Quick Vista KEY Question

I just bought a SAGER NP8662 which came included with Vista Ultimate installed already into the laptop. The laptop didn't come packed with the CD's for Vista Ultimate but I have the key for it already installed with no problems on authentication, and it seems to be a genuine key.

I don't actually need the Vista OS i plan on using Win7 RC for the next few months. My question is, can I sell the Vista key or is it already registered to my laptop, and therefore no one else can use it if i sold it? And what do you estimate the price to be if i were to sell JUST the key by itself (no cds since I dont have them). I figured I might as well save the extra few bucks and sell the OS if I can since I won't be using it anyway.

 

It's an OEM key. You can't sell it.

Gary

 

Like Gary said. The only way to (legally) sell the key is to sell the rest of the computer along with it.

 

How do you know its an OEM key and not just a retail?

The OS was NOT purchased through Xotic when he originally bought the laptop. How can i check?

 

Well, that little fact does change the picture a bit, because your original post left the distinct impression that you had purchased the thing with a pre-installed OS (as in, pre-installed by the OEM or the reseller).

Where's the Certificate of Authority? Stuck to the bottom, or not?

 

Sorry, let me try and clarify the situation.

I purchased a used Sager, and the previous owner installed Vista Ultimate using his friends CD's, he says. The seller has pre-installed the Vista OS for me, but is not providing the CD's (and probably not the physical key, I will just have the view the key in Windows) for the OS.

I'm expected to receive the laptop in the mail in the next few days. I wanted to ask beforehand so that if I am able to sell it, I wouldn't have to go through all the Vista tweaking for nothing.

I am skeptical that there will be a Certificate of Authority. In WINXP, don't OEM keys have the letters "OEM" in the key? Is this the same for Vista?

 

The only way to tell for sure will be to check in the system properties window to see what product ID shows - if the product ID contains "OEM" in it, then it's an OEM version of the OS, and will probably be locked to the hardware it's installed on, which means that you won't be able to transfer the license separately from the hardware. If it doesn't contain "OEM" then my guess is that it would be a retail copy you could transfer.

 

If it is not OEM and no one else is using it (which I doubt) you can sell it. Most people avoid a used key however. They will have to call Microsoft to get it validated.

 

Will I run into problems if I am using it? Since this might be the second computer he has it installed on, what will happen if there are two people using the key?

I confirmed with him that its a retail copy.

Oh, and say that I am able to sell the key to someone. How do I transfer ownership to them?

 

If two people are trying to use the same product key, one will eventually get dinged at some point when _Vista phones home, for updates, or whatever.

I believe that a retail copy must be transferred along with any physical media that came with the license when it was first purchased from a retailer, as well as with the COA.

 

Actually no. It is just an ethical issue. As long as it has been validated the computer is fine unless there is a significant hardware change. But to get it validated you have to tell Microsoft that it is the only computer currently using that license...which is where the problem is.

Ebay for one probably wont let you sell just the license itself. It is risky too as the buyer can just say that it didnt work and you are out of luck.

 

Yeah`, I read over some of EULA's terms and found out without the COA its pretty much impossible to sell the key.

What I just found out though is that the Vista being provided is one that is used on multiple machines, therefore violating EULA terms and placing my system's OS at risk (the one that he sold to me). On the listing the buyer said it was a PERSONAL copy of Vista without the CD's (specifically specifying personal). He also provided a picture of the system's specs, showing a picture of Windows Vista GENUINE on the My Computer Screen (obviously blurring out the actual serial key for vista).

From this point, I feel like I have been misled into believing that I was being sold a machine with a legitimate personal Vista ultimate copy, but now its obviously a shared copy. What action can I take? Can I argue with Ebay (or should I confront the seller first?) The seller has confirmed to me that the vista is indeed a shared copy and not his own.

A huge reason why I purchased a used Sager was because I didn't want to spend the extra money purchasing Vista as an OS (i wasn't aware I could use Win 7 rc to take advantage of the 4gig memory). I got a nice deal on the Sager but instantly jumped on the purchase once I knew it had Vista Ultimate packaged as well, which added greatly to the overall value.

Now I feel ripped out and worried that the Vista Ultimate will cause me trouble with validation. He says that he's been using the copy for awhile with no problems.

 

Well you can file a paypal claim for the amount you feel is owed to you.

 

Would it be better to do the dispute through paypal or ebay? I figured it woud be best to do it through ebay. He seems like a nice guy though, maybe I should try talking to him about it first?

 

Talk to him first; if he won't discuss the matter with you, then I would start with eBay, then move on up to Paypal and, if you paid Paypal with a credit card, up to your credit card company last. Always dispute with Paypal before going to the credit card company, because Paypal will not review the matter once the credit card company has gotten involved.

 

Got it. The laptop won't be here till next week, I'll post back to update the situation later in case anyone in the future reads this thread and hopes to see the resolution process. Thanks for all the help.