1) Leave Negative feeback for the user
2) If you paid by paypal contact them and you may get some money back
3) Contact Ebay and get his account banned

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

First of all, I apologize for the multipost, I did not even know that
those things exist, but, live and learn.
Secondly, I thank you all for all your responses, for me this is very
educational.
Thirdly, I got burned, Yes, eBay ripped me off.

No, eBay did not "rip you off." You didn't buy anything from eBay, you
bought it from a private seller *through* eBay.

If you would take the trouble to read eBay's policy and your user agreement,
at http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/user-agreement.html, you would have
read this paragraph, "We are not involved in the actual transaction between
buyers and sellers. We have no control over and do not guarantee the
quality, safety or legality of items advertised, the truth or accuracy of
listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, the ability of buyers to pay
for items, or that a buyer or seller will actually complete a transaction."

I was so greedy
thinking I was saving a few dollars, and I end up losing $109.00
I should have waited until all of you responded, then I would have
been more careful.

Thank you all, but I am really upset.

I can certainly understand your being upset, but eBay is not to blame.

 

[Phyberlink]

Ken, I do not have any eBay's policy and my user agreement, I simply
created an account to purchase this item.
All of a sudden I am involve with e-Bay? In that case eBay is a TRAP !
I am now wondering as to how many innocent people are falling into this eBay
TRAP.
Ken, I am not implying that you are incorrect either, but what makes eBay
think that an innocent person have the obligation to go through a
contractual reading material.
I am now looking into trying to find this seller and try to resolute it on
my own, if I cannot, then I might escalate at my expense, this is growing
on me and becoming a matter of principle now.
I believe that "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of
the problem"
I certainly do not want to be part of the problem, I do not want to see
others falling into the trap either.
The worse I can do, is do nothing.
Thank you for shedding some light though, now I want to find this agreement
and see what it says.
I just hope there was a WARNING for new buyers on the eBay website, just
like there is warning on a pack of cigarettes.

Phyberlink

 

[Phyberlink]

Thanks David, I will do that.

Phyberlink

What you can do is
1) Leave Negative feeback for the user
2) If you paid by paypal contact them and you may get some money back
3) Contact Ebay and get his account banned

 

[Phyberlink]

I just did all these 3 steps

1) Leave Negative feeback for the user
2) If you paid by paypal contact them and you may get some money back
3) Contact Ebay and get his account banned

Phyberlink

 

[J.G.]

First of I'm sorry about your getting burned on ebay. It is true that one has no guarantee that the person selling a copy of XP online is actually selling a new copy and that it is not activated.

However, now you hate the internet? A little extreme don't you think? Then you continue on by saying that it should be regulated by DC? I know in your mind you think there is some expert there that can magically separate appropriate from inappropriate, but seeing how they're handling the war in Iraq and/or separation of church and state (depending on which way you lean) I think it's fair to say that magic entity that "knows best" doesn't exist. The internet is a reflection of humanity, it has great elements and ugly elements. To regulate it would be to have just one more aspect of freedom removed in the name of a false sense of security that will never materialize. It's a rough world, we all occassionally get scraped up a bit. MOVE ON, the benefits of the internet far outweigh its deteriments.

-J.G.

EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

 

[Gordon]

First of I'm sorry about your getting burned on ebay. It is true that one
has no guarantee that the person selling a copy of XP online is actually
selling a new copy and that it is not activated.

However, now you hate the internet? A little extreme don't you think? Then
you continue on by saying that it should be regulated by DC? I know in
your mind you think there is some expert there that can magically separate
appropriate from inappropriate, but seeing how they're handling the war in
Iraq and/or separation of church and state (depending on which way you
lean) I think it's fair to say that magic entity that "knows best"
doesn't exist. The internet is a reflection of humanity, it has great
elements and ugly elements. To regulate it would be to have just one more
aspect of freedom removed in the name of a false sense of security that
will never materialize. It's a rough world, we all occassionally get
scraped up a bit. MOVE ON, the benefits of the internet far outweigh its
deteriments.

-J.G.

EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com

Who on earth are you talking to?

Please note:
This is NOT a chat room and You are NOT posting to a forum run by
Eggheadcafe - you are actually posting to a global Usenet Newsgroup. You
will get a far better experience if you use a newsreader and subscribe to
these groups directly, rather than through Eggheadcafe.

If you must stay with Egghheadcafe then please follow Usenet custom by
quoting the post you are replying to, and replying to the thread.

Thank you.

 

[Tom Willett]

You do realize that using egghead, your post makes no sense. It doesn't
have the original subject, nor any snippets of the previous post.

<J.G.> wrote in message | First of I'm sorry about your getting burned on ebay. It is true that one
has no guarantee that the person selling a copy of XP online is actually
selling a new copy and that it is not activated.
|
| However, now you hate the internet? A little extreme don't you think? Then
you continue on by saying that it should be regulated by DC? I know in your
mind you think there is some expert there that can magically separate
appropriate from inappropriate, but seeing how they're handling the war in
Iraq and/or separation of church and state (depending on which way you
lean) I think it's fair to say that magic entity that "knows best" doesn't
exist. The internet is a reflection of humanity, it has great elements and
ugly elements. To regulate it would be to have just one more aspect of
freedom removed in the name of a false sense of security that will never
materialize. It's a rough world, we all occassionally get scraped up a bit.
MOVE ON, the benefits of the internet far outweigh its deteriments.
|
| -J.G.
|
| EggHeadCafe.com - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
| http://www.eggheadcafe.com

 

[Gordon]

You do realize that using egghead, your post makes no sense. It doesn't
have the original subject, nor any snippets of the previous post.

we're getting quite a few of these in most of the common MS groups.....