Hallo, thanks for the reply.
The XP SW is on the PC en is working well.
There is a MS licence nr. and we will receive a CD.
I was informed that my son meanwhile bought already the PC.
Currently he has not yet an internet connection so we can´t check out the
update.

We were informed that it is possible that we got a message that the licence
nr is in use and if so we have to contact MS to make it free.
Is this all true? And what procedure do you have to follow in that case?

Regards
Huib

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Huib wrote:
> > I am intended to buy a second hand PC with XP on it.
> > I will receive a licence number.
> > Can this cause any problems during teh MS update sessions and if yes
> > what do i need to do.
>
> With any Second Hand PC - it is best to reinstall using the installation
> media sold with the PC. If the PC is not being sold with installation media
> (a way to reinstall the operating system (Windows) in case of a problem) -
> then don't bother buying it.
>
> Although having a computer with Windows XP already installed on it and
> working and that can currently visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com and scan
> for/install any update there is okay - for now - if something drastic
> happens and you have no way to reinstall (because you were sold no CD to
> reinstall from) - then you have an expensive paperweight until you get a
> legal copy of Windows to install on it.
>
> And reinstalling from the CD when you first get it protects yourself and the
> seller. That way you know what is on the machine and they know they did not
> leave anything on the system. You know the installation media works and you
> also know there is not any "bad things" left on the system - tracing your
> every move.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

Huib wrote:
> The XP SW is on the PC en is working well.
> There is a MS licence nr. and we will receive a CD.
> I was informed that my son meanwhile bought already the PC.
> Currently he has not yet an internet connection so we can´t check out
> the update.
>
> We were informed that it is possible that we got a message that the
> licence nr is in use and if so we have to contact MS to make it free.
> Is this all true? And what procedure do you have to follow in that
> case?

Reinstall the OS (Windows XP) ASAP. It's that simple.
You have no idea what the previous owners left on there - and yes - it is
entirely possible that there is something collecting every keystroke and
sending that to someone via the Internet whenever it can - collecting data
for those to use to steal your identity or at least borrow it for a bit..

Why is it that you "will receive a CD" on a second-hand (used) computer?
That makes little sense. Hopefully it is an original CD.

As far as it being "possible" that you receive some message that the
"license is in use" and then contacting Microsoft to "make it free" - no -
not normally. If you ever receive a message like that - something has gone
wrong. You should have a Windows XP CD and - being a personal machine like
that - a unique CD Key that belongs to that computer. Worst thing that
should happen is that you reinstall with your original Windows XP CD and use
your unique CD Key and then cannot "activate" your copy of Windows XP over
the Internet because it has been less than 120 days since it was activated
in such a manner.. You thn have to activate over the phone - which unless
there is some flag on that particular CD Key - should consist of a 5 minute
AUTOMATED phone call and writing down some long number sequences.

Also - any other software on the machine that was sold AS part of the
machine (you got a receipt, right?) has to have a way to restore it with its
proper Keys as well...

Once you get the Windows XP CD and CD Key - reinstall - you don't want to
take chances with this thing and you want to know it is a good license so
you can get it back to this person who sold you something illegal ASAP.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Many thanks...
My son has been informed and we take immediate action.
I will rport on it.

Regards
Huib

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Huib wrote:
> > The XP SW is on the PC en is working well.
> > There is a MS licence nr. and we will receive a CD.
> > I was informed that my son meanwhile bought already the PC.
> > Currently he has not yet an internet connection so we can´t check out
> > the update.
> >
> > We were informed that it is possible that we got a message that the
> > licence nr is in use and if so we have to contact MS to make it free.
> > Is this all true? And what procedure do you have to follow in that
> > case?
>
> Reinstall the OS (Windows XP) ASAP. It's that simple.
> You have no idea what the previous owners left on there - and yes - it is
> entirely possible that there is something collecting every keystroke and
> sending that to someone via the Internet whenever it can - collecting data
> for those to use to steal your identity or at least borrow it for a bit..
>
> Why is it that you "will receive a CD" on a second-hand (used) computer?
> That makes little sense. Hopefully it is an original CD.
>
> As far as it being "possible" that you receive some message that the
> "license is in use" and then contacting Microsoft to "make it free" - no -
> not normally. If you ever receive a message like that - something has gone
> wrong. You should have a Windows XP CD and - being a personal machine like
> that - a unique CD Key that belongs to that computer. Worst thing that
> should happen is that you reinstall with your original Windows XP CD and use
> your unique CD Key and then cannot "activate" your copy of Windows XP over
> the Internet because it has been less than 120 days since it was activated
> in such a manner.. You thn have to activate over the phone - which unless
> there is some flag on that particular CD Key - should consist of a 5 minute
> AUTOMATED phone call and writing down some long number sequences.
>
> Also - any other software on the machine that was sold AS part of the
> machine (you got a receipt, right?) has to have a way to restore it with its
> proper Keys as well...
>
> Once you get the Windows XP CD and CD Key - reinstall - you don't want to
> take chances with this thing and you want to know it is a good license so
> you can get it back to this person who sold you something illegal ASAP.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>