Microsoft Refurbisher Program

[rockhoptec]

Anyone who is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, I am curious to know what versions of Windows 7 are available under this program. I understand that home premium and professional are available, but are they 32 or 64 bit or both?
thanks for any input.

 

[compnet]

Have you looked through this thread? lots of info about the program in there

http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36754&highlight=refurbisher+program

From memory looking through the pdfs,

xp pro can be upgraded to 7 pro
xp home can be upgraded to 7 home
etc.

and I'm pretty sure you can get 32 or 64 bit like any windows 7 disk..

don't quote me on all that though

 

[carrcomp]

Anyone who is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, I am curious to know what versions of Windows 7 are available under this program. I understand that home premium and professional are available, but are they 32 or 64 bit or both?
thanks for any input.

They are both available.

All information can be found publicly on the website for the refurb program.

 

[MM PC Solutions]

Interesting, VIP Computers in UK said that Win 7 (Refurb) only come in 3 pack 32 bit only & not 64 bit!

It maybe just what they offer though..

 

[PCX]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question. From my understanding, with the Microsoft Refurbisher program, you are only allowed to use the product keys given by Microsoft on refurbished units either sold or given for charity correct? You are not allowed to use them for repairs, I am correct?

If I am right, then there is no other way to purchase software licenses and keys (without the COA) from Microsoft in bulk or at all and then use them for repairs.


I know these are stupid obvious questions, but I just want to cover my butt. I recently had a customer come in to sell a laptop to us with Windows 7 installed. I had asked about it because their was no COA and they said that the computer shop (the same one doing virus removals for $25) down the road installed it for them. Well, I told them that it was probably pirated because of how cheap the repairs were and because there was no sticker. Also, there was the "this software is not genuine" warning. I asked them a few more questions and found out that they never purchased the computer form this company as a refurbished unit and that they only had it repaired, which means that they could not have legally installed Windows 7 without a COA from my understanding.

Anyways, I just want to make sure I am not wrong in anything that I have mentioned before they report this company to Microsoft.

Oh, and please let me know if I should post this on a separate thread . . . I did not think that I needed to since it was related to the Microsoft Refurbisher program.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Hey guys, I just had a quick question. From my understanding, with the Microsoft Refurbisher program, you are only allowed to use the product keys given by Microsoft on refurbished units either sold or given for charity correct? You are not allowed to use them for repairs, I am correct?

Partly correct, but partly also incorrect. There are 2 different types of refurb licences, charity, business, and also what we would call res.

Charity/bus coa's can be purchased for as little as $6 each (depending on the amount of licences purchased). Whilst the res licences are purchased in packs of 3. Costs of these will vary from distro to distro.

You are not allowed to use them for repair purposes. They are designed primarily for refurbished machines only. (Refurb as in, the machine requires another activation etc).

I don't have the time right now, to pull the file, but I will first thing in the morning, with all the q&a's on this.

which means that they could not have legally installed Windows 7 without a COA from my understanding.

Correct. As above, they can not be used for repair purposes. To do so, is cause for expulsion from the program.

 

[PCX]

Partly correct, but partly also incorrect. There are 2 different types of refurb licences, charity, business, and also what we would call res.

Charity/bus coa's can be purchased for as little as $6 each (depending on the amount of licences purchased). Whilst the res licences are purchased in packs of 3. Costs of these will vary from distro to distro.

You are not allowed to use them for repair purposes. They are designed primarily for refurbished machines only. (Refurb as in, the machine requires another activation etc).

I don't have the time right now, to pull the file, but I will first thing in the morning, with all the q&a's on this.



Correct. As above, they can not be used for repair purposes. To do so, is cause for expulsion from the program.

Thank you for clarifying this, I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track and not suggesting that they falsely report my competitor to Microsoft.

On a side note. They not only pirated Windows 7, but also charged them for a hard drive replacement and told them that it was NEW. It is clearly recertified. Its amazing what some repair shops will do to save a few bucks. These guys are really starting to get under my skin.

 

[Scott Horn]

I've got a question about these copies of XP that come three per pack. I ordered a copy of XP OEM from an online Microsoft distributor for a custom PC I was building. I don't know if there was a mix-up somewhere, but I received a 3-pack with an OPK cd. It had a sticker on the outside telling me that I needed to be a member of the registered refurbisher program to activate the license. The COA stickers in the package have no CD-key on them. I've signed up for the program, but received no response. Did I get the wrong item for someone that's trying to install XP on their own custom built PC, or do I just need to preinstall using the OPK. Is microsoft still allowing individuals to install OEM XP?

Scott Horn

 

[Kitten Kong]

Hi Scott

You can only use the 3pk xp's on refurbished machines. These are NOT for use in a machine your either building or repairing.

It is correct when stated about the program part of the activation.

What you need is the retail version of xp, purchased from a supplier, and yes you can still purchase it.

 

[technetnerd]

Hi Scott

You can only use the 3pk xp's on refurbished machines. These are NOT for use in a machine your either building or repairing.

It is correct when stated about the program part of the activation.

What you need is the retail version of xp, purchased from a supplier, and yes you can still purchase it.

so you cant use these if you replace a hard drive on a piece of equipment containing the original COA and no recovery media?

I was reading this

but I don't see a specific answer to using a refurbished license on a repaired computer with original COA.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Hi technet, no you cannot use a refurb coa in the course of a repair.

I will dig out the rue later (not currently in the workshop). If you need the link earlier, you can search for my postings on refurb pc's and it will be in there.

 

[carrcomp]

so you cant use these if you replace a hard drive on a piece of equipment containing the original COA and no recovery media?

I was reading this

but I don't see a specific answer to using a refurbished license on a repaired computer with original COA.

Ok, so I'll post this here again, but again there are alot of threads about this already.

A hard drive is not the motherboard. If you gut the entire system and replace every componant but the motherboard, and the original HDD recovery media or the disc media is not available, then yes you use a refurb licence.

BUT repairing a customer's computer and then returning it to them is not a refurbish, it's a repair.

By definition, you are refurbishing a computer to sell/give/donate/whatever to a new user.

Search the forum if you have more questions about refurbishing.

**********

What is a Refurbished PC?
A refurbished PC is a used PC that has gone through one or more of the following processes that leave the PC ready for use by a new owner:
●● Data wiping
●● Testing
●● Cosmetic repair and/or replacement of defective minor PC components
With respect to operating system licensing, a PC is considered to be a refurbished PC if it has the original motherboard, or a replacement
was made of a defective motherboard with one of exactly the same make, model and specification. Major repairs, such as the installation of
a new model motherboard, results in a “new” PC and not a “refurbished” PC.
When is a new Windows operating system license required and when is one not required?

A new Windows license is not required for a refurbished PC that has:
(1) The original Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for a Windows operating system affixed to the PC, and
(2) The original recovery media or hard-disk based recovery image associated with the PC.
The operating system identified on the original COA indicates the edition of Windows that was originally licensed for that PC and the
refurbisher can use either:
(1) The original recovery media or
(2) The original hard-disk based recovery image to reinstall the operating system software specified on the COA.
If the original recovery media is not present, an end user can contact the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the PC to obtain the
appropriate recovery media for a fee—subject to availability. Second-hand recovery media is sometimes offered for sale by individuals
in various forums and markets. Purchasing media from unknown sources is not recommended as it introduces the risks of copyright
infringement, improper licensing and infected/corrupted or incomplete software.

A new Windows license is required for a refurbished PC if:
(1) The refurbisher cannot obtain the original recovery media or
(2) The PC does not have a hard-disk based recovery image.
The refurbisher must purchase a new Windows license in order to provide the purchaser of the refurbished PC with a genuine, licensed
version of Windows on the PC.
*********

 

[Kitten Kong]

Thanks for posting this Chris. I am out of the office at the moment, so couldnt get to the link etc..

 

[technetnerd]

Q: I have a working system with no COA. I also have a system that
has a faulty motherboard with an affixed COA on the case. I swapped
covers so that the working system now has a cover with an affixed
COA. I have a recovery CD. Can I reinstall Windows legally?

A: No. The COA and recovery media were valid for the original PC in
its entirety, not just the case. You may replace the faulty
motherboard on the PC with the COA, provided that you replace it
with one of the same specification as the original. You may then use
the recovery media to reinstall the Windows software on the PC. You
cannot move the COA from one PC to another.

correct me if im wrong but this is saying you can replace the motherboard with the COA, it just has to be the same OEM one as the last? So if you order a new mobo from the company in which you purchased the computer it sounds like you can still use the COA?