Windows 2000 Professional OEM $90

[RVN]

Windows 2000 Professional Full Version, OEM at #9 Software for $90

Anyone ever deal w/them?

RVN

 

[Lanyap]

I've ordered a couple of OEM software packages from them with no problem. The Win2000 package you're seeing for $90 says no COA (Certificate of Authenticity). I'm not sure how big a deal it is if you don't have a COA.

 

[RVN]

Of what utility is a COA? Does a home-user need one?

Thanks

RVN

 

[ZippZ]

I think a COA is like a software license showing that you own the software. You can have a COA & burn a Windows CD and it should be legal. on the other hand, I think if you have a real Win CD but no COA, I think it's illegal.

 

[ZippZ]

Nevermind about the post below. looks like the package includes a license already. Don't know what a COA is good for. Just throw it away : ).

 

[RVN]

I'm confused. In the description it states that the license is on the CD. What is the difference? The COA is just a document stating the software's authenticity and not testament of ownership. Is that right?

The description reads:
Windows 2000 Professional
Full Version, OEM. Includes CD, manual, key code, license on CD. NO COA. LIMITED QNTY!! $90.



Thanks

RVN

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I bought my OEM version of Windows 2000 Profession from #9 a while back... right when W2K first come out...

the COA is that little 3 inch by 1 inch sticker that comes with it..

if you look on the left, approximately a half inch in.. going from bottom to top, it says, "Certificate of Authenticity"..
and then centered, is the "Product Key" with the long @$$ key below, and then a bar code like area..

Windows 98SE and before, it was posted on the front of the "Getting Started" manual..

So, that makes no sense for it to say it has a license, but no COA.. sounds kind of crazy to me..
Who knows though!

 

[ddjkdg]

What's also crazy is that 2 down from it you can buy a "Windows 2000 Professional OEM License" for another $90...

 

[Desslok]

When you buy a "Windows 2000 Professional OEM License" you are usally doing it for a group of computers you are upgrading. So you can have one copy of the disc but all the liceness to be legal.

Chris

 

[TampaFlash]

Just my 2cents...

I just Bought an OEM version of MS OFFICE 2000 and the COA is the document that has the product key on it from Micro$oft. It is "your assurance" that the product is a genuine Micro$oft product. If the CD has a sticker on it you can bet it is a pirated copy. Not making judgments here, but IMHO pirated is not right, especially when you can get a legit OEM product at a reasonable?[can't believe I said that] price. As an addendum, I also do not think ANY Micro$oft product is reasonably priced. The pirated copies have no product support from Micro$oft, The OEM product has no product support from Micro$oft. For that matter the retail boxed product might as well NOT have any product support! [but it does...Hrumph...] Let your own conscience be your guide.

 

[apoppin]

If you are a business user you will want a COA.

If you are a home user, it is not important. Buying a Win2000 O/S without a COA from #9 Software is a legal copy. Buying an OEM copy means you should buy a new HD or computer (to be perfectly legal).

I bought a Win2000 Upgrade from them almost a year ago from them (I think - or Direct Deals, another good company - actually I am not sure, I have bought multiple times from both companys - good service!) for $68 which was good for a clean install (to previous Win users).

Good deal.

 

[AuctionHugh]

We need to upgrade about 15 computers to win2000 pro this year. Do you guys think there is any risk in buying one CD and 15 COA's from these folks? MicroSchloft keeps breathing down our necks to do a license audit, which we may have to do sometime in the next year or two. Any knowledgable opinions or experience on this? Thanks.



<< I've ordered a couple of OEM software packages from them with no problem. The Win2000 package you're seeing for $90 says no COA (Certificate of Authenticity). I'm not sure how big a deal it is if you don't have a COA. >>

 

[Softballslug]

From the Microsoft point of view....

IF the OEM software does not include both the CD and the COA it is NOT a legal copy...

 

[Richard98]

Not to crap on the thread, but you may want to check out the FS forum here. I bought an upgrade version from a fellow anandtecher for considerably less than $90 and it has the COA.

 

[apoppin]

<< From the Microsoft point of view....

IF the OEM software does not include both the CD and the COA it is NOT a legal copy... >>


Fortunately, from a legal point of view, we don't have to care about M$'s point of view.

Buying from Direct Deals or #9 Software without a COA but with the license IS legal. MS is well aware of these companys and they are operating within the law.

 

[Jhhnn]

I think apoppin is correct, MS keeps a close eye on grey-market vendors, particularly in the US. It's the license that matters, no diff what form it comes in.

The software is extremely likely to be genuine, certainly no home user could be held accountable for being the victim of fraud in any event. Business users should contact MS and/or their own lawyers for advice, the rules of due diligence are different there.

Several outfits buy the excess from OEM's, then resell it. MS creates the situation with the constant release of "new" operating systems. While MS would like to stop the practice, they haven't been willing to "put their money where their mouth is" and buy it back at the original(or any) price. Apparently, they think that OEM's should just eat the loss- obviously OEM's disagree....

 

[surd615]

Just as an FYI, the NFR copies of Windows XP that Microsoft sent out a few days ago also do not have a COA. All they have is a sticker on the back with the serial number on it.

 

[WhineBaby]

Even further down the linked vendor site is OEM XP professional for "$28."

When you explore the link, however, the price comes up at a more realistic $148--still not a bad deal compared to the $299 retail.

 

[BSRdr]

Ok here is a site to help you tell what is legal.
Microsoft Anti Piracy Link

 

[MrHappyMonkey]

I am thinkin of buying these for my dad's office since we are upgrading the entire office over to Windows XP Pro. These are OEM copies (XP Pro is from Compaq OEM program)of the software, so "legaly" they are not legal. I was speaking with a DELL Software specialist today while configuring a new server for the office and mentioned the site and the price. He is saying what everone else is saying above my post. For the most part, these keys are legal and go with MS's EULA.

 

[Lanyap]

<< We need to upgrade about 15 computers to win2000 pro this year. Do you guys think there is any risk in buying one CD and 15 COA's from these folks? MicroSchloft keeps breathing down our necks to do a license audit, which we may have to do sometime in the next year or two. Any knowledgable opinions or experience on this? Thanks. >>


Buying 1 package with CD, License and COA and then 14 packages with just License and COA should be ok. The license and COA are the key to being legal. You do not have to have a CD for each PC. However, I am not a legal expert on this issue. M$ and the BSA (Business Software Alliance?) have been hitting businesses pretty hard about licensing issues. In some cases they are bullying businesses to pay for higher priced packages.

 

[AuctionHugh]

In a thread on FatWaldo about this, someone mentioned that OEM versions of Windowz are created specifically for certain machines. Does anyone have information about this? Is there a good reason to think that the Win2k CDs they are selling will work on any PC? Thanks for the help...

 

[Jhhnn]

AuctionHugh-

The Recovery Disks shipped out with many OEM computers are machine-specific. Full OEM versions of Windows are just that, full versions. No free tech support from ms in the first xyz days that comes with retail versions, but other than that, just the same in my experience. MS support slurpeth anyway, IMHO.

 

[apoppin]

<< Text >>



<< Is there a good reason to think that the Win2k CDs they are selling will work on any PC? >>


What #9 Software is selling will work with any computer.

The OEM recovery CDs that certain manufacturers create are machine-specific.