Windows XP pro.

[Wraith]

I am currently bidding on a brand new copy of Windows XP pro on e-bay.

I have noticed that some are listed as having an un-used licence key (product key / serial key) and some also have a Certificate of Authenticity with them.

I want to be able to register it with Microsoft and get the regular updates. Do I have to have an un-used licence key and a Certificate or will just one suffice?

[ursula62]

Don't ever buy software from anyone other than a licensed vendor. You will probably end up paying for counterfeit illegal copies rather than the real thing.

[Wraith]

I'm only buying from reputable sellers with a good history rating. I will only bid on ones that are clearly advertised as new and un-used and not copies.

 

If it isn't excatly as described I shall use PayPal and E-bay facilities to get my money back.

[BillyNoMates]

If you are happy doing that, then the Certificate of Autheticity simply confirms that it is genuine MS issued software. They should ALL have that - it's just an holographic label.

The most important part is the licence or product key. This MUST be unused.

I'll admit that I've never installed XP but it ties itself to the hardware serial number of the CPU. I.e. once installed on one PC and registered, it is supposed not to be possible to do the same on another PC.

I am sure someone else will come along and correct me ! But those are the basics.

[Tweed]

I think BillyNoMates advice relates to XP Home only. You should have a lot less hassle with XP Pro, you don't have to activate it.

[Wraith]

But I want to activate it, so that I can go to the Microsoft site and get the latest downloads.

 

From what I've been reading It won't register without the Certificate. Is this true and do I need a licence key as well or are the two things the same?

[TEAK36]

You DO have to activate XP Pro.I have a 'dodgy' copy of XP PRo and have installed it on several computers using the same licence number.You have to activate XP Pro within 30 days otherwise the program locks up.You just phone the number stated in the activation screen and follow the instructions.On the 2 occasions I had problems with activation, I got through to one of their service reps who asked me for the first 5 numbers of the code,and the service rep then gave me a new code to enter for the activation.It really was all very simple.

[ian.miller]

Tweed,

Are you thinking of XP corporate, that only requires a key.

Been a while since I installed XP, but to get updates you do not (currently) have to activate anything, although that is changing this year when the update software will run a check of your key against known illegal serials.

However, this will only affect the widely distributed numbers, if you get one off a mate from an otherwise official source then it wont pick that up, simply not possible.

[Tweed]

It could have been the Corp version. I did have to change the product key as far as I can remember, but since that, I've had no trouble getting updates from Microsoft.