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Thread ID: 97776	2009-02-27 07:59:00	COA woes	minster (9180)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
751830	2009-02-27 07:59:00	I purchased a 2nd hand computer through TradeMe this week. When it arrived by post today I checked the COA number on the case and used "Product Key Explorer" to verify the XP Product Key. They do not match:( On emailing the seller he eventually came up with a very long explaination on why it was ok and legal. This is quoted from his reply: "The PC comes with an original Microsoft OEM COA licence that is for that particular motherboard and processor." I believe that I have been ripped off:eek: What do you guys say?	minster (9180)
751831	2009-02-27 08:15:00	Seen this happen lots of times - if the PC is a name brand, Eg: Dell, HP/Compaq - you can bet your bottom dollar that unless the OS has been reinstalled manually by using the COA on the case then the One in the Machine if its a factory install, or recovery CD install will be completely different. ANYONE who has a factory install will have a different product key to the one on the case. Try reinstalling using the COA from the factory install and MS will say its not a valid license even if you ring and talk to them they say to use the COA on the side of the case - using the COA on the side of the case will work fine. Had in the workshop several times 3 -4 HP's all the same model, all with the same factory product key.	wainuitech (129)
751832	2009-02-27 08:21:00	Thanks Wainui, Are you saying that if I do a reinstall and use the serial on the case COA, that it will activate okay.... sorry if this question sounds dumb:)	minster (9180)
751833	2009-02-27 08:36:00	No Question is dumb. :) Yes you can use the COA on the side of the case - all perfectly legal - usually works without worry Long winded answer---->> What the OEM's use ( big places like HP, Dell) they have whats called a digital certificate embedded in the OS, which is approved by MS to be installed in multi PC's - by wiping a drive, and using that same product key there is no digital certificate - hence comes up as invalid. SOMETIMES if you use the COA on the case it comes up that it's already been activated - this can happen if someone dishonest writes down the COA and uses it for them selves (or "mates") or for some other reason something screws up -- If this happens you simply call MS follow through the phone prompts, and when asked by the MS rep, all you need to say is as far as you know its not installed on any other PC. You are not telling lies - for as far as YOU know its not. They give you a new code - and alls well. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Edited: Just had a wicked thought--- Not saying though :xmouth: naughty naughty (no devil Smilie)	wainuitech (129)
751834	2009-02-27 18:56:00	Very strange set up .. I think! Last night I tried reformatting and loading the os again using the coa off the case (Came up as invalid) Then I tried again later using serial key that "Prduct Key Explorer" had picked up earlier off the original os set up and it was accepted to start with allowing me to complete the full installation. However, when I finally got on the net to activate windows it came up as invalid. At a loss of what to do I tried typing in the case coa into the online activation box and this was accepted. So now it's going again but if not illegal, is this an acceptable or morally correct way of setting up computers for sale? The seller assured me that this is normal practise in the IT Tech world and that he has been in IT business for 15 years.	minster (9180)
751835	2009-02-27 19:15:00	The COA needs to match the CD you use. That is, if COA is XP Home OEM then thats what you need to install with., As opposed to XP Pro or XP REtail. Then it accepts the COA. Also read it carefully - you can get things wrong - B and 8 for instance.	pctek (84)
751836	2009-02-27 22:07:00	Its all legal - no worries there - as long as it activated and you have run windows updates, it will bring through the WGA which checks to see if the key is legit or not . If it wouldn't activate you simply call MS and tell them you had to install from the COA on the case - no big deal . Then I tried again later using serial key that "Prduct Key Explorer" had picked up earlier off the original os set up and it was accepted to start with allowing me to complete the full installation . However, when I finally got on the net to activate windows it came up as invalid . YEP! I mentioned that before . What you ask about is this an acceptable or morally correct way of setting up computers for sale? The seller assured me that this is normal practise in the IT Tech world and that he has been in IT business for 15 years . Heres what happens - If the company is big, HP for example they use what I guess you could call a bulk OEM Product key issued by MS along with the digital certificate . Theres no way if a Place like HP is going to have someone sitting there typing in different COA's for every PC they make . Some smaller places and the first that comes to mind ( Shuddering) is Mercury Computers, they would build a system, image the drive, then run whats called "sysprep", in sysprep you have different options that you can select for the end user, Eg: enter own Product key ( the COA on the case), select country etc . HP's do this but use the OEM bulk key, thats why if you buy a Name brand PC, on the very first start up, you can normally enter your details, name, Country, Tick " I agree" etc . Lots of smaller places ( I do this as well sometimes) if you build a particular PC as a standard unit all the exact same components, you can do 1 install, load in what ever apps you want, then run sysprep through it, make an image of that PC - then on the next one you build, simply load up the image you made before - Normal install may take 1 . 5 + hours to load windows, drivers - with an image all done in maybe 10 minutes, run the system, fill in the new persons data, product key - done . "Real " Computer shops - as ones that build to order actually supply you with the OS when you buy the PC- so theres no problems with getting the Wrong CD/DVD for the product code .	wainuitech (129)
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