can i trust buying windows 7 pro from ebay?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
luv2liv

luv2liv

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
3,500
94
91
looking on ebay, someone lists:
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional PRO 64 Bit Full Version with SP1
GENUINE REFURBISHER EDITION
$40
never even heard of a refurbish edition. it is legit? looking to install win7 pro for a new build with intel i7 67xx. i cant stand win8 nor 10
 
N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,544
2
81
It's anything but legit.

There are two possibilities.
Diversion or theft.

Diverted and stolen keys subsequently discovered could become revoked, but now you already know ahead of time you're buying a knock off.
 
N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,544
2
81
I don't think you can buy W7 from MS anymore. eBay should be fine if you can find sealed, retail box, retail version. Make sure you read carefully. If it doesn't say full and retail, it probably isn't.

The real perk of getting the retail version is that you're buying a one user license that can be transferred. If you build or come across a nice hardware later, you can move it.

The system builder version becomes affixed to the machine you install it on and can not be moved.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,122
1,738
126
NeoPTLD said:
I don't think you can buy W7 from MS anymore. eBay should be fine if you can find sealed, retail box, retail version. Make sure you read carefully. If it doesn't say full and retail, it probably isn't.

The real perk of getting the retail version is that you're buying a one user license that can be transferred. If you build or come across a nice hardware later, you can move it.

The system builder version becomes affixed to the machine you install it on and can not be moved.
Click to expand...

Well, someone could clarify this: I'm facing only the possibility of a "situation" in the next couple months.

I purchased an OEM "white-box" (it's an envelope now) 64-bit Pro SP1 around September 2 from Newegg, paying the usual price (~$120 more or less). I wouldn't know how those cardboard envelopes and discs appeared on the market or when, but they are quite genuine.

So unless MS's policies about hardware changes have changed for Windows 7, you would re-activate by telephone with the proper answer about "only one computer."

I'm building a system. In this regard, I make purchases in excess of requirements, because it can facilitate convenience, and I can always use the leftovers in unforeseen applications. So I bought a license to Win7SP1Pro, and a license for Win10 -- also in a similar white-cardboard envelope.

I bought my motherboard because it had certain features, particularly 12-phase-power-design which I thought was "top-tier" because I'd forgotten we've gone through a couple generations of CPUs. "Top tier" now features 16-phase.

I am thinking about shelling out for a different Z170 motherboard sometime in the future. Some time after that, I may start looking for a Skylake or Kaby processor, and swap one processor assignment. I can't say, I don't know.

If I have to pay for another Windows license and installation, I will be peeved. But I can see how I could also avoid that, too, so that one of the systems only runs Win 7, and the other runs 10. I was going to create a dual-boot affair, but that's something I can sacrifice.
 
Last edited:
N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,544
2
81
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. There are many things I don't understand about the technical side of how activation works but the entitlement is governed by the terms of your license.

If this makes it easier to understand, bypassing security to gain access to your car is legit when you're locked out due to technical reasons or lost key. But when you call for road side assistance, they would want a reasonable proof you're privileged to access.

They consider motherboard as the computer. You're only allowed to replace it with an identical model or equivalent (as in what they'd give you if you were under warranty, but the exact same SKU is unavailable) due to a failure. OEM/system builder is computer bound and it's tied to the specific unit first installed on.

Full retail is one-at-a-time bound, so you can vacate the existing computer and move-in the license to a new computer. IIRC there's a prohibition against moving it back and forth between two computers that are in use to avoid buying two copies.

You may have to call and tell them you bought a new computer and activate on the new computer, but you can do so in confidence knowing the license terms privilege you to do so. Ideally it would go like a lost credit card meaning that the "old" one becomes deactivated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom