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About to start up by own business doing pc repair...

H

H5N1

Junior Member
What I need help with is getting Windows 7 licenses. What do you guys usually do? Say some joe blow comes in and says fix my comp. I need to reinstall 7 and he doesn't have his cd. Obviously I only run straight legit os' and will do so. So whats the best way to acquire 7 licenses to do just this? Or do you guys demand they use they're own OS?
 
If you really build/work on a lot of computers you can buy system builder OEM licenses from Microsoft. From what I understand, if you buy licenses in bulk, you can get very decent discounts.

I personally don't do enough building/repair for bulk rates- I build on average 3 maybe 4 PCs a month for other people. I just buy Newegg OEM copies of Windows depending on what the client wants, and then put the license sticker inside the case and give them the disk. I usually only charge my clients my cost for the OS.

I generally keep a few extra copies of OEM Windows laying around for similar situations as you describe; someone wants me to reinstall/upgrade their computer and they don't have a disk. I basically just sell them my OEM copies, and make sure they understand an OEM licence can't be transfered to another computer.

By the way, I used to try and shave a buck buying copies of Windows from ebay or craigslist- it's been my experience that those are often scams from counterfeit operations. I have a small collection of very well made Windows counterfeits -the operations must have been very advanced- that are fairly hard to distinguish from the real thing- you just install them and the fake license fails after about a month. That's one for-certain way to piss off a customer and guarantee a bad rep. So I personally stick with legit sources like Newegg or possibly Amazon.
 
I appreciate the help. Good points. But I'm talking mainly going into the business of repair / diagnostics and maybe building from scratch as well.

Is there such a thing as unlimited license?
 
I don't do this as a business, more like a hobby, so I'm sure my understanding is limited only to what I personally do.

From what I understand- in a situation like repairing a computer and reinstalling an OS, the buyer should have a retail copy of the OS, which is a license that can be transfered. (If that's what you mean by unlimited). There are volume licenses as well, but I think these are for companies installing in bulk.) I would guess there may be a way to get retail licenses in bulk for a discount if you were really doing a ton of business, but I don't know for sure.

Personally, I've never had an issue using an OEM license on a system I've repaired/reinstalled for someone. Even though this type of license says its for new computer builds only, I've never run into the slightest issue using them with a computer someone already owns. I also as I said, don't sell Windows for a profit, just what it cost me, and of course the price of my services doing an install.
 
H5N1 said:
What I need help with is getting Windows 7 licenses. What do you guys usually do? Say some joe blow comes in and says fix my comp. I need to reinstall 7 and he doesn't have his cd.
Click to expand...

odds are jow blows pc has a recovery partition if its from a major manufacturer.
worst case there should be a license sticker with a key on their device, just use the appropriate OS iso to do the install and use that key

great thread about windows 7 ISOs
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2225273

if its a custom build and he cant fix it, and doesnt have a key, he gets to buy a new one through you
if its one you built and you didnt keep up with the key....have fun explaining that to your customer, because theyre just going to expect it of you
 
If you do this as a business you better have a good no holds contract and make sure its signed before you start, You will be sued for the littlest thing and cost you 100x what the 15 year old out of date system is worth.
 
Lorne said:
If you do this as a business you better have a good no holds contract and make sure its signed before you start, You will be sued for the littlest thing and cost you 100x what the 15 year old out of date system is worth.
Click to expand...

Wise words.

You get the crazy ladies, that you sell a computer too, and they collect family pictures on, and of course, they don't back them up, even though you give them a flash drive for free, and show them how to copy and paste files, and then when the computer eventually fails a few years later, they threaten you, and demand you get their pictures back, for free.
 
Thanks guys. So as long as I have a EULA or sorts or multiple EULA's signed before hand, I'll be alright then? I'd like it to become my business but of course I know it's not easy. And no using parts for credit (i'e pay me with your mobo / cpu instead of cash).
 
H5N1 said:
What I need help with is getting Windows 7 licenses. What do you guys usually do? Say some joe blow comes in and says fix my comp. I need to reinstall 7 and he doesn't have his cd. Obviously I only run straight legit os' and will do so. So whats the best way to acquire 7 licenses to do just this? Or do you guys demand they use they're own OS?
Click to expand...

Computer repair is probably 50-75% of my business at the moment. Most times the COA is right on the PC or you can use Jellybean/Keyfinder to get their CD Key.
 
Hey matt canyou pm me some more helpful info? Like what you needed to do to get started?

Thanks
 
Years ago I worked at CompUSA and Circuit City. All OEM's would sell you the "reinstall" CD/DVD if you can give them the serial number for $20-30. Toshibas were the only one that still shipped the full "reinstall" physical media last time I checked(~2008ish). All others prompted you to burn a "recovery" CD the first time you boot(of course nobody did, and it's no help if the HD is dead).

If the customer cannot provide you with reinstall discs, you can offer them the option of waiting a few days for the OEM disc, a new Retail License, or a new OEM Licence. Most will do the OEM disc because they liked one of the bloatware that came with it, but some like the fresh squeeky clean feeling. Just clearly define Microsoft office is not part of the OS to the crazy cat people.
 
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brotj7 said:
Years ago I worked at CompUSA and Circuit City. All OEM's would sell you the "reinstall" CD/DVD if you can give them the serial number for $20-30. Toshibas were the only one that still shipped the full "reinstall" physical media last time I checked(~2008ish). All others prompted you to burn a "recovery" CD the first time you boot(of course nobody did, and it's no help if the HD is dead).
Click to expand...

This.

Your options for a customer are in this order:
1) Restore computer from recovery partition
2) Attempt reinstall using your own windows disc but the client's license stickered on his computer
3) Ask customer to order his recovery discs from his manufacture (20-50$)
4) Sell customer a regular windows license (OEM is probably ok here, but i'm not too familiar with OEM license)

You don't really have a volume licensing option for single customers. Like others have mentioned, you may be able to get a bulk discount if your order a lot of single-user windows discs.
 
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