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| Thread ID: 126467 | 2012-08-29 22:43:00 | Possibly illegal copy of Windows Ultimate | curly (6655) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1297784 | 2012-08-29 22:43:00 | I won a TradeMe auction of Windows 7 upgrade. Though it took almost 3 weeks to arrive, today I received a home recorded copy (both 32 bit and 64 bit) and a Product ID number typed on paper. I was told a dog had destroyed the disks and serial numbers, however he/she just happened to have a copy of the disk on his/her computer. At this point in time, I believe this copy is illegal. I tried going to Microsoft to check the product key, but it turns out I must install the software first. I do not want to install the software without firstly confirming it is legal ( even thought a typed product key is rather shonky to start with). A note with the disks assured me the disk and product were legal, yeah right ! I have emailed Trademe and may get a response in about 12 hours or so. But I dont believe there is much that they will do. Meantime, is there anything else that I should do or could do to check if the disk is or key is, in fact legal ? |
curly (6655) | ||
| 1297785 | 2012-08-29 22:57:00 | I would advise installing Windows in a virtual machine or on a test PC, so as to not affect your main installation. Then validate from there and ring Microsoft if necessary. (Microsoft are more likely to help you than Trade Me.) | pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 1297786 | 2012-08-29 22:58:00 | Go here & report it www.microsoft.com Then, Email trademe back & tell them you have reported this case of software piracy To MS. That may force(scare) Trademe to follow up. Trademe is full of Pirated MS software (Ive seen a few examples). I dont think they really care. They did nothing when I reported software piracy from 1 seller. The dog ate my software The dog ate my homework :lol: |
1101 (13337) | ||
| 1297787 | 2012-08-29 23:11:00 | One other thing. I have seen Pirated MS Software install & activate without issue, only to be flagged as pirated some months later with the MS Piracy notification popping up | 1101 (13337) | ||
| 1297788 | 2012-08-29 23:34:00 | I was told a dog had destroyed the disks and serial numbers, however he/she just happened to have a copy of the disk on his/her computer. Right. Then they can't sell it ca they? So what if it was on their PC... Report it as Piracy to Trademe, ask for your refund (get the sellers contact details off TM for a Disputes Case (in case), and report it to MS as well. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1297789 | 2012-08-30 00:04:00 | Even on the outside chance the seller is being honest a typewritten copy of the key is not a legal key, it must have a COA or it is not original and is by definition a pirated copy. As pctek said if it was destroyed they can't sell it. The copied disks are not important but the key most definately is. I have a photo of an XP key off the side of a case that got destroyed, I know it is legit but no way in hell would I try to sell it. The immediate gut feeling you get from this is that the seller is not being honest, demand your money back. |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1297790 | 2012-08-30 00:56:00 | Do a quick search in Google for the first section of the product key and see if it comes up in any results, this is usually the quickest way to tell if it is an illegal copy. If it shows up the full key in any search results it's pirated. How much did you pay out of interest? |
CYaBro (73) | ||
| 1297791 | 2012-08-30 02:13:00 | Do a quick search in Google for the first section of the product key and see if it comes up in any results, this is usually the quickest way to tell if it is an illegal copy. If it shows up the full key in any search results it's pirated. yep thats the easiest way - any known pirated keys will show in multi places, torrents or other forums. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1297792 | 2012-08-30 03:26:00 | You can also use the telephone option, the pc doesnt have to be connected to the internet when you install it | Gobe1 (6290) | ||
| 1297793 | 2012-08-30 07:17:00 | I tried going to Microsoft to check the product key, but it turns out I must install the software first. I do not want to install the software without firstly confirming it is legal Meantime, is there anything else that I should do or could do to check if the disk is or key is, in fact legal ? Microsoft won't care if you install a pirate copy, it just won't activate or be genuine and as such some features won't work. They won't send the FBI after you, so installing it to test it out is perfectly fine. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
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