VirtualLarry
No Lifer
I bought 8 copies of XP Pro SP3 OEM off some guy on craigslist. To my untrained eye, they looked genuine.
But I came across this on MS's site:
"TIP: Inspect the packaging to make sure that it’s of high quality. As said above, you should see the COA affixed to the outside of the packaging. You should not, however, see the 25-character product key on the outside of the package. Microsoft will never print a product key directly on the software packaging and it should not be visible prior to purchase. "
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?displaylang=en&pg=prepurchase
The XP disc with the hologram is in a paper sleeve with a UPC code sticker attached, and there is a COA sticker, and they are shrink-wrapped in a package with a small user's guide.
I am confused by the fact that MS claims that the product key will not be visible prior to purchase, but the COA will be on the outside of the package. The COA has the product key on it. So if the COA is visible, so is the product key.
Edit: Damn, they are counterfeit. Check this page out:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/counterfeit/gallery/high.aspx?displaylang=en
My discs have a small ridge on the face of them at the edge of the hologram, and a few "bubbles" visible, so the hologram is actually a sticker. And the "port-holes" on the COA are too clean-cut.
But I came across this on MS's site:
"TIP: Inspect the packaging to make sure that it’s of high quality. As said above, you should see the COA affixed to the outside of the packaging. You should not, however, see the 25-character product key on the outside of the package. Microsoft will never print a product key directly on the software packaging and it should not be visible prior to purchase. "
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?displaylang=en&pg=prepurchase
The XP disc with the hologram is in a paper sleeve with a UPC code sticker attached, and there is a COA sticker, and they are shrink-wrapped in a package with a small user's guide.
I am confused by the fact that MS claims that the product key will not be visible prior to purchase, but the COA will be on the outside of the package. The COA has the product key on it. So if the COA is visible, so is the product key.
Edit: Damn, they are counterfeit. Check this page out:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/counterfeit/gallery/high.aspx?displaylang=en
My discs have a small ridge on the face of them at the edge of the hologram, and a few "bubbles" visible, so the hologram is actually a sticker. And the "port-holes" on the COA are too clean-cut.
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