Buying used OS

[RCBH928]

I'll be honest, I always used a pirated copy of Windows
That is because I just can't justify the price, especially when you NEED to do a format then they don't give you the installation cd's.

any how,
I finally decided to buy a used XP legit copy, but can you tell me what happens if my serial has been shared with others?
What if they guy I bought the cd from , did not deactivate his copy, or maybe he shared the serial with others?

[gennss]

it'll give u and 800 number to call to activate.

[flamepanther]

If it was only shared with a few people, probably nothing will happen, or you might have to call phone number to validate your copy (and in theory invalidate everyone else's). If it was posted out in the wild on the Internet, Windows Product Activation might put your OS on a reboot timer unless you patch it, and/or Windows Genuine Advantage might refuse to let you download free updates and add-ons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Product_Activation

[pjvdg]

it'll give u and 800 number to call to activate.

That's right. After (I think) 3 registrations over the internet you have to do the registration over the phone. But do make sure the serial is not out on the net. If you do a google search for the serial and it pops up your just as well off getting an illegal copy.

[Hobie-wan]

If you check as others have mentioned and the serial was just used on 1 PC the guy had and will no longer be used by anyone else, you'll probably be fine. Make sure they carefully shave off the sticker if it's been stuck on a PC. Microsoft cares about that serial number, not the CD you're using to install. If it makes you call to activate windows when you get to that point, just tell the person you're upgrading and rebuilding your PC and you should be good.

I had a couple of old incomplete laptops given to me by my workplace. They were nearly the same except one had a larger screen and a faster processor and I didn't get the hard drives with them and I only had one windows serial key. Once I put a hard drive and such in the better one, the hash code was different when it came to activation, so it made me call. I told the guy I was rebuilding an old PC and it was no problem.

[RCBH928]

What if I am on the other side of the planet? Do I have to call?

[Hobie-wan]

It was a toll free number for me to tall here in the US. I'm sure there's at least a regional number near you.

[Niode]

Make sure that what you are buying is a full retail version. If it's an OEM key it will only be valid for one computer ID and therefore no matter what you say to Microsoft they will refuse to activate it on any other system.

[Hobie-wan]

Make sure that what you are buying is a full retail version. If it's an OEM key it will only be valid for one computer ID and therefore no matter what you say to Microsoft they will refuse to activate it on any other system.

Hmm, didn't know that myself. Apparently neither did my home built deskt... erm, I mean IBM laptop didn't either.

[Niode]

Make sure that what you are buying is a full retail version. If it's an OEM key it will only be valid for one computer ID and therefore no matter what you say to Microsoft they will refuse to activate it on any other system.

Hmm, didn't know that myself. Apparently neither did my home built deskt... erm, I mean IBM laptop didn't either.

I'm not sure what you are getting at, but I had this exact problem years ago. Detailed here.