Gave a computer away to friend, he sold it to someone else, it broke down.

[VirtualLarry]

Now that "someone else" (who is not really someone I even know), is trying to get back to me for warranty service.

WTF? NO WARRANTY, BUDDY.

Computer worked just before I gave it away, I booted it up. Glad I did, because I had to re-seat the video card.

So, some time, after asking my friend if he was using the PC, and he wasn't, I casually mentioned that he might want to sell it.

So he sold it to his neighbor, and friend, for a couple hundred.

The other party, apparently had some issues with, and immediately ripped it apart, and made some frankensystems.

Now they're coming back after me for a Windows key, because they moved the SSD to another PC, and it's asking to activate.

 

[RockinZ28]

No good deed goes unpunished.

Sounds like your friends problem. Tell your friend to hand over that couple hundred for warranty services.

 

[Crono]

You need a new friend.

EDIT: nvm, saw you suggested he sell it. He needs a new friend/neighbor. No one should expect a warranty from a PC built by a friend of a friend unless it's a written warranty.

 

[child of wonder]

Jesus fuck I'm glad I don't do anything with PCs or sell them anymore.

 

[sdifox]

Tell them to prove it is your responsibility.

 

[Red Squirrel]

This is one of the things that made me stop doing personal computer related work, such as helping someone buy a computer or building one for someone. If you do, you are expected to provide a life time warranty for free.

I sometimes think about getting back into it as extra income then realize that it's really not worth my time. Especially with the last few versions of windows sucking balls. I really don't want to have to deal with that crap. Especially Windows 8.x. Ughhh what a nightmare to work on that.

 

[bbhaag]

I hope you tell them to fuck off. Unless this is one of the pc's you loaded with one of those questionable Windows copies you acquired from a Bonanza seller.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I just realized, when I ran my business I used to always just load pirated copies of Windows... I don't think I would do that now days. Thing is, a license would cost more than what the computer is even worth lol. I'd probably find a Linux distro I can become super familiar with and just make that the standard. If they don't like it they can then pay for a Windows license. Out of all the computers I ever fixed I don't think a single person ever had the installation CDs that came with it. That shit used to piss me off. I religiously keep those for every build I've ever made. It all goes in the motherboard box and everything for that particular PC is in that box.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I hope you tell them to *** off. Unless this is one of the pc's you loaded with one of those questionable Windows copies you acquired from a Bonanza seller.

Nope, those keys were for personal use only. This one was loaded with Win7 from a Retail Upgrade Family Pack, then upgraded to Win10 Home during Microsoft's offer for the free upgrade.

 

[Imp]

Ah, the joys of product liability...

Seriously, sounds like it's your friends problem. Not a lawyer.

 

[Harrod]

This is one of those things that I hate about getting married, I feel like I inherited 5 more users that can't seem to do anything on their own.

I really need to print this out and tape it to everyone's computer that asks me for help.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tech_support_cheat_sheet.png

This is exactly why I no longer give people old computers, it's much easier to donate them with a linux distro on them and claim a worry free tax deduction.

 

[SKORPI0]

Your friend should have mentioned to his neighbor that the computer is sold as is, no warranty.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Your friend should have mentioned to his neighbor that the computer is sold as is, no warranty.

Yeah, no shit. My friend was like, "why should this be my problem?", and I was like "Well, then, why should it be MY problem????!".

He was like, "You told me to sell it, so you're more obligated than I am."

I was like "WTF?"

 

[Chocu1a]

Tell him to give you the money he received.

 

[mxnerd]

You forgot to put a "No warranty" tag on the PC. And put your friend on call block list.

 

[sdifox]

some friend

 

[BoomerD]

I fail to see how this is in any way the OP's problem.

He GAVE it to a friend, friend sold it, buyer cannibalized it...buyer's problem, 100%.

 

[DesiPower]

Kill the friend who took it for free and then sold it for profit and then had the audacity to give the buyer your info. Sell his organs for profit, use some money to fix his computer, buy yourself another one for the rest.

(Just to be clear, it's just a joke, I know people are real sensitive around here these days...)

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't see what the big deal is. All the guy is asking for is the Windows key. If you have it give it too him, if you don't don't.

 

[Sonikku]

Now that "someone else" (who is not really someone I even know), is trying to get back to me for warranty service.

WTF? NO WARRANTY, BUDDY.

Computer worked just before I gave it away, I booted it up. Glad I did, because I had to re-seat the video card.

So, some time, after asking my friend if he was using the PC, and he wasn't, I casually mentioned that he might want to sell it.

So he sold it to his neighbor, and friend, for a couple hundred.

The other party, apparently had some issues with, and immediately ripped it apart, and made some frankensystems.

Now they're coming back after me for a Windows key, because they moved the SSD to another PC, and it's asking to activate.

You need better friends. Give me your next PC and I won't sell it to a holes I promise.

 

[MrSquished]

go take a shit on your friends lawn.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't see what the big deal is. All the guy is asking for is the Windows key. If you have it give it too him, if you don't don't.

Oh, I did. It's just the premise that my friend got a PC free-of-charge, NO WARRANTY, and now he sold it to a guy and it broke down, either on it's own, or after he started swapping parts (more likely), and is now bothering ME, rather than just manning up and either refunding his friend's $200, or telling him no dice, AS-IS and cash and carry.

And there should be no need for a Windows key, Win10 was activated no problems, and should re-activate on the same motherboard no problems. The problem was the friend of my friend wanted to swap the Windows install into a totally separate rig. Which requires the purchase of another Windows key.

Edit: The PSU may have been the original one that came with the iMicro case. In which case, it was a pretty shitty PSU. It was enough for the lower-powered GT740 card that was in there, along with the non-overclocked Athlon II X4, but it probably didn't have much headroom. Plus, it was like 4 years old, if not older, although it was in storage and not in service all of that time.

So if the buyer fancied themselves a "PC builder", and set out to massively upgrade this rig (new GPU), without upgrading or replacing the PSU, that was probably a mistake.

And if I really cared, perhaps I should have replaced it with a brand-name PSU before I "shipped" it out the door. OTOH, it was FREE. If I had to replace the PSU, I would have had to charge. And it WAS working when it went out the door.

N.B.: My "for pay" PCs get more care (better, name-brand PSUs, etc.), and come with a warranty.

I guess I should have said, give me the $200 you made off of it, and get $150 from the guy you sold it to additionally (that's what I would have sold it for, with an upgraded PSU), and I'll fix it for him.

Edit: And to answer the question, it wasn't just the Windows key. My friend was asking me to make an appt. to look at the PC and fix it for his friend.

Thanks for letting me rant.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You forgot to put a "No warranty" tag on the PC. And

Is there such a thing?

 

[Paladin3]

Tell him absolutely no. He will keep coming after you for free tech support as long as he thinks you might give in and provide it. Unless the friend implied some kind of warranty when he sold the system as used, he doesn't owe him anything either.

It's simple to retrieve a windows key from the existing installation before swapping in a new hard drive and doing a fresh OS install. It's not your fault the guy who bought the system forgot or didn't know enough to do so.

 

[Carson Dyle]

How do you see that as a "warranty" request? Are they asking you to troubleshoot a motherboard problem, or a program crashing, or an overheating problem?

Question: Is what they're asking - to move the SSD to another system - simply not possible with the OS license that was sold to them? If not, say so, and be done. If it is possible ... help them out.

Is this really that complicated?