Shenan said:
If you purchase a computer with a COA for XP, there must also be a
way (if this is a store selling you a valid COA and system to go
with it) to restore the system to the state it was in when you
purchased it (ie: CD or some restoration method..)
You can buy media, sure - but you are really just buying another
copy of Windows XP - you aren't saving anything.
The vendor is selling reconditioned ex-corporate machines, they do not
mention supplying a restore cd. You imply that if the machine does
not come with a restore cd then there is no way to reinstall XP, is
this true.
This depends on what is installed and what you mean by "reinstall".
These are "reconditioned corporate machines", which means very little to me.
Are they Dells, HPs, Compaqs, IBMs? Is the license for Windows XP stuck to
the side of the machine?
If so, what it means is the machine has an OEM license. Most of the time,
if you have another OEM CD, you can use the CD Key on the machine to
reinstall - but not always.
If they were using the Volume License agreement, then they likely bought the
machine with OEM and just used their Volume License agreement to install -
now that they are selling them - they have just cleared their volume license
software off the machine and don't have the CDs that came with them to sell
anymore (or don't feel like organizing it that way.)
The point is that unless you have a CD and a valid CD key that will work
with that CD, then whatever they give you may be worthless.. If you plan on
going out and purchasing an OEM (to save money) copy of Windows XP - then it
does not matter what they sell you in as far as the Operating System goes..
You buy an OEM copy of Windows XP, you can install that single copy of the
OEM software on that one machine and now that single copy of the OEM
software is "tied" to that machine - but you were able to install using its
license. When that machine dies or gets sold, its license goes with it.
If you buy a retail copy of Windows XP, you can install it on one machine,
erase it from that one machine - install it on another.. and keep playing
that game forever if you like.
You can try an OEM CD you have lying around with the CD Key stuck to the
machine. If you are buying more than one of these machines and that OEM CD
you bought works with their CD Key, then you miught be in luck - because
then you only have to buy one OEM CD, but you can use the codes off the side
of each of the machines to reinstall that one CD (but with different CD Keys
and Licenses) onto each PC.. Lucked out!
What I am saying is that if you are purchasing JUST ONE of these machines
and they are not selling you a CD with it, then you are taking your own
chances. They are assuming you know what you are doing and that you have an
OEM copy lying around and that that OEM copy will be able to use the CD Key
stuck on the machine (not always true.) Or you will be buying a copy of
Windows (OEM or RETAIL) of your own and in that case - you won't likely be
using their install license or key.... So their COA they sell with hte
machine means diddley and squat.
