Windows XP license

[Jennifer]

Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I would
like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
my name and if it is legal to take over the software. The
sellers say they have cleared the operating system off of
their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me to
put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I am
sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?

[Chris Lanier]

Dont buy it unless it is shrinkwrapped still.

"Jennifer" > wrote in message
...
> Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
> see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I would
> like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
> my name and if it is legal to take over the software. The
> sellers say they have cleared the operating system off of
> their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me to
> put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I am
> sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?

[Sam Baker]

As long as the product is a retail version (not OEM) then it can be legally
transferred. The seller should give you the media along with CD key and all
documentation and you should be able to register it, even if you do have to
do so by phone and explain the situation.
The risk you run is that the seller could have written down the CD key, and
if dishonest could still use it, meaning you could be interrogated by the
activation secret police.



"Chris Lanier" > wrote in message
...
> Dont buy it unless it is shrinkwrapped still.
>
> "Jennifer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
> > see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I would
> > like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
> > my name and if it is legal to take over the software. The
> > sellers say they have cleared the operating system off of
> > their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me to
> > put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I am
> > sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?
>
>

[Jennifer]

Is it illegal or I just can't register it to myself or
what?
>-----Original Message-----
>Dont buy it unless it is shrinkwrapped still.
>
>"Jennifer" > wrote in message
...
>> Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
>> see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I
would
>> like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
>> my name and if it is legal to take over the software.
The
>> sellers say they have cleared the operating system off
of
>> their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me
to
>> put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I
am
>> sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?
>
>
>.
>

[Chris Lanier]

i would not trust anyoe on the web who just "says" that it can be
registered. you are talking a huge chance when doing this. if it doesnt
activate you are out of luck. you will have to buy a full copy of XP.

"Jennifer" > wrote in message
...
> Is it illegal or I just can't register it to myself or
> what?
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Dont buy it unless it is shrinkwrapped still.
> >
> >"Jennifer" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
> >> see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I
> would
> >> like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
> >> my name and if it is legal to take over the software.
> The
> >> sellers say they have cleared the operating system off
> of
> >> their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me
> to
> >> put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I
> am
> >> sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[David]

"Jennifer" > wrote in news:09b001c36373$f893f1e0
:

> Is it illegal or I just can't register it to myself or
> what?


Since we don't personally know the seller, we can't tell you if it's
legal.

All we can tell you is that it is legal to sell your RETAIL XP CD as long
as you have removed it from your computer, and provide the CD and all
documentation that can with it.

We don't know if the seller is doing that, or giving you a burned pirated
copy.

I would not buy it. i'd go to a reputable software dealer even though it
may cost more.

David

[Ron Martell]

"Jennifer" > wrote:

>Can anyone help me with a Windows licensing question. I
>see used Windows XP software for sale on ebay that I would
>like to buy but don't know if I can get it registered in
>my name and if it is legal to take over the software. The
>sellers say they have cleared the operating system off of
>their machine so it seems like it would be fine for me to
>put it on my computer but I don't want to bid unless I am
>sure. Does anyone know the answer to this?

A used *Retail* version of Windows XP can be legitimately sold,
provided it has been removed (e.g. hard drive reformatted) from the
computer that it was previously installed on.

A use *OEM* version of Windows XP can not be legitimately sold unless
it is as part of a package that also includes the computer that it was
originally installed on. The OEM license is permanently locked to
that first computer and it cannot be legitmately used on another
computer even if the first computer is lost, stolen, or destroyed.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."