Purchasing XP Pro second hand

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rod S
  • Start date Start date
R

Rod S

I am considering buying XP Pro from a guy who says he
purchased it a few weeks back but never installed it as
he decided to go with Linux.
The CD & all look original but is there any way I can
check that the product key has not been previously
registered?
I'm not prepared to take the guys word for it.
 
Check if its an OEM license or not.

Well, if he is legit he will let you check the product key with MS if its
been previously activated.

Yes you raise a valid concern with Product Activation, Nobody buys 2nd hand
games anymore for this reason, you need accounts to sign in more and more
and theyve been registered.
 
OK thanks for the advice.
How can I go about checking the product key with MS?
Should I ring them here in Australia or can it be checked
online?
 
Rod.S. said:
OK thanks for the advice.
How can I go about checking the product key with MS?
Should I ring them here in Australia or can it be checked
online?
Click to expand...

There is no way to check the product key with MS to see if it is already
activated. Is the seal on the box broken? If not then you can feel
relatively comfortable that the product has not been installed. Otherwise
you are simply going to have to take the guys word for it.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.
 
Try to activate it, if it failes, go around to his house at 3am with a
nailed baseball bat and give him a hammering, give him a 6pack (ankles ,
elbows and knees) and then drag his name through every mud puddle
imagineable online by using his identity.

Works wonders.
 
Iffy suggestion:

If it doesn't activate he will be offered a number to phone. If he frames
his words well - new NIC and new video card - now Windows wants
activation - Microsoft will gives him a new activation number so all is well
... if MS doesn't THEN go round with the baseball bat. Well don't do that, 15
years in prison isn't worth it over being scammed a copy of XP, but you
know what I mean.

What I do:

Personally, I just go out and get *new* copies [when I can afford them]. The
upgrade ed. can do a clean full install. All's you need is a Win98 CD-ROM
disc hand for 'verification'.

General Advice about software and money:

Just remember to be fair in your dealings, don't steal or stiff, the
software writers rightfully deserve some money from you for their work.

Stephen

--

Drop 123 to email me.


| Try to activate it, if it failes, go around to his house at 3am with a
| nailed baseball bat and give him a hammering, give him a 6pack (ankles ,
| elbows and knees) and then drag his name through every mud puddle
| imagineable online by using his identity.
|
| Works wonders.
|
| --
|
| Duncan McNutt
| Microsoft Product Deactivation Team
| --
|
|
| | > Rod.S. wrote:
| > > OK thanks for the advice.
| > > How can I go about checking the product key with MS?
| > > Should I ring them here in Australia or can it be checked
| > > online?
| >
| > There is no way to check the product key with MS to see if it is already
| > activated. Is the seal on the box broken? If not then you can feel
| > relatively comfortable that the product has not been installed.
Otherwise
| > you are simply going to have to take the guys word for it.
| > --
| > Tom Porterfield
| > MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
| > http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support
| >
| > Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.
| >
| >
|
|
 
Rod said:
I am considering buying XP Pro from a guy who says he
purchased it a few weeks back but never installed it as
he decided to go with Linux.
The CD & all look original but is there any way I can
check that the product key has not been previously
registered?
I'm not prepared to take the guys word for it.
Click to expand...

The only way is to install and then see if the activation is accepted.
If it says it has already been used, *and* it is a regular Retail CD
(not an OEM one marked 'for sale only with a new machine') you can
then activate anyway by calling in to the toll free number that will be
given, to explain it has been removed from the previous machine and swap
one long number for another. A minor hassle. But make sure it *is* a
retail copy.
 
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