Windows XP Pro OEM questions

[DOTC]

I've come across 4 copies of XP Pro OEM. The copies still have the COA attached, but they are opened. I thought about selling them, but I don't think I can if they have been registered. The computers they would have been installed on are now in a trash dump. Judging from the last comp tech that worked here, he probably used a corporate copy for all the comps. Anyway... long story. Anyway to tell if its been activated?

 

[bruceb]

Call Microsoft with the COA Numbers ... they can tell you if they are
already in use or not ... also if they are Blocked for any reason

You would need to speak to a live person on the phone activation
line

 

[DOTC]

I doubt they have been blocked, they have been sitting in a file cabinet for years, unless someone snagged the COA numbers. Do they have a COA 1-800 number?

The phone activation line? Same line used to re-register copies of XP? don't they need a product activation code?

Edit* man i cant type today.

 

[RebateMonger]

Are these GENERIC OEM disks and COA stickers? Or are they Dell, Gateway, etc. versions?

 

[DOTC]

Generic OEM..

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: DOTC
I've come across 4 copies of XP Pro OEM. The copies still have the COA attached, but they are opened. I thought about selling them, but I don't think I can if they have been registered. The computers they would have been installed on are now in a trash dump. Judging from the last comp tech that worked here, he probably used a corporate copy for all the comps. Anyway... long story. Anyway to tell if its been activated?

Legally they where sold with those systems and can't be transfered (regardless if you ran corp versions at the time or not)

 

[DOTC]

"The computers they WOULD have been installed on are now in a trash dump."

Thats the thing, they weren't sold with the systems as far as I know. The machines had 2000 on the originally and were upgraded to XP, but I'm not sure the last tech guy actually used the copies. Thats what I'm trying to find out.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: DOTC
"The computers they WOULD have been installed on are now in a trash dump."

Thats the thing, they weren't sold with the systems as far as I know. The machines had 2000 on the originally and were upgraded to XP, but I'm not sure the last tech guy actually used the copies. Thats what I'm trying to find out.

Unless you are a reseller (e.g. you sell OEM copies along with hardware) then those purchased copies are tied to the hardware them came with (regardless if you ever installed it or not).... If your a reseller, than you should be able to sell those copies along with new motherboards presuming they are indeed not previously used.

 

[DOTC]

alright that'll work. I guess I need to call MS.

 

[pcgeek11]

If they were sold as installed on a system the OEM is required to attach the COA sticker on the case of the system. If the stickers are still with the disk they were not preinstalled on a system. If they are generic OEM disk I would do what ever with the disk and not worry about it.

pcgeek11