buying windows xp home from ebay

  • Thread starter Thread starter clueless
  • Start date Start date
C

clueless

Hi,

I have an old computer from my husband's work that had no operating
system on it. I wanted to see if I could get it working so I used the
recovery disc of another broken computer that has been scrapped. It
works farily well as an internet browser but I got a message saying I
had to authenticate windows XP. I rang Microsoft and found I can't use
the old software as it was pre-installed on the broken computer.

I asked at Dick Smith how much XP home was and they said it was no
longer available now Vista is out. I don't want Vista!

So my question is (finally) ....can I buy a used version of XP with
its CoA or one that was sold with a computer but never authenticated
and set it up successfully on the old computer??

Thanks!!
H
 
clueless said:
Hi,

I have an old computer from my husband's work that had no operating
system on it. I wanted to see if I could get it working so I used the
recovery disc of another broken computer that has been scrapped. It
works farily well as an internet browser but I got a message saying I
had to authenticate windows XP. I rang Microsoft and found I can't use
the old software as it was pre-installed on the broken computer.

I asked at Dick Smith how much XP home was and they said it was no
longer available now Vista is out. I don't want Vista!

So my question is (finally) ....can I buy a used version of XP with
its CoA or one that was sold with a computer but never authenticated
and set it up successfully on the old computer??

Thanks!!
H
Click to expand...

Who's Dick Smith? Are we supposed to know him?
 
CompUSA, physical stores or on-line, still sell XP.
http://www.compusa.com/default.asp

Circuit City, too: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/home.do

However, you might also want to consider one of several free LINUX
variations. If you or a friend has a high-speed internet connection,
download a copy of KNOPPIX and burn it to a CD (or DVD for the full
version). Burn with Nero or Easy CD Creator using an option like "burn from
image"; do not merely drag&drop to CD. Change the BIOS settings of the PC
to boot from CD/DVD before hard drive, then reboot with the CD/DVD inserted.
In a few minutes you will be running LINUX. By default, KNOPPIX will
**NOT** write anything to your hard drive, so it is "safe" to play with. If
you like it, then you can change its permissions to write to save/modify
files. KNOPPIX can also be installed on the hard drive, although there are
other LINUX variations that might be better suited for that. KNOPPIX comes
with an office suite, web browser, and several other programs, all free.
For more information, check these links:

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php other LINUX variations that
run from CDs
 
clueless said:
Hi,

I have an old computer from my husband's work that had no operating
system on it. I wanted to see if I could get it working so I used the
recovery disc of another broken computer that has been scrapped. It
works farily well as an internet browser but I got a message saying I
had to authenticate windows XP. I rang Microsoft and found I can't use
the old software as it was pre-installed on the broken computer.

I asked at Dick Smith how much XP home was and they said it was no
longer available now Vista is out. I don't want Vista!

So my question is (finally) ....can I buy a used version of XP with
its CoA or one that was sold with a computer but never authenticated
and set it up successfully on the old computer??

Thanks!!
H
Click to expand...


Getting a legitimate license of any kind from eBay is something of
a crap shoot. One should be very careful buying any software on eBay,
as eBay makes no prior effort to ensure that such sales are legitimate.
The problems stem from two completely different sources, but have the
same results: the buyer gets ripped off. A great many people don't fully
understand the terms of the license they own, and don't understand that
they cannot legitimately resell it, and - worse still - there are a
great many sellers who do know that they're selling bogus licenses. eBay
reacts only when someone files a complaint, and then all that really
happens, especially in the case of the many deliberate fraudsters, is
the seller of the pirated software returns using a different alias, to
continue selling illegitimate licenses.


--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
clueless said:
Hi,

I have an old computer from my husband's work that had no operating
system on it. I wanted to see if I could get it working so I used the
recovery disc of another broken computer that has been scrapped. It
works farily well as an internet browser but I got a message saying I
had to authenticate windows XP. I rang Microsoft and found I can't use
the old software as it was pre-installed on the broken computer.

I asked at Dick Smith how much XP home was and they said it was no
longer available now Vista is out. I don't want Vista!

So my question is (finally) ....can I buy a used version of XP with
its CoA or one that was sold with a computer but never authenticated
and set it up successfully on the old computer??

Thanks!!
H
Click to expand...

EBAY is a pretty iffy place to buy XP from unless you are a long-time
experienced buyer and know how to determine whether it's a good offer or
not, and then you could still get bitten.

Check around; plenty of stores are still carrying XP. Walmart here, and
Radio Shack carry it I noticed last weekend.

HTH
Pop`
 
i think you can just call mirocosft and buy
a license for it even if it was used before.
mike
 
Jerry said:
Who's Dick Smith? Are we supposed to know him?
Click to expand...

A large electrical/electronics retail chain in Australia (actually owened by
Woolworths (Safeway)).
 
GreenieLeBrun said:
A large electrical/electronics retail chain in Australia (actually owened
by Woolworths (Safeway)).
Click to expand...

Wow, Woolworths. Now there's a name I haven't heard about in a while.
 
So my question is (finally) ....can I buy a used version of XP with its
CoA or one that was sold with a computer but never authenticated and set
it up successfully on the old computer??
Click to expand...

Only the RETAIL version of XP can be moved to another machine. If the
version you are looking at purchasing came with any computer as OEM then
you're in the same boat. Only retail versions can be moved from machine to
new machine.
 
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