genuine software guarantee

[Easy Pc Repair]

So I have a customer who's is the extra cautious type and one who thinks everyone is out to get her.

The problem is she took her machine to a local pizza tech which recommended reinstalling windows on her computer which is an e machine. She agreed and what do you know, now she is the receiving "activate windows" nag screen. I have no idea if at that time it needed to be totally reinstalled or not in the first place but that is beside the point. I told her that she had two choices to either buy a new copy of windows 7 home premium or get the restore disks for her machine. She was uneasy about the whole process but decided to go with the restore disks because of her financial situation. So I purchased the disks installed the OS and fully updated windows. She now wants a guarantee that the software I provided her is "genuine".

There shouldn't be anything wrong with the disks being genuine as I purchased them from restoredisks.com. But at the same time I don't want this to bite me in the you know what. I was wondering if any of you techs out there provide such a guarantee and would be generous enough to share it?

Thank you for your time!

 

[nlinecomputers]

Have her go here:

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/validate/DownloadValidationSupport.aspx?displaylang=en

That is MICROSOFT's tool for validating Windows.

 

[NYJimbo]

She agreed and what do you know, now she is the receiving "activate windows" nag screen.

Did her machine have a valid COA sticker and did the Windows version match the COA ? Its possible the guy just didn't activate it, I do that sometimes after a reinstall using an OEM disk and I have to call MS automated activation to clean things up.

 

[mraikes]

Did her machine have a valid COA sticker and did the Windows version match the COA ? Its possible the guy just didn't activate it, I do that sometimes after a reinstall using an OEM disk and I have to call MS automated activation to clean things up.

^^^ This is the most likely scenario. Unless the P.T. put a different OS on it than it had originally.

Nevertheless, your question doesn't seem to be how to determine if the software is genuine, but rather should you actually guarantee that it is.

The short answer is why not? You know the source of the software. You installed it. You activated it. You know it's all "good to go". So give the lady a guarantee.

Having said that, just like any other guarantee there should be certain limitations. For example:

1. You reserve the right to verify that any problem she experiences is actually license related and not caused by something else (like a virus removal or other repair that may result in reactivation being needed).
2. The limit of your liability should be no more than the amount she paid you for the original labor and restore disks (NOT the full retail value of the OS).
3. A time limit. Perhaps 1 year.

 

[Easy Pc Repair]

It was definitely fake/pirated as it was Windows 7 Ultimate. It does have a COA on the machine but it is for Windows 7 Home Premium.

Nevertheless, your question doesn't seem to be how to determine if the software is genuine, but rather should you actually guarantee that it is.

The short answer is why not? You know the source of the software. You installed it. You activated it. You know it's all "good to go". So give the lady a guarantee.

Having said that, just like any other guarantee there should be certain limitations. For example:

1. You reserve the right to verify that any problem she experiences is actually license related and not caused by something else (like a virus removal or other repair that may result in reactivation being needed).
2. The limit of your liability should be no more than the amount she paid you for the original labor and restore disks (NOT the full retail value of the OS).
3. A time limit. Perhaps 1 year.

This is exactly what I mean! The limitations is what I was concerned about. I don't want her coming back to me and saying "well my computer doesn't turn on after 3 years, Fix it." I do have the Technibble Business kit and PCRT but neither really go over this circumstance.

Thanks for your help guys I'm going to keep in mind what mraikes said and post what I come up with for others to refer to as I didn't see it come yp searching the forum.

 

[brandonkick]

1st off I can guarantee you anything I want all day long. A guarantee is only as good as the person that writes it / backs it. Companies can do many, MANY shady things to get out of these "guarantees".


Provide her with the official microsoft WGA tool, that will test and determine if her install is genuine or not. I understand that she was burnt by a pizza tech, but why should you pay the price for that?

You have the offical restore disks, have her phone emachines herself and ask them if reinstalling the computer using the restore CD's provides the user with a legal installation of windows. Let her hear it from their mouths, so that she can complain to them and not you later on down the road.

Wash your hands of this lady, and quickly.

 

[seedubya]

Do what brandonkick says. I certainly wouldn't offer her any guarantee.