just purchased this new retail box version but have a
concern about it being legal?
It is version 2002 service pack 2
went to howtotell and it looks very good except for 3 points
there is a mark on the copper tone CD that appears to have
scratched off - is the tone embeded in the CD?
Tone? What do you mean?
If you mean the scratched-off parts from the COA (the Certificate of
Authenticity sticker), that is supposed to be there.
If it is in surface of the disk itself, then obviously, it has been
tampered with, and will NOT be able to be used to install your software,
since that spot would be a HUGE error on the disk surface.
the copper tone CD does not have a lot of colour as it is
moved in the light?
True "Retail" copies have at least two VERY distinctive features:
1) The holograms are ALWAYS extremely colorful, and EMBEDDED into the Disk
itself.
2) The COA (Certificate of Authenticity) is ALWAYS on the BOX itself, and
NOT a small sticker. If your COA (the part which contains your
installation code -- 5 groups of 5 alphanumeric characters) is NOT on the
top of the box, it is obviously NOT an authentic Microsoft "Retail"
product.
The CD itself in the top left corner has the "for
distribution with a new CD only": warning. I owuld have
htought that this would not be on a retail CD
You thought correctly. This is NOT a "Retail" kit.
However, ALL OEM kits MUST carry this warning ON THE CD.
If YOUR CD has this warning, it is obviously NOT a Retail kit. It is an
OEM kit.
Other then send it to MS for verification how can I work out
if it is counterfeit or not. I have not installed yet and if
I do what would be the sign that it is counterfeit?
thanks
Geoff
1) ANY Windows install disk which says "For distribution with a new PC
only" is NOT a "Retail" copy. It is an OEM copy.
2) If you received it in a "RETAIL box" from Microsoft (Blue for Pro,
Green for Home), and the CD STILL has "For Distribution with a new PC
only" on it, it has obviously been re-packed to LOOK like a "Retail" kit.
3) If it was NOT distributed in a professionally-printed card-board box
(or plastic box with the original versions), it is obviously NOT a "Retail
Kit", it is an OEM kit.
I suspect that you got a pirated version from the Soviet Union or
elsewhere in the Third-World. Did you by chance purchase this for an
EXTREMELY low price, such as $50? Let's face it, few (if any) dealers are
going to take a HUGE LOSS just to sell you a Retail copy of XP, no matter
WHERE they're from.
In which case, I strongly advise you to:
First, report the retailer to Microsoft (
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy)
Second, return it to the retailer and DEMAND an authentic copy. If he
refuses, report him to your State Attorney-General's office.
If you get no satisfaction from the retailer, Microsoft may still replace
the disk with a proper one for a nominal price, however. Speak to their
Support department.
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread and newsgroup
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