Re-selling a Windows computer

Wrong. PCs do not come with a disc. That is sooooo 1990's....

They come with recovery drives now, Terry.

But he shouldn't be selling them, plural, all with the same key, it can only be legally used on one. Unless it's a VLK (volume license key) in which case his selling it would be illegal.

If the guy on CL is just an individual selling off a few used PCs (or newly built, for that matter), I know of no rule/law that says the PC needs to have any such sticker on it. Especially if, like mine, they're PCs he built himself.

No, these are Dell computers he bought after a few companies upgraded. They have 2 year old hardware. He says he uses the same disc to install Windows 7 on them, then sells them on Craigslist.

I'm just curious what the EULA says so I can tell him.

Simple..........One key, one computer...........

Yeah that's what I thought. It's obvious these computers came with Vista. They are running Core 2 Duo CPUs. Old stuff. Where in the EULA does it say that so I can tell him?

Page one....

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.

a. One Copy per Computer.

You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the "licensed computer."

b. Licensed Computer.

You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.

c. Number of Users.

Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.

Using the same disc to install them is fine as long as he's using a different CD key on each machine.

You can buy multiple Keys from MS and use the same disc to upgrade each PC.. but each one would need it's own Key-code. Computer shops do it all the time..

Report him to Microsoft. Let them work it out.

Here's another kicker..

Back when XP was still being installed on Dell systems, you could NOT activate the key that was on the sticker unless you used the Dell OS installation CD/DVD. 

Not sure if they carried that on with Vista or not. I know for a fact that now, the key is burned in to the motherboard and will not require activation in the traditional sense. Once again, I sincerely doubt that this is the case with these systems.

The above comments are fact though. 1 key, 1 pc.

I can't begin to tell you how many flea markets I have gone to and each has had a guy with a table selling used PC's with almost any version of Windows on it. I always wondered about the legal issues of that.

I would think if they have the knowledge to restore and clean up old PC's to sell, the would avoid all that and all the update crap, etc., and just put some version of linux on them.

Blasphemer...

I think MS might have enough on its hands, what with millions upon millions of illegal downloads of Win 7 and Win 8, using just a handful of product keys and/or activation cracks to run them.  Apparently MS is looking into an instance of 2.7 million illegal downloads of Windows 8 that involves just the one license key.

Makes no sense running pirated Windows... so glad I got my copies if Win 8 when they were going for 40 bucks.

Makes me wonder what the point is of the pain-in-the-neck activation process.

Once activated and your copy of Windows is authenticated, you are then entitled to all the downloads and updates available for your particular version.  A pirate copy does not qualify for these benefits and misses out on various security patches and etc.   Like I said, it makes no sense to go with a pirated version... one would be left vulnerable without those security updates.

Starkers, I think you misunderstood me - I meant it doesn't seem to be achieving the desired result - stopping the o/s leaches. 

Okay, yeah, and I went off on a different tangent because of it.  No, the activation process isn't stopping the pirates from using bootleg copies, just making it more difficult/complicated for honest folk with additional hoops to jump through.  What I don't understand is how just one product key can be activated on so many systems.  Like if I or anybody needs to reinstall a legitimate copy Windows, and the product key has recently been in use, we have to go through all the hassle of ringing MS to get a new activation code, so why can't MS determine that a product key has been used multiple times with illegal copies and block those activations and/or render tham useless? 

It seems to me that MS has the technology at its disposal to do this... or is there another agenda... like making more money from litigation/taking all those pirates to court than it can from selling copies of Win 8? 

Hehe, how I love a good conspiracy theory.... even when there really isn't a conspiracy going on.

Ya that's what went through my mind, that and how sometimes you have to call them even if you've done some hardware changes on a machine.  I haven't seen the story, don't know exactly what happened there, but something doesn't quite add up and seems like a big systemic "FAIL".

Guess they'd better fire the CEO.    That always gets lots free publicity anyway, the "GoTo" move, and gets the masses cheering.

kona, picture this:

IT Department decides to upgrade; 100-1,000  plus PC's get returned on lease. Odds are, all will be wiped clean and sold to wholesalers. Still plenty of life in them.

Anyone could take 1-100 of those and install the same OS (OEM) that came on the rig using the same disc on every machine. It's the key on the COA sticker that has to make it past validation, not the install disk. Reloading an OEM machine and getting it activated with its original OEM key is legit , not hard to do and needed sometimes.  If that sticker is missing, well, time for some recycling unless the hardware is new enough to be worth buying an OS for it.

Now if I bought 100 Win 7 machines and wanted to sell them loaded with Windows 8, then I'd be shelling out a good chunk of cash for those keys.

If I bought 100 XP or Vista machines....I'd need my head checked

My drink is now on my monitor....thanks bunches. 

If I've said it once, I've said it.....well, once.

The key is what you pay MS for, not the disc.

I've seen computers using a key that belongs to another computer attempt to authenticate with Microsoft and it works.

 And they only just got him, too.  Now if it was still Ballmer I'd be all for it... in fact I'd stand in line to sign the petition.

That's what DaveRI and I were saying, that the activation process is a farce when honest customers are made to jump through hoops, while pirates and other miscreants too often get away with activating illegal copies.