|
|
Braindead
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 452
|
|
Having looked on the Microsoft site How to Tell I have a question. Is there any way a prospective purchaser could tell by looking at a computer without going online whether a copy of Windows is genuine? - I'm thinking about someone buying a second-hand PC in a private transaction - Apart from such things as COA and backup media. The blue star introduced in a recent update isn't definitive as a computer may not be updated or may have removed the blue star.
|
|
putasolutions
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 12279
Loc: Infinity and beyond
|
|
The only real way to determine if it is genuine would be if the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is attached to the PC case as it should be, (and hopefully a cd with it), or if you get the CD with a COA attached to the cd case
--------------------
"Only the stupid don't ask questions."
My piccies
|
Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 14628
Loc: Wales
|
|
Iain's right, you can't tell just by looking at a PC. Mine came with a CD and the COA had been attached to the PC by the local shop who built it. If you bought the PC, you'd soon find out whether or not Windows was genuine when you download the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification update, but it might be too late by then! If it wasn't genuine, you'd be bombarded by nagging balloons, pop-ups etc until you got a genuine version of Windows, so be very careful about what you buy.
Madeline. 
--------------------
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
|
Braindead
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 452
|
|
Both of my PCs were bought from dealers and have the COA, what I was thinking of was for a private purchaser buying second hand. Since Microsoft's update which installs the popups, there seem to have been more posts about illegitmate operating systems. So I guess the message is don't buy without COA/media.
|
Madeline
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 14628
Loc: Wales
|
|
I don't think I would risk buying second hand. If Windows wasn't genuine, by the time you found out it would be too late.
Madeline.
--------------------
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton, 1887.
|
Jonny555
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 5329
Loc: Cheshire, England
|
|
Absolutely nothing wrong with buying a second hand computer. Just be prepared to buy a copy of Windows as well if there isn't a genuine hologramed CD/certificate with it. Just budget for it.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
