Buying XP on ebay

[ives]

Hi,

I want to buy a legitimate copy of Windows XP.

I've looked on ebay and some people are selling XP that they claim is legitimate although they do not come with a certificate of authenticity. If I bought one of these copies, would I be violating any copyright laws? Also, some other people are selling XP cds that are from corporate suppliers, like DELL. Again, these cd's don't have a COA and don't require activation. Again, is this legal?

The reason I'm asking is because at the moment I'm using a version of XP that is not 100% legitimate and I don't wnat to do it any more.

Should I just go to a shop and buy XP or are the XP versions I've seen on ebay ok to buy?

thanks
Ives

[jon bda]

Get one from a proper supplier, and avoid ebay at all costs. Guy i was chatting with bought a 'genuine' copy of XP Pro Corp off ebay, it arrived on a cdr, with the serial # printed on the disc. When put into google, the serial number itself featured on over 7000 web pages, turns out it was one of the first hooky serials so he said...

[ives]

Thanks Jon.
Yeah, it seems that you're right. I'll buy from a proper supplier.

Cheers for the info

[Stoo]

yup, don't buy anything like that on ebay, it's just not worth the risk

[NiROE]

some people are selling XP that they claim is legitimate although they do not come with a certificate of authenticity. If I bought one of these copies, would I be violating any copyright laws?

Without the certificate its not legit, even if its the original CD...

As others have said, avoid ebay for buying XP.... I bought WinME a while ago for a friend, she lived in the states so I bought an 'original' from a seller in the States, when she got it, it turned out to be a CD from some branded PC that wouldnt even install.