Getting a replacement CD from M$ - A Pain?

[ClockerXP]

Hey guys.

I sold a copy of 64-bit Windows on eBay. I got it by trading in one of my 32-bit copies to M$ through the technology upgrade program. I never used or installed the disk and decided to sell it because there were no drivers for my printer.

Anyway, upon receipt, the buyer stated that it was all scratched up and would not install. I told him I'd take it back since he's not interested in calling M$ to have them replace it.

Nonetheless, how painful is the replacement process through M$? And, what happens if this buyer is actually scamming me and has installed and registered the software? Can I still get the disk replaced if it is damaged (i.e. the buyer damaged the disk after installing & registering)?

Thanks,
CxP

 

[stash]

They don't give CDs to people who refer to them as M$

 

[egkenny]

I got a replacement CD from Microsoft but I had to pay for it. For $30 they sent me an XP Pro Upgrade disk. It was one of those CDs with "Not for Retail or OEM Distribution" on it. I told them my CD was scratched up. I did have to read to them the key for the disk.

While I was waiting for the replacement I managed to fix the scratches on the original CD using toothpaste. Now I have two working copies of Windows XP Pro. I have both of them installed now.

BTW, the story sounds kind of fishy to me. If the buyer made a copy and installed it then you may out of luck if you refunded his money. Of course if you can convince Microsoft that he is using a pirated copy of your CD then maybe they will do something about it. You did keep your original receipt from Microsoft didn't you?

You could have saved yourself some grief if you had made the buyer pay for insurance. Then if the CD was damaged during shipment then you would be off the hook.

 

[ClockerXP]

Actually, I did have them pay for insurance. I didn't think of that, dammit. It's already on the way back to me. The seller has a pretty high feedback rating on eBay so I doubt he's scamming me. But I guess we'll see when I get the disk back.

I won't be issuing a refund until I get the disk and verify it still has an unused key with MS. I'm guessing they can check the key for me to make sure it is OK and/or unused.

Where do I find the phone number to call MS?

Thanks,
CxP

 

[ClockerXP]

Nevermind, I found it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;cntactms&style=home

 

[egkenny]

If the disk looks ok you might want to try install it. Do not activate it though. Also do not connect it to the net or it might get activated.

If it ckecks out then you have a choice to make. You either keep good will and refund the money or send it back to buyer and tell him that you can't refund his mpney. It looks like you lose either way.

Even if the key is unused there is no guarentee that the CD was not copied. If he was smart he would wait to get his refund before he installed it.

 

[Pythias]

Originally posted by: STaSh
They don't give CDs to people who refer to them as M$

:laugh:

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: egkenny
I got a replacement CD from Microsoft but I had to pay for it. For $30 they sent me an XP Pro Upgrade disk. It was one of those CDs with "Not for Retail or OEM Distribution" on it. I told them my CD was scratched up. I did have to read to them the key for the disk.

While I was waiting for the replacement I managed to fix the scratches on the original CD using toothpaste. Now I have two working copies of Windows XP Pro. I have both of them installed now.

I think that what you did is breaking the EULA, assuming that you think you now own 2 legal licenses.

 

[egkenny]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: egkenny
I got a replacement CD from Microsoft but I had to pay for it. For $30 they sent me an XP Pro Upgrade disk. It was one of those CDs with "Not for Retail or OEM Distribution" on it. I told them my CD was scratched up. I did have to read to them the key for the disk.

While I was waiting for the replacement I managed to fix the scratches on the original CD using toothpaste. Now I have two working copies of Windows XP Pro. I have both of them installed now.

I think that what you did is breaking the EULA, assuming that you think you now own 2 legal licenses.

I know I broke the EULA. I let that "replacement CD" sit on the shelf for 1-1/2 years before temptation got to me. When I rebuilt my other computer after it died I just hated to reinstall Windows 98 on it.

 

[ClockerXP]

Well, I got the disk back today. It doesn't look defective and I can boot off it or read the contents with Explorer. I called M$. They said they could not tell me if the key has been used. However, they said that only the person in possession of the disk has the ability to use the software. So, if my 'buyer' activated the x64 and sent it back to me, he would be SOL if he needed to reactivate. She said they can tell who has the actual disk by some numbers on the disk. I guess my question is, what is to stop somone from just writing the 'numbers' down?

 

[coolVariable]

I have a WinXP disk that isn't working properly (some of my PCs can read it but some cannot)
How much of a hassle is it to get the CD replaced?
Do I send in the original CD first?

 

[egkenny]

Originally posted by: coolVariable
I have a WinXP disk that isn't working properly (some of my PCs can read it but some cannot)
How much of a hassle is it to get the CD replaced?
Do I send in the original CD first?

No hastle. You keep the original CD but according to the EULA you can not use it again after you obtain the replacement. You just need to call them and read them the key for the CD. If you have a retail copy (boxed CD from store) of Windows XP they will sell you a replacement. If you have an OEM copy (either sold as OEM or included with computer) then they will tell you to contact the company that sold you the CD for help.

 

[egkenny]

Originally posted by: ClockerXP
Well, I got the disk back today. It doesn't look defective and I can boot off it or read the contents with Explorer. I called M$. They said they could not tell me if the key has been used. However, they said that only the person in possession of the disk has the ability to use the software. So, if my 'buyer' activated the x64 and sent it back to me, he would be SOL if he needed to reactivate. She said they can tell who has the actual disk by some numbers on the disk. I guess my question is, what is to stop somone from just writing the 'numbers' down?

As long as someone has the key there probably nothing that can be done to stop him from using a copy of software that was not activated. The key itself is not tied to the actual CD. When activated it is probably passed through some program to verify that is valid. It also resisted and tied to the hardware it was installed on. A valid key is only rejected if it was previously activated on another computer. If I remember right then the database used to tie a Windows XP key with particular computer is reset every 120 days.

Since the CD looks and acts ok then I can think of three possibilities:
1. The buyer simply changed his mind
2. The buyer did not know what he was buying and did not have compatible hardware
3. The buyer copied the CD

All you know for sure is that the buyer lied about the CD condition in order to get a refund. If you decide to be overly nice and refund his money you should at least leave negative feedback.