Comments on: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate sells on eBay for £6.50 instead of £229.99 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/ Business, economics, property and technology news Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:40:37 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dodgy Windows 7 key in 'stops working' shock | Caledonian Mercury - Business and Technology http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-1422 Dodgy Windows 7 key in 'stops working' shock | Caledonian Mercury - Business and Technology Wed, 26 May 2010 09:35:29 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-1422 [...] the end of January I described how keys sold for a few pounds on eBay were being used to activate copies of Windows 7. I bought [...]<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=1422&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> [...] the end of January I described how keys sold for a few pounds on eBay were being used to activate copies of Windows 7. I bought [...]

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]]> By: Angel http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 Angel Sun, 02 May 2010 03:34:29 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-1151 Have you contacted Microsoft. I got passed around to three different people and nobody wanted to tell me the truth. I talked to the Piracy team and they booted me to the Genuine advantage team. I asked does MS sell keys in bulk. They wouldn't answer and suggested I talk to Pre-sales. They transfered me to pre-sales and that person was confused about my question. I explained the Ebay sellers and she wouldn't answer my question only that they are working with Ebay regarding windows software on ebay. They she said I needed to talk to the Piracy team or Windows Genuine team. Like I said in my other post, MS needs to protect the consumer by just coming out and saying they don't sell keys in bulk to, you need a COA, you can use any disk to install the operating system as long as you have a Authentic COA, we don't sell operating systems with built in KEYS (unless it is from a major computer manufacturer like HP, Dell, etc).<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=1151&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Have you contacted Microsoft. I got passed around to three different people and nobody wanted to tell me the truth. I talked to the Piracy team and they booted me to the Genuine advantage team. I asked does MS sell keys in bulk. They wouldn’t answer and suggested I talk to Pre-sales. They transfered me to pre-sales and that person was confused about my question. I explained the Ebay sellers and she wouldn’t answer my question only that they are working with Ebay regarding windows software on ebay. They she said I needed to talk to the Piracy team or Windows Genuine team.

Like I said in my other post, MS needs to protect the consumer by just coming out and saying they don’t sell keys in bulk to, you need a COA, you can use any disk to install the operating system as long as you have a Authentic COA, we don’t sell operating systems with built in KEYS (unless it is from a major computer manufacturer like HP, Dell, etc).

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]]> By: Angel http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-1150 Angel Sun, 02 May 2010 03:27:00 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-1150 Purchased my Windows 7 Key from Ebay on Dec 1st, 2009. Passed windows genuine validation. Today May 1st, 2010, re-ran Genuine validation and was told the key is blocked. Microsoft needs to come out and say the following: 1) We don't sell Keys in bulk directly to the consumers 2) You must have a COA 3) We post all the blacklisted keys so consumers will not be duped Microsoft doesn't care about the consumers so why should I care about them.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=1150&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Purchased my Windows 7 Key from Ebay on Dec 1st, 2009. Passed windows genuine validation. Today May 1st, 2010, re-ran Genuine validation and was told the key is blocked.

Microsoft needs to come out and say the following:
1) We don’t sell Keys in bulk directly to the consumers
2) You must have a COA
3) We post all the blacklisted keys so consumers will not be duped

Microsoft doesn’t care about the consumers so why should I care about them.

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]]> By: smithy http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-737 smithy Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:18:05 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-737 I am one such user who bought a "legit, authentic windows 7 ultimate key" from ebay. it worked fine, installed and activated with no issues. the issue came 3 months later when i downloaded XP mode to run older software that windows 7 would not run. As a consequence of being allowed to download xp mode, i was 'forced' to download WGA and run it... next thing i know i am being told that my windows 7 is no longer activated and i must get a new key... confused i tried to re-activate and was told the key was blocked. so, i am now without a 'legit' version of windows due to Microsoft's validation system. so, was I running a counterfeit version of windows 7 for the past 3 months, or has Microsoft decided that my "authentic, genuine and fully activate-able key" is no longer that... and am I entitled to know why they believe that to be...? i sold my vista ultimate for $20, with its original key. The new owner has had no problems. I was told by my eBay seller that the keys were from copies of windows 7 that were supplied with new computers but that the office were using windows xp on them instead... the cheap price i paid ($26) was because it was for the key only and not the disk, which i already have from another laptop that came with windows 7... so, who's frauding who?<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=737&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> I am one such user who bought a “legit, authentic windows 7 ultimate key” from ebay.

it worked fine, installed and activated with no issues.

the issue came 3 months later when i downloaded XP mode to run older software that windows 7 would not run. As a consequence of being allowed to download xp mode, i was ‘forced’ to download WGA and run it… next thing i know i am being told that my windows 7 is no longer activated and i must get a new key… confused i tried to re-activate and was told the key was blocked.

so, i am now without a ‘legit’ version of windows due to Microsoft’s validation system.
so, was I running a counterfeit version of windows 7 for the past 3 months, or has Microsoft decided that my “authentic, genuine and fully activate-able key” is no longer that… and am I entitled to know why they believe that to be…?

i sold my vista ultimate for $20, with its original key. The new owner has had no problems. I was told by my eBay seller that the keys were from copies of windows 7 that were supplied with new computers but that the office were using windows xp on them instead… the cheap price i paid ($26) was because it was for the key only and not the disk, which i already have from another laptop that came with windows 7…

so, who’s frauding who?

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]]> By: onebraal http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-165 onebraal Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:25:37 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-165 I suspect that Bill Wallace finds his Linux useable, rather than suable. If it is easy to sue, it could be expensive for him<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=165&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> I suspect that Bill Wallace finds his Linux useable, rather than suable. If it is easy to sue, it could be expensive for him

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]]> By: Nick Clayton http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Nick Clayton Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:03:14 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-129 I've just checked eBay and there are still keys for sale, but the number of vendors on the UK site has dropped pretty dramatically. Most of those remaining seem to be in Vietnam. On Ebay's US site there are still plenty of keys for sale. They're not just for various versions of Windows 7 but for Microsoft Office as well. A little more digging and I found one of the 'wholesalers' who'll sell you bundles of 100 assorted activation keys for around $400. "Yes, they are authentic and are straight from Microsoft. Yes, they will pass WGA. I order keys in very high amounts and get them for a good deal, I pass the good price I get on to you."<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=129&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> I’ve just checked eBay and there are still keys for sale, but the number of vendors on the UK site has dropped pretty dramatically. Most of those remaining seem to be in Vietnam. On Ebay’s US site there are still plenty of keys for sale. They’re not just for various versions of Windows 7 but for Microsoft Office as well.

A little more digging and I found one of the ‘wholesalers’ who’ll sell you bundles of 100 assorted activation keys for around $400. “Yes, they are authentic and are straight from Microsoft. Yes, they will pass WGA. I order keys in very high amounts and get them for a good deal, I pass the good price I get on to you.”

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]]> By: Jim Caddis http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Jim Caddis Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:18:06 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-121 That surge is no more than 5 activations within a specified time, I had major issues with a new HDD months back and had to reinstall several times on the same machine. On or around the 5th attempt my key was blocked, you need to phone MS to get a new one. Also if you change your HDD, CPU etc. it flags up as a new machine and yes you have to activate again. The whole WGA fiasco is a typical US reaction to getting every penny out of your pocket.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=121&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> That surge is no more than 5 activations within a specified time, I had major issues with a new HDD months back and had to reinstall several times on the same machine. On or around the 5th attempt my key was blocked, you need to phone MS to get a new one. Also if you change your HDD, CPU etc. it flags up as a new machine and yes you have to activate again. The whole WGA fiasco is a typical US reaction to getting every penny out of your pocket.

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]]> By: Simon http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Simon Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:22:06 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-63 Under EU and other countries privacy laws Microsoft cannot obtain user identifiable information, a windows key is personally identifiable because technically speaking there should only be one copy, therefore you are then easily identified by that number. Microsoft wont block these keys YET as it will encourage people to use Windows 7, when the market has taken up a majority of Windows 7 then Microsoft would invest in disabling SOME keys but not all. Keys stay active in the Microsoft servers for 90 days, in that time if there is a huge surge in validations then the key is flagged, otherwise its not noticed. I feel it is an unrealistic price to pay for an Operating system you don't own, I like the Apple way of buying upgrade for a reasonable price, such as $39 for a new upgrade, not $299.. it just encourages piracy.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=63&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Under EU and other countries privacy laws Microsoft cannot obtain user identifiable information, a windows key is personally identifiable because technically speaking there should only be one copy, therefore you are then easily identified by that number.
Microsoft wont block these keys YET as it will encourage people to use Windows 7, when the market has taken up a majority of Windows 7 then Microsoft would invest in disabling SOME keys but not all. Keys stay active in the Microsoft servers for 90 days, in that time if there is a huge surge in validations then the key is flagged, otherwise its not noticed.
I feel it is an unrealistic price to pay for an Operating system you don’t own, I like the Apple way of buying upgrade for a reasonable price, such as $39 for a new upgrade, not $299.. it just encourages piracy.

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]]> By: Craig W http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Craig W Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:21:44 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-58 Operating systems aren't all that big a deal to Microsoft any more. They have branched out while they still can, and expect to make a lot more money from sources other than Windows.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=58&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Operating systems aren’t all that big a deal to Microsoft any more. They have branched out while they still can, and expect to make a lot more money from sources other than Windows.

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]]> By: iain http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-54 iain Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:39:33 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-54 The ebayers will have picked up a simple "keygen" programme. Some clever "warez" geek will have worked out the algorithm for Microsoft keys and knocked up a simple programme to generate them. So the notion of blacklisting any of these keys is a fallacy. the permutations are almost infinite. As for genuine advantage....it's also a pretty straight forward job to get a "dodgy" copy of that as well<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=54&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> The ebayers will have picked up a simple “keygen” programme. Some clever “warez” geek will have worked out the algorithm for Microsoft keys and knocked up a simple programme to generate them. So the notion of blacklisting any of these keys is a fallacy. the permutations are almost infinite.

As for genuine advantage….it’s also a pretty straight forward job to get a “dodgy” copy of that as well

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]]> By: Bill Wallace http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Bill Wallace Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:43:12 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-39 Microsoft in the past has admitted that even pirate copies of their products in the Far East support them in the long run as that menas they aren't using competing software. I also prefer Xubuntu Linux and Ubuntu Netbook Remix very stable, suable and faster on hardware than Windows<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=39&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Microsoft in the past has admitted that even pirate copies of their products in the Far East support them in the long run as that menas they aren’t using competing software.

I also prefer Xubuntu Linux and Ubuntu Netbook Remix

very stable, suable and faster on hardware than Windows

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]]> By: Nick Clayton http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Nick Clayton Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:06:46 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-35 Well I'm still trying to find out where these keys originate from. I've asked a few of the eBay sellers, but unsurprisingly none have replied. I've not got the dodgy version of Windows 7 running on my main PC but on one that I dual boot with Linux so I can let it run until Microsoft recognises its illegitimacy. Let's see how long that takes.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=35&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Well I’m still trying to find out where these keys originate from. I’ve asked a few of the eBay sellers, but unsurprisingly none have replied. I’ve not got the dodgy version of Windows 7 running on my main PC but on one that I dual boot with Linux so I can let it run until Microsoft recognises its illegitimacy. Let’s see how long that takes.

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]]> By: Harry Stottle http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Harry Stottle Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:33:50 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-34 Congrats on the startup. Reading the EULA for Windows you'll find that even if you fork out hundreds of squid for the product it does not belong to you. What your paying for is not the product itself but a licence to use it. The product is still the property of Microsoft. This can result in all kinds of issues about what constitutes legal or illegal use. In the meantime I think I'll migrate to Linux as what I've seen of 7 it is just another bloated version of XP although it's infinately better than Vista.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=34&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Congrats on the startup.

Reading the EULA for Windows you’ll find that even if you fork out hundreds of squid for the product it does not belong to you.
What your paying for is not the product itself but a licence to use it. The product is still the property of Microsoft.
This can result in all kinds of issues about what constitutes legal or illegal use.
In the meantime I think I’ll migrate to Linux as what I’ve seen of 7 it is just another bloated version of XP although it’s infinately better than Vista.

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]]> By: wee folding bike http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-32 wee folding bike Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:55:27 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-32 One of my boys is studying computing and got Win 7 for free. I've got it on my MacBook in a BootCamp partition for interests sake more than anything else. Unless I really need Win 7 I'll stick with using XP Pro inside a VMWare virtual machine. It's an interesting thing where MS are their own main competition.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=32&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> One of my boys is studying computing and got Win 7 for free. I’ve got it on my MacBook in a BootCamp partition for interests sake more than anything else. Unless I really need Win 7 I’ll stick with using XP Pro inside a VMWare virtual machine.

It’s an interesting thing where MS are their own main competition.

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]]> By: Stuart http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Stuart Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:54:57 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-31 First of all, fantastic news paper guys! I was sent a link from the Scottish Business Forums (www.scottishbusinessforums.co.uk). After Microsoft's poor sales with Vista, I don't think that they're going to sit back and let these keys go unnoticed. I'm interested to find out where these keys came from - was it not the case that some of the early Windows 7 DVD boxes actually had the label in clear site on the back of the box, meaning people just had to pick up the box off the shelf to get the key?<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=31&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> First of all, fantastic news paper guys! I was sent a link from the Scottish Business Forums (www.scottishbusinessforums.co.uk).

After Microsoft’s poor sales with Vista, I don’t think that they’re going to sit back and let these keys go unnoticed. I’m interested to find out where these keys came from – was it not the case that some of the early Windows 7 DVD boxes actually had the label in clear site on the back of the box, meaning people just had to pick up the box off the shelf to get the key?

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]]> By: Russell http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Russell Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:31:40 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-26 It's only by selling very cheap licences to schools and major corporations that MS is still in business ... Their days are numbered. ;¬)<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=26&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> It’s only by selling very cheap licences to schools and major corporations that MS is still in business … Their days are numbered.

;¬)

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]]> By: Robert McDonald http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Robert McDonald Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:16:37 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-24 It would be interesting to keep your machine with the ebay key running and let us know if/when it gets the boot from the Evil Empire.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=24&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> It would be interesting to keep your machine with the ebay key running and let us know if/when it gets the boot from the Evil Empire.

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]]> By: Flic http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Flic Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:23:03 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-19 @Russell - Ubuntu sentiment seconded! Being a university student, I was able to get a legit version of Windows 7 (professional, not ultimate, mind you) for £35. Not too bad compared to the gasp-worthy prices you'd usually have to pay...<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=19&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> @Russell – Ubuntu sentiment seconded!

Being a university student, I was able to get a legit version of Windows 7 (professional, not ultimate, mind you) for £35. Not too bad compared to the gasp-worthy prices you’d usually have to pay…

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]]> By: Jules http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Jules Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:30:36 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-14 It is not in Mirosoft's interest to block these keys. They require as big a take up of Windows 7 as they can possibly get to convince the Corporate customers to switch. This is where the money is for Microsoft.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=14&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> It is not in Mirosoft’s interest to block these keys.

They require as big a take up of Windows 7 as they can possibly get to convince the Corporate customers to switch.

This is where the money is for Microsoft.

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]]> By: GC http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-13 GC Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:05:41 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-13 Good investigative piece, even if Microsoft didn't want to play ball. Would the sellers comment (even anonymously)? More of the same please!<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=13&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Good investigative piece, even if Microsoft didn’t want to play ball.

Would the sellers comment (even anonymously)?

More of the same please!

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]]> By: Russell http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Russell Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:40:57 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-10 Stuff that, paying for Windoze! Linux Ubuntu is free and much more reliable! Ps. Congratulations on your magnificent start-up! All the best.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=10&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Stuff that, paying for Windoze! Linux Ubuntu is free and much more reliable!

Ps. Congratulations on your magnificent start-up! All the best.

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]]> By: David Spink http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-8 David Spink Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:34:19 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-8 Microsoft's comment about their "Windows Genuine Advantage" is a valid one - Microsoft send updates for this system frequently via the Windows Update process - and product keys acquired from "dodgy" sources are likely to become blocked sooner or later - this is likely to prevent the casual, non geek, user from being able to use the software for very long. On a related note those wanting to purchase Windows 7 for home use would be much better with the "Home Premium" version - a genuine upgrade of which can be picked up for a more reasonable £70 or so.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=8&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Microsoft’s comment about their “Windows Genuine Advantage” is a valid one – Microsoft send updates for this system frequently via the Windows Update process – and product keys acquired from “dodgy” sources are likely to become blocked sooner or later – this is likely to prevent the casual, non geek, user from being able to use the software for very long.
On a related note those wanting to purchase Windows 7 for home use would be much better with the “Home Premium” version – a genuine upgrade of which can be picked up for a more reasonable £70 or so.

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]]> By: Neuroslam http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Neuroslam Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:32:56 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-7 They can put in as much security code as they can to stop illegal copies being banded about. If you have a valid key then that's that. If you have a copied version of software and then install that then yup that is illegal. If you install a genuine product and then activate it with a "bought" key from ebay then I dont think that can be illegal. Let's face it, if the keys on ebay are stolen then Microsoft will not admit that. If the keys have been hacked then they will not admit that either as that is showing that the Physical and software security is leaving a lot to be desired. You can have a whole boot full of car alarms and immobilisers as you want but if you have the car key to switch them off then they are pointless.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=7&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> They can put in as much security code as they can to stop illegal copies being banded about. If you have a valid key then that’s that.

If you have a copied version of software and then install that then yup that is illegal. If you install a genuine product and then activate it with a “bought” key from ebay then I dont think that can be illegal.

Let’s face it, if the keys on ebay are stolen then Microsoft will not admit that. If the keys have been hacked then they will not admit that either as that is showing that the Physical and software security is leaving a lot to be desired.

You can have a whole boot full of car alarms and immobilisers as you want but if you have the car key to switch them off then they are pointless.

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]]> By: Dave http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/2010/01/25/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-sold-on-ebay-for-6-50-instead-of-229-99/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Dave Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:30:55 +0000 http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com/?p=26#comment-5 Thanks for the tip, I was going to buy Windows7 but I think I will go the Ebay route now. Unless MS want to go the court route I don't see this stopping any time soon.<p class="wp-report-this"><a href="http://biztech.caledonianmercury.com?moderation_action=report_form&object_type=comment&object_id=5&width=250&height=300" class="thickbox" title="Report this comment">Report This Comment</a></p> Thanks for the tip, I was going to buy Windows7 but I think I will go the Ebay route now.

Unless MS want to go the court route I don’t see this stopping any time soon.

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