Buying 2nd hand NT4.0 from online auction sites, how to know if it's legit?

[MAMAFUFU]

I need to buy 20 legal copies of NT4.0 workstation. Seeing that in online auction sites they are selling for $40 - $50USD for each copy. I'm very tempted to buy from these sites. But they are quite a number of *faked* copies(some even with Certificate Of Authenticity, manual and CD-ROM disc full set included). So I'm a bit worried that I might buy one of these fake copies.

Does anyone know how to verify the copies?
Can I register those copies online at MicroSoft's website (I suppose if there is any problem with the copy, I would not be allowed to register or MS will notify me, right?)

 

[MAMAFUFU]

up

 

[MAMAFUFU]

up again

 

[michael2]

I recently sold my full retail version of Windows NT 4.0 Workstation cheap (I now use Windows 2000 Professional) since I had registered my copy so the new buyer could not get any 'free' Microsoft support.
Windows NT 4.0 only got 90 days unlimited telephone support and I think even that was cut down recently.

 

[thirdkind]

A while back I purchased a copy of Photoshop 5.5 from eGay. I was assured that it was a legitimate full-version retail copy, just minus the box and manual. I paid $200 if I remember correctly.

When I received it, it was obviously a cheap CD-R copy. What made it totally moronic was that upon inspecting the contents of the disc, it actually contained version 5.0 and a 5.5 upgrade. I was more pissed off than you could imagine. And the guy never got caught. I wrote to eGay, I wrote to Adobe, but nothing happened. I ended up buying a used copy of version 3.0 from a trusted member in FS/FT, and then buying a new 5.5 upgrade.

The fact of the matter is that it's impossible to verify that the software you're buying is real until you receive the package and inspect it. I say find a legitimate outfit and pay more. You'll possibly save your money and your sanity in the long run.

 

[MAMAFUFU]

I'll will trade the NT4 copies with the seller face-to-face.

But I am not an expert to verify that those copies (even with COA, manual and CD-ROM disc) are legit.

 

[MAMAFUFU]

^

 

[Animefreak]

i got a version of NT4 workstation that i want to get rid of(use win2k), it came with my visual basic 6.0 pro, it is collecting dust...never used and i think it's an OEM copy..has the floppies too for installing in their original "register today" baggy...if you want it drop me a PM..you can have it for 35 shipped, was going to sell it in fs/ft later this week.

 

[Eli]

Well if the CDs are CDR's, then it's not real. If they're original microsoft discs, then it is.