Guide to buying Win2k second hand?

[Nicholas Sherlock]

Hey all,

I'm looking for a guide, FAQ, or information on buying Win2k (any edition)
secondhand. Can I legally buy and use "OEM" versions? What if it has already
been activated by the person who is selling it? What is the "COA"
(certificate of authenticity) sticker, and do I need it?

Cheers,
Nicholas Sherlock

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

You can only legally buy an OEM Microsoft OS if you buy it with the hardware
that the OEM software itself was sold with. Also, you cannot then take the
OEM software and use it on another machine, even if you stop using or even
destroy the original machine.

See the following
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/professional/help/lic_legal_sell_sof
tware.htm

Hope this helps

Oli

 

[Rifleman]

Hey all,

I'm looking for a guide, FAQ, or information on buying Win2k (any edition)
secondhand. Can I legally buy and use "OEM" versions? What if it has already
been activated by the person who is selling it?

W2K doesn't use "activation" - that came in with XP.