Windows XP Pro on ebay.

[ATK]

I would like to move from W98SE to XP Pro and wondered about the safety of
goiing through ebay.
Here is a current item:

"
MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO WITH SP1
This is a full stand-alone product that will perform a clean install onto an
empty hard-drive. It is NOT an upgrade disk, so you have the added benefit
of never having had to own previous versions of Windows. This version is a
genuine Microsoft product. The CD's come sealed in the original CD wallet
and complete with an unused/unregistered/unique serial number. The pack was
supplied with a HP/COMPAQ computer and is branded as such, but has never
been installed, hence never activated either. I have tested an IDENTICAL
SPARE on other NON-COMPAQ PCs and the software has worked faultlessly. Once
activated using the supplied serial number, full and unlimited support and
updates (including essential services packs, although SP1 is included) are
freely and readily available online direct from Microsoft itself. Please be
clear: This is not a time limited or cut down version, it is the full
product Windows XP PRO retails for around £170 (£259 in PCWorld!), so this
is a genuine opportunity to snap up a bargain. Please note this is the
operating system and not Office XP that includes WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS &
POWERPOINT. In order to comply with E-bays OEM Software policy a piece of
hardware will be shipped with this item "

I have looked at the seller's feedback (and others) and there seems to be no
trouble with previous similar transactions.
Can anyone allay my mind about buying a version stamped for Compaq, Dell
etc.
TIA

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I would never purchase a Windows XP CD that is branded.
If you wish to purchase an OEM CD, then purchase a
"Microsoft OEM Windows XP CD". There is no assurance
a "branded" XP CD will install on "your" computer since
many are BIOS-locked to a very specific computer hardware
configuration. If it should not install on your computer,
you'll be out the money you spent for this "bargain".

This statement, by the seller, is misleading:

"Once activated using the supplied serial number, full and unlimited support and
updates (including essential services packs, although SP1 is included) are
freely and readily available online direct from Microsoft itself".

Microsoft does not provide any "human" support for any OEM version of Windows XP.
Only "retail versions" of Windows XP entitles one to Microsoft technical support,
and even that support is not "unlimited". What the seller is saying is you'll have
to do your own "online" troubleshooting if you run into a difficult problem since you
cannot call Microsoft for help if you installed an OEM version.

Now, would you place trust your faith (and money) in someone who has already mislead you?

Did you get what you paid for?
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/windows/default.aspx?lang=ww

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I would like to move from W98SE to XP Pro and wondered about the safety of
| goiing through ebay.
| Here is a current item:
|
| "
| MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO WITH SP1
| This is a full stand-alone product that will perform a clean install onto an
| empty hard-drive. It is NOT an upgrade disk, so you have the added benefit
| of never having had to own previous versions of Windows. This version is a
| genuine Microsoft product. The CD's come sealed in the original CD wallet
| and complete with an unused/unregistered/unique serial number. The pack was
| supplied with a HP/COMPAQ computer and is branded as such, but has never
| been installed, hence never activated either. I have tested an IDENTICAL
| SPARE on other NON-COMPAQ PCs and the software has worked faultlessly. Once
| activated using the supplied serial number, full and unlimited support and
| updates (including essential services packs, although SP1 is included) are
| freely and readily available online direct from Microsoft itself. Please be
| clear: This is not a time limited or cut down version, it is the full
| product Windows XP PRO retails for around £170 (£259 in PCWorld!), so this
| is a genuine opportunity to snap up a bargain. Please note this is the
| operating system and not Office XP that includes WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS &
| POWERPOINT. In order to comply with E-bays OEM Software policy a piece of
| hardware will be shipped with this item "
|
| I have looked at the seller's feedback (and others) and there seems to be no
| trouble with previous similar transactions.
| Can anyone allay my mind about buying a version stamped for Compaq, Dell
| etc.
| TIA

 

[Scott M.]

I agree 100%.

I would never purchase a Windows XP CD that is branded.
If you wish to purchase an OEM CD, then purchase a
"Microsoft OEM Windows XP CD". There is no assurance
a "branded" XP CD will install on "your" computer since
many are BIOS-locked to a very specific computer hardware
configuration. If it should not install on your computer,
you'll be out the money you spent for this "bargain".

This statement, by the seller, is misleading:

"Once activated using the supplied serial number, full and unlimited support and
updates (including essential services packs, although SP1 is included) are
freely and readily available online direct from Microsoft itself".

Microsoft does not provide any "human" support for any OEM version of Windows XP.
Only "retail versions" of Windows XP entitles one to Microsoft technical support,
and even that support is not "unlimited". What the seller is saying is you'll have
to do your own "online" troubleshooting if you run into a difficult problem since you
cannot call Microsoft for help if you installed an OEM version.

Now, would you place trust your faith (and money) in someone who has already mislead you?

Did you get what you paid for?
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/windows/default.aspx?lang=ww

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------


| I would like to move from W98SE to XP Pro and wondered about the safety of
| goiing through ebay.
| Here is a current item:
|
| "
| MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO WITH SP1
| This is a full stand-alone product that will perform a clean install onto an
| empty hard-drive. It is NOT an upgrade disk, so you have the added benefit
| of never having had to own previous versions of Windows. This version is a
| genuine Microsoft product. The CD's come sealed in the original CD wallet
| and complete with an unused/unregistered/unique serial number. The pack was
| supplied with a HP/COMPAQ computer and is branded as such, but has never
| been installed, hence never activated either. I have tested an IDENTICAL
| SPARE on other NON-COMPAQ PCs and the software has worked faultlessly. Once
| activated using the supplied serial number, full and unlimited support and
| updates (including essential services packs, although SP1 is included) are
| freely and readily available online direct from Microsoft itself. Please be
| clear: This is not a time limited or cut down version, it is the full
| product Windows XP PRO retails for around £170 (£259 in PCWorld!), so this
| is a genuine opportunity to snap up a bargain. Please note this is the
| operating system and not Office XP that includes WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS &
| POWERPOINT. In order to comply with E-bays OEM Software policy a piece of
| hardware will be shipped with this item "
|
| I have looked at the seller's feedback (and others) and there seems to be no
| trouble with previous similar transactions.
| Can anyone allay my mind about buying a version stamped for Compaq, Dell
| etc.
| TIA

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The description tells you quite clearly that the CD is an HP OEM
CD. It therefore will _not_ install on any other PCs, and the seller
is actually selling pirated software. You should report this sale to
eBay and to Microsoft.

Bruce Chambers

--
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