Purchase questions

[NRGeti]

One of my friends needs to upgrade from Windows 98 because of continuing
problems with it. Would it be better to buy a complete Windows XP package or
the upgrade version? Also I notice on Amazon that used copies are for sale.
Are these copies legal?

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Retail upgrade version can do a full install. All that is needed is the
original Windows 98 CD (not a Recovery CD).

Also, people had posted, here, that a Retail full version can do an upgrade
install (????).


As for the used copies, they are legal only if they are Retail copies and
the Certification of Authenticity (COA) is an original. The software must
be un-installed from the original purchaser's PCs. I, myself, would not be
comfortable with the used software since the COA may be used in the pirated
versions of XP.

Y.

 

[Willit]

Up-grade is fine. Sure they are legal. There Key brokers
everywhere.

 

[Edward]

Used copies of XP are not legal. I'm amazed you can find them at Amazon!

Anyway, you need only buy the upgrade to get a full installation. I
recommend a clean installation. This means, XP will format your hard drive,
so if you go down this route, you will want to backup everything so you can
reinstall it later. Iff all this frightens you, then by all means, carry out
a normal upgrade.

However, I strongly urge you to uninstall all peripherals - printer, scanner
etc - and visit the programmes' manufacturers websites to download XP
compatible drivers. Put these drivers into a safe folder for installation
later.

After installation, you can replace everything and update all your drivers.
I have done this, and although a pain in the proverbial, it works and very
few problems come about.

Good luck,

Ed

 

[rifleman]

Used copies of XP are not legal. I'm amazed you can find them at Amazon!

yes they are, if they are retail copies and have been completely removed
from the original PC.

 

[Edward]

Thanks for straightening me out. I did not know there was an exception.

Ed

 

[Gary Tait]

Up-grade is fine. Sure they are legal. There Key brokers
everywhere.

Surely key brokers are illegal.

 

[NRGeti]

But how can I prove that someone has wiped their machines completely?

 

[VManes]

Have them ship the machine to you for verification (with return postage
included) <g>

It's a matter of trust - can you believe the seller? If you have the CD and
the COA, then he's the one using an unlicensed copy, not you.

Val

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"NRGeti" <> wrote in message
But how can I prove that someone has wiped their machines completely?

 

[Alex Nichol]

One of my friends needs to upgrade from Windows 98 because of continuing
problems with it. Would it be better to buy a complete Windows XP package or
the upgrade version?

Get an upgrade one - it is capable of doing a clean install too, though
I would do an upgrade in the first instance. As the whole system will
in effect be replaced it is unlikely that problems in Windows will come
over - and ones in hardware will still cause trouble. Read Gary
Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm

Also I notice on Amazon that used copies are for sale.
Are these copies legal?

They may be - I would hope Amazon would vet them to ensure that they are
legitimate retail copies that may be transferred. But as with anything
bought second-hand and unseen, let the buyer beware

 

[Alex Nichol]

Used copies of XP are not legal. I'm amazed you can find them at Amazon!

It is entirely legal to transfer on a *retail* copy of XP., provided it
has been removed from the original machine and is supplied with CD, Cert
of Authenticity, and Product Key.