sctahoe said:
Thanks - if the COA is attached to the PC, then they could not send it to me
- it was likely an OEM copy and not a retail copy but the CD markings do not
have any PC maker info on it like Dell or Gateway....
If I install it and it passes the GWA activation, does that mean it is a
valid copy for me to use?
If the sticker for an OEM version were on a computer then that license
got installed on that sticker. Once installed, the OEM can never be
resold or used anywhere else, even if the computer were destroyed.
"Retail" and "OEM" are mutually exclusive. You said that you bought a
retail version. Now you're saying that maybe what you got was an OEM
version. If the OEM version were not used, the sticker and COA would
still be available to include with the install CD. If the sticker is
missing because it is on the seller's computer then it is illegal to
resell it to you.
If the sticker was on their computer for a retail version then what you
bought was a USED retail version. You never mentioned that the product
was used. Besides, usually the sticker can be removed. After all, it's
not going to be useful to the seller unless they are using a pirated
version using that product key which means you could end up with
activation problems.
Considering your wavering on what you actually bought - first it's a
retail version, then an OEM version, and no mention it might've been a
used product - no one can nail down what might or might not be legal.
You still haven't provided a URL to the eBay auction to look at what you
bought.
Passing activation merely means that the particular license hasn't
exceeded some unspecific number of activations. If you have to
re-activate the product several times (hardware failure, fresh install
of OS to wipe out malware, experimentation, etc.) then the activation
won't work and you'll have to call the phone number given at the end of
the activation wizard. If the seller is the one that still owns the
real license, you might find out only then that yours is a pirated copy.
If the seller illegally sliced up a volume license (i.e., they bought a
5-license package with 5 CDs and then sold each CD separately but with
the same product key for each CD) then you could lose your license to
Windows is someone declares they bought all 5 licenses.
Considering that what you got *might* be a used OEM version on which the
product key was printed on a piece of paper and you never got either a
sticker or COA (certificate of authenticity), there is strong indication
that you got an illegal version. Is "OEM" anywhere within the product
key's string? I know that if that is there then it is a product key for
an OEM version; however, its absence doesn't guarantee a non-OEM product
key. Again, seeing the actual eBay auction would help in determining
what you bought.
An install CD that is in an unlabelled jewel case. A product key
printed on a piece of paper instead of getting a sticker with the
product key on it. No COA included. Uh huh, I bet next we'll hear
about how cheap you got the product. You already know the sale is
suspicious. What you do about it is up to you. I'd contact the seller
and tell them that you don't trust they sold you a legal license and
demand a refund in under 14 days (or whatever is eBay's policies on how
long to settle a dispute outside of arbitration by eBay). At the same
time, I'd start a complaint process at eBay to notify them they have a
suspicious seller. After whatever eBay states is the period after which
you submit a recovery process from eBay is when I'd start doing so.
Don't be nice. Being nice by waiting too long gets you screwed by
eBayer sellers and buyers. Don't bother with any excuses like they were
on vacation, a death in the family, or whatever they contrive.
