Is it safe to buy XP PRO from eBay ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phyberlink
  • Start date Start date
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Phyberlink

Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just built.
Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to eBay.
I have been looking at Win XP Pro ACTIVITIES on eBay for about a month now,
but I do not have the guts to plunge in, and BID.
I am really confused of all these numbers and I do not have a clue as to how
to decipher these number or what exactly these numbers mean,
Do you really have to work at Microsoft to understand these numbers ?

E86-01011
E85-00289
E85-02665

Some of these numbers are in a box, some are in a folder, some are shown in
a picture just a plastic wrap.
Can someone please advise me as to what to do, or what not to do ? Why are
the boxed ones more expensive?
A box is just a card board, Also all XP Pro, now should be SP 2 right?,
Then why some are SP1 and yet the price remains the same?
What am I missing here? Please help.

I am not an eBay person, and no one knows at work about eBay. I am sorry if
this is not the right place to ask.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Phyberlink
 
Phyberlink said:
I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just
built. Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to
eBay.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't buy this on eBay. The chances of your getting nothing are high,
and the chances of your getting a a pirated copy are also high. If you are
seeing prices on eBay that are much lower than what the better discount
houses sell it for, always remember that there ain't no such thing as a free
lunch.

I recommend that you buy a retail upgrade version from a reputable discount
source. You can buy an OEM version instead, but it's usually only slightly
cheaper than an upgrade version, and the small difference in price isn't
worth having the disadvantages of an OEM version, the most severe of which
is that once installed, it can never legally be moved to another computer,
even if the original one dies.

And just in case you don't know this, an upgrade version *can* be used to do
a clean installation. All you need is a CD of a previous qualifying version
to show it when prompted. If you don't have one, you can buy a used copy of
Windows 98 on eBay; that's cheap enough under any circumstances that the
risk of buying on eBay are slim. Worst case, you're out only a few dollars.

One more point. Why do you want XP Professional, rather than Home? Are you
aware that XP Home and Professional are identical except that Professional
includes a few features (mostly related to security and networking) missing
from Home? Most home users don't need and would never use these extra
features and will see no benefits by upgrading.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp>

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note another point, not included in any of the above: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.
 
I wouldn't buy this on eBay. The chances of your getting nothing are high,
and the chances of your getting a a pirated copy are also high. If you are
seeing prices on eBay that are much lower than what the better discount
houses sell it for, always remember that there ain't no such thing as a
free lunch.

I recommend that you buy a retail upgrade version from a reputable
discount source. You can buy an OEM version instead, but it's usually only
slightly cheaper than an upgrade version, and the small difference in
price isn't worth having the disadvantages of an OEM version, the most
severe of which is that once installed, it can never legally be moved to
another computer, even if the original one dies.
Click to expand...

Even if one has the legal discs -- the original computer's OEM discs -- and
the original computer dies?
And just in case you don't know this, an upgrade version *can* be used to
do a clean installation. All you need is a CD of a previous qualifying
version to show it when prompted. If you don't have one, you can buy a
used copy of Windows 98 on eBay; that's cheap enough under any
circumstances that the risk of buying on eBay are slim. Worst case, you're
out only a few dollars.
Click to expand...

Can one use an OEM Windows XP Professional disc to do that?
 
Phyberlink said:
Hello,

I am trying to purchase Windows XP Pro for a new machine that I just built.
Windows XP is a bit pricy for me, and so I am now turning to eBay.
I have been looking at Win XP Pro ACTIVITIES on eBay for about a month now,
but I do not have the guts to plunge in, and BID.
I am really confused of all these numbers and I do not have a clue as to how
to decipher these number or what exactly these numbers mean,
Do you really have to work at Microsoft to understand these numbers ?

E86-01011
E85-00289
E85-02665

Some of these numbers are in a box, some are in a folder, some are shown in
a picture just a plastic wrap.
Can someone please advise me as to what to do, or what not to do ? Why are
the boxed ones more expensive?
A box is just a card board, Also all XP Pro, now should be SP 2 right?,
Then why some are SP1 and yet the price remains the same?
What am I missing here? Please help.

I am not an eBay person, and no one knows at work about eBay. I am sorry if
this is not the right place to ask.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Phyberlink
Click to expand...

http://www.edirectsoftware.com/
 
I lost $109 I am now contacting eBay Paypal for a refund, I am furious.
Someone had a for sale (not bidding) on what appeared to be a photo of a
retail box Win XP Pro with the Word New Sealed "package"
So I purchased it, and 4 days later US Mail, I get an envelope with a gold
CD plus a sticker from Microsoft stating that I will need to contact
Microsoft to purchase a Single User License in order for me to activate the
software after the 30 days trial period.

I wonder now, as to what eBay is going to do.

I give up, I just will NEVER buy anything from the Internet anymore,
especially from eBay.

The truth is, that I did not wait long enough to see what you all
wrote/replied.

I thank you all for all your suggestions, but now I am burned.

Phyberlink
 
Phyberlink said:
I lost $109 I am now contacting eBay Paypal for a refund, I am
furious. Someone had a for sale (not bidding) on what appeared to be
a photo of a retail box Win XP Pro with the Word New Sealed "package"
So I purchased it, and 4 days later US Mail, I get an envelope with a
gold CD plus a sticker from Microsoft stating that I will need to
contact Microsoft to purchase a Single User License in order for me
to activate the software after the 30 days trial period.

I wonder now, as to what eBay is going to do.

I give up, I just will NEVER buy anything from the Internet anymore,
especially from eBay.
Click to expand...


That's a very foolish, extreme overreaction. You didn't do your homework,
you didn't listen to the advice you got here, and you got burned.. Don't
blame eBay for a seller's having cheated you, and cetrainly don't blame all
internet vendors. If you had bought something in a brick-and-mortar store
that turned out to have been falsely represented, would you you then decide
never to buy anything in a brick-and-mortar store again? That would make as
much sense as your statement above.

Internet stores can be as reliable as any other kind of store. But they are
not *all* reliable, just as not all sellers on eBay are reliable. Make your
choices of who to buy from based on real information about the company or
person you are dealing with.
 
Bingo!

Research Thoroughly Before Leaping -- Don't Impulse Buy.

Caveat Emptor.

It's become an American trait among the Poguenoscenti to blame someone else,
or an entire corporation, for one's personal screwups.

Bad Character Trait...

DSH
 
I agree, with you, however while learning from mistakes made, What would
my options be? Any ideas as to what would be a "reasonable" way to
recover?

Phyberlink


D. Spencer Hines said:
Bingo!

Research Thoroughly Before Leaping -- Don't Impulse Buy.

Caveat Emptor.

It's become an American trait among the Poguenoscenti to blame someone
else, or an entire corporation, for one's personal screwups.

Bad Character Trait...

DSH
Click to expand...
 
Take a hot toddy of your choice and a long nap.

You've been properly scammed, skinned and gutted -- and are out $109.

The lesson could have been far more expensive for you.

PayPal may or may not be able to help.

Do NOT seek some sort of REVENGE on the scammer -- or you could end up in
Court yourself.

Call the Better Business Bureau, or whatever you have in your venue, and
report it. If you have a Business Name or address for the scammer report
that.

They will also probably laugh at you -- but you may get some "Venting
Satisfaction".

They will probably put you down as a Naïve & Gullible Rube, which you ARE
and then put your report in the File & Ignore folder -- UNLESS you can
target a BUSINESS.

Tell e-Bay if you like -- you may save future rubes from the same sorry end.
But then you may want some Schadenfreude out of all this.

Caveat Emptor... [Look it up if you don't understand it]

How old are you?

DSH
----------------------------------
 
Thanks for your opinion DSH,

My neighbor told me that, there are 5 entities involved here:

USPS = was the means of transportation.
Microsoft = Selling a not for sale media.
eBay = The creator of this selling engine.
Papal = The funds collector.
FBI = The software Pirating Institution that polices INTRA STATE traffic.
And last but not least http://www.liberty.edu address is the return
address that appeared as the sender/seller's address.

Now, all these entities 6, of them, you mean none of them would be
interested to look into this issue toward at least stopping this person from
continuing this illegal selling?
And yet everyone is focusing on laughing at the victim?
Frankly, I admit making the mistake of trusting someone I do not know that
is using a college address, but do I stop here and forget about it?
I already, contacted eBay and Paypal and filed a complaint.
I also returned the item back with registered USPS and have a receipt and a
letter inside demanding my money back.
Consulting with a counselor is also an option.
You are right, I am not going to directly contact the seller anymore, but
I will not just do nothing either.
I intend to contact one entity one at a time, and just see how far this can
go, If society is NOT interested and all will laugh at me,
then Internet Commerce is a scary place. I did look it up "Caveat Emptor"
Thanks.

(The magic number is 36)

Phyberlink



D. Spencer Hines said:
Take a hot toddy of your choice and a long nap.

You've been properly scammed, skinned and gutted -- and are out $109.

The lesson could have been far more expensive for you.

PayPal may or may not be able to help.

Do NOT seek some sort of REVENGE on the scammer -- or you could end up in
Court yourself.

Call the Better Business Bureau, or whatever you have in your venue, and
report it. If you have a Business Name or address for the scammer report
that.

They will also probably laugh at you -- but you may get some "Venting
Satisfaction".

They will probably put you down as a Naïve & Gullible Rube, which you ARE
and then put your report in the File & Ignore folder -- UNLESS you can
target a BUSINESS.

Tell e-Bay if you like -- you may save future rubes from the same sorry
end. But then you may want some Schadenfreude out of all this.

Caveat Emptor... [Look it up if you don't understand it]

How old are you?

DSH
----------------------------------

I agree, with you, however while learning from mistakes made, What
would my options be? Any ideas as to what would be a "reasonable" way to
recover?

Phyberlink
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Phyberlink said:
Thanks for your opinion DSH,

My neighbor told me that, there are 5 entities involved here:

USPS = was the means of transportation.
Microsoft = Selling a not for sale media.
eBay = The creator of this selling engine.
Papal = The funds collector.
FBI = The software Pirating Institution that polices INTRA STATE
traffic. And last but not least http://www.liberty.edu address is
the return address that appeared as the sender/seller's address.

Now, all these entities 6, of them, you mean none of them would be
interested to look into this issue toward at least stopping this
person from continuing this illegal selling?
And yet everyone is focusing on laughing at the victim?
Click to expand...


If, by "everyone," you are including me, I apologize if I gave you the
impression I was laughing at you. That wasn't at all my intention. You got
burnt, and I sympathize with you and am sorry for you.

But you want to blame eBay for the problem; it's not their fault. They
warned you that they weren't responsible for what you get from a seller, but
you didn't read it. You say you'll never again buy from anyone on the
internet. Again, that's an extreme overreaction. Don't blame all vendors for
what one of them does.

Frankly, I admit making the mistake of trusting someone I do not know
that is using a college address,
Click to expand...


Knowing who to trust is often difficult. If I can give you *one* piece of
advice, always remember than when a price looks like it's too good to be
true, be very suspicious. We live in a "caveat emptor" world.

but do I stop here and forget about
it?
Click to expand...


Your choice, of course, but I'll offer one more piece of advice:

Yes, forget about it. Your chances of recovering the money you've lost are
very close to zero, and your chance to exacting retribution on the person
who got your money are also close to zero. Pursuing it and trying to do
something about it is likely to be an exercise in frustration. Consider that
the money you lost was the cost of an important lesson you've learned
 
You're welcome.

I hope it all works out for you.

http://www.liberty.edu

Is Liberty University.

"Yes, forget about it. Your chances of recovering the money you've lost are
very close to zero, and your chance to exacting retribution on the person
who got your money are also close to zero. Pursuing it and trying to do
something about it is likely to be an exercise in frustration. Consider that
the money you lost was the cost of an important lesson you've learned"
--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User

That's precisely what I said.

You still haven't told us how old you are.

We answer your questions, you should answer ours.

DSH
--------------------------------------------

Thanks for your opinion DSH,

My neighbor told me that, there are 5 entities involved here:

USPS = was the means of transportation.
Microsoft = Selling a not for sale media.
eBay = The creator of this selling engine.
Papal = The funds collector.
FBI = The software Pirating Institution that polices INTRA STATE traffic.
And last but not least http://www.liberty.edu address is the return
address that appeared as the sender/seller's address.

Now, all these entities 6, of them, you mean none of them would be
interested to look into this issue toward at least stopping this person
from continuing this illegal selling?
And yet everyone is focusing on laughing at the victim?
Frankly, I admit making the mistake of trusting someone I do not know that
is using a college address, but do I stop here and forget about it?
I already, contacted eBay and Paypal and filed a complaint.
I also returned the item back with registered USPS and have a receipt and
a letter inside demanding my money back.
Consulting with a counselor is also an option.
You are right, I am not going to directly contact the seller anymore,
but I will not just do nothing either.
I intend to contact one entity one at a time, and just see how far this
can go, If society is NOT interested and all will laugh at me,
then Internet Commerce is a scary place. I did look it up "Caveat
Emptor" Thanks.

(The magic number is 36)

Phyberlink

Take a hot toddy of your choice and a long nap.

You've been properly scammed, skinned and gutted -- and are out $109.

The lesson could have been far more expensive for you.

PayPal may or may not be able to help.

Do NOT seek some sort of REVENGE on the scammer -- or you could end up in
Court yourself.

Call the Better Business Bureau, or whatever you have in your venue, and
report it. If you have a Business Name or address for the scammer report
that.

They will also probably laugh at you -- but you may get some "Venting
Satisfaction".

They will probably put you down as a Naïve & Gullible Rube, which you ARE
and then put your report in the File & Ignore folder -- UNLESS you can
target a BUSINESS.

Tell e-Bay if you like -- you may save future rubes from the same sorry
end. But then you may want some Schadenfreude out of all this.

Caveat Emptor... [Look it up if you don't understand it]

How old are you?

DSH
----------------------------------

I agree, with you, however while learning from mistakes made, What
would my options be? Any ideas as to what would be a "reasonable" way
to recover?

Phyberlink


news:[email protected]...
Click to expand...
Bingo!

Research Thoroughly Before Leaping -- Don't Impulse Buy.

Caveat Emptor.

It's become an American trait among the Poguenoscenti to blame someone
else, or an entire corporation, for one's personal screwups.

Bad Character Trait...

DSH


Phyberlink wrote:

I lost $109 I am now contacting eBay Paypal for a refund, I am
furious. Someone had a for sale (not bidding) on what appeared to be
a photo of a retail box Win XP Pro with the Word New Sealed "package"
So I purchased it, and 4 days later US Mail, I get an envelope with a
gold CD plus a sticker from Microsoft stating that I will need to
contact Microsoft to purchase a Single User License in order for me
to activate the software after the 30 days trial period.

I wonder now, as to what eBay is going to do.

I give up, I just will NEVER buy anything from the Internet anymore,
especially from eBay.


That's a very foolish, extreme overreaction. You didn't do your
homework, you didn't listen to the advice you got here, and you got
burned.. Don't blame eBay for a seller's having cheated you, and
cetrainly don't blame all internet vendors. If you had bought
something in a brick-and-mortar store that turned out to have been
falsely represented, would you you then decide never to buy anything
in a brick-and-mortar store again? That would make as much sense as
your statement above.

Internet stores can be as reliable as any other kind of store. But
they are not *all* reliable, just as not all sellers on eBay are
reliable. Make your choices of who to buy from based on real
information about the company or person you are dealing with.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
But I said before, look down, the magic number is 36 !

D. Spencer Hines said:
You're welcome.

I hope it all works out for you.

http://www.liberty.edu

Is Liberty University.

"Yes, forget about it. Your chances of recovering the money you've lost
are
very close to zero, and your chance to exacting retribution on the person
who got your money are also close to zero. Pursuing it and trying to do
something about it is likely to be an exercise in frustration. Consider
that
the money you lost was the cost of an important lesson you've learned"
--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User

That's precisely what I said.

You still haven't told us how old you are.

We answer your questions, you should answer ours.

DSH
--------------------------------------------

Thanks for your opinion DSH,

My neighbor told me that, there are 5 entities involved here:

USPS = was the means of transportation.
Microsoft = Selling a not for sale media.
eBay = The creator of this selling engine.
Papal = The funds collector.
FBI = The software Pirating Institution that polices INTRA STATE traffic.
And last but not least http://www.liberty.edu address is the return
address that appeared as the sender/seller's address.

Now, all these entities 6, of them, you mean none of them would be
interested to look into this issue toward at least stopping this person
from continuing this illegal selling?
And yet everyone is focusing on laughing at the victim?
Frankly, I admit making the mistake of trusting someone I do not know
that
is using a college address, but do I stop here and forget about it?
I already, contacted eBay and Paypal and filed a complaint.
I also returned the item back with registered USPS and have a receipt and
a letter inside demanding my money back.
Consulting with a counselor is also an option.
You are right, I am not going to directly contact the seller anymore,
but I will not just do nothing either.
I intend to contact one entity one at a time, and just see how far this
can go, If society is NOT interested and all will laugh at me,
then Internet Commerce is a scary place. I did look it up "Caveat
Emptor" Thanks.

(The magic number is 36)

Phyberlink

Take a hot toddy of your choice and a long nap.

You've been properly scammed, skinned and gutted -- and are out $109.

The lesson could have been far more expensive for you.

PayPal may or may not be able to help.

Do NOT seek some sort of REVENGE on the scammer -- or you could end up
in
Court yourself.

Call the Better Business Bureau, or whatever you have in your venue, and
report it. If you have a Business Name or address for the scammer
report
that.

They will also probably laugh at you -- but you may get some "Venting
Satisfaction".

They will probably put you down as a Naïve & Gullible Rube, which you
ARE
and then put your report in the File & Ignore folder -- UNLESS you can
target a BUSINESS.

Tell e-Bay if you like -- you may save future rubes from the same sorry
end. But then you may want some Schadenfreude out of all this.

Caveat Emptor... [Look it up if you don't understand it]

How old are you?

DSH
----------------------------------


I agree, with you, however while learning from mistakes made, What
would my options be? Any ideas as to what would be a "reasonable" way
to recover?

Phyberlink



Bingo!

Research Thoroughly Before Leaping -- Don't Impulse Buy.

Caveat Emptor.

It's become an American trait among the Poguenoscenti to blame someone
else, or an entire corporation, for one's personal screwups.

Bad Character Trait...

DSH


Phyberlink wrote:

I lost $109 I am now contacting eBay Paypal for a refund, I am
furious. Someone had a for sale (not bidding) on what appeared to be
a photo of a retail box Win XP Pro with the Word New Sealed
"package"
So I purchased it, and 4 days later US Mail, I get an envelope with
a
gold CD plus a sticker from Microsoft stating that I will need to
contact Microsoft to purchase a Single User License in order for me
to activate the software after the 30 days trial period.

I wonder now, as to what eBay is going to do.

I give up, I just will NEVER buy anything from the Internet anymore,
especially from eBay.


That's a very foolish, extreme overreaction. You didn't do your
homework, you didn't listen to the advice you got here, and you got
burned.. Don't blame eBay for a seller's having cheated you, and
cetrainly don't blame all internet vendors. If you had bought
something in a brick-and-mortar store that turned out to have been
falsely represented, would you you then decide never to buy anything
in a brick-and-mortar store again? That would make as much sense as
your statement above.

Internet stores can be as reliable as any other kind of store. But
they are not *all* reliable, just as not all sellers on eBay are
reliable. Make your choices of who to buy from based on real
information about the company or person you are dealing with.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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