PC Refurbishing Steps

[LABFE]

Anyone have a standard set of steps they take performing desktop and laptop refurbishing and wish to provide the list?

Edit: By the way, I'm talking about PC's that are in good used condition where Windows 7 or later is their original operating system.

 

[LABFE]

Anybody?

 

[coffee]

Anyone have a standard set of steps they take performing desktop and laptop refurbishing and wish to provide the list?

Edit: By the way, I'm talking about PC's that are in good used condition where Windows 7 or later is their original operating system.

1. Clean it.
2. Test it.
3. Upgrade it (if needed)

I do not really understand your question I guess. Obviously you do not want to sell equipment and have it come back on you. When I sell used equipment - for an example - a laptop. I first disassemble it and totally clean it. That means the mb comes out and also the heatsink/fan assembly. Everything is cleaned. Its a lot nicer to clean the disassembled parts and then put them back together. The laptop/desktop looks nicer then.

Next, We test all hardware. That includes the DVD player/burner.

Finally, Any software updates are performed.

I will tell you this - The more you do it this way the less hassles your going to get from dissatisfied customers. Solving complaints drains you of precious work time and will affect your bottom dollar. You want to develop a reputation of having some of the best used equipment around.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kitten Kong]

Anyone have a standard set of steps they take performing desktop and laptop refurbishing and wish to provide the list?

Edit: By the way, I'm talking about PC's that are in good used condition where Windows 7 or later is their original operating system.

I echo @coffee above. Also would add, are you a registered MS refirbusher?

 

[Matthew Bradley]

We've been refurbishing desktops for 9 years. It's pretty simple. Test the hard drive, RAM and power supply. Check for bad capacitors on the motherboard (just a visual inspection - not 100% accurate). I'm assuming your putting refurbished MS licenses on these and MS has a best practices for this when you signed up. Repair any damaged cosmetics to the best of our ability, clean it with some surface cleaner and your good to go. It's actually one of the few things we don't have a policy and procedures written up for.

 

[LABFE]

1. Clean it.
2. Test it.
3. Upgrade it (if needed)

I do not really understand your question I guess. Obviously you do not want to sell equipment and have it come back on you. When I sell used equipment - for an example - a laptop. I first disassemble it and totally clean it. That means the mb comes out and also the heatsink/fan assembly. Everything is cleaned. Its a lot nicer to clean the disassembled parts and then put them back together. The laptop/desktop looks nicer then.

Next, We test all hardware. That includes the DVD player/burner.

Finally, Any software updates are performed.

I will tell you this - The more you do it this way the less hassles your going to get from dissatisfied customers. Solving complaints drains you of precious work time and will affect your bottom dollar. You want to develop a reputation of having some of the best used equipment around.

Hope this helps.

Yea, just looking for what others do to see if I am being thorough enough and not overlooking something. I'm mainly looking for steps in testing internal hardware condition as I always clean it, fresh installation of Windows/drivers/relevant programs, test ports, and all keyboard keys if laptop.

 

[LABFE]

I echo @coffee above. Also would add, are you a registered MS refirbusher?

At this time I am only refurbishing PC's that have a Windows COA (7) and Win 8/10 machines. But I may eventually look into that.

 

[Porthos]

At this time I am only refurbishing PC's that have a Windows COA (7) and Win 8/10 machines. But I may eventually look into that.

Not legal with just the COA sorry.
@Cadishead Computers will go into more detail and provide links

 

[Kitten Kong]

@LABFE, as @Porthos mentions, and what I was trying to allude to in my initial posting to you. What you are attempting to do, is not legal.

To refurbish computers on a professional basis (what you are doing), you need the following.

Can use original sticker.
Os needs to be installed.
Original recovery media.
All 3 becomes a complete licence.

In order to sell a computer, with a COA attached, it needs the following.
OS needs to be installed.
Original recovery media
COA.

If it does not have all 3, then it cannot be sold as a refurbished machine.

Also if you are doing this on a professional basis, and your advertising that you sell refurbished machines, you should become a registered MS refurbisher. The cost of the program is zip/nada/free. Questions are easy enough. And it should give you some props over your competition.

I have wrote a couple of stickies https://www.technibble.com/forums/t...ed-computers-and-the-ms-refurb-program.38785/ Which goes into the in's and out's of refurbishing machines.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to give me a shout.

 

[LABFE]

@LABFE, as @Porthos mentions, and what I was trying to allude to in my initial posting to you. What you are attempting to do, is not legal.

To refurbish computers on a professional basis (what you are doing), you need the following.

Can use original sticker.
Os needs to be installed.
Original recovery media.
All 3 becomes a complete licence.

In order to sell a computer, with a COA attached, it needs the following.
OS needs to be installed.
Original recovery media
COA.

If it does not have all 3, then it cannot be sold as a refurbished machine.

Also if you are doing this on a professional basis, and your advertising that you sell refurbished machines, you should become a registered MS refurbisher. The cost of the program is zip/nada/free. Questions are easy enough. And it should give you some props over your competition.

I have wrote a couple of stickies https://www.technibble.com/forums/t...ed-computers-and-the-ms-refurb-program.38785/ Which goes into the in's and out's of refurbishing machines.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to give me a shout.

I'm confused by this. It's my understanding that the majority of new computers aren't even sold with recovery media and that it's been like that for a while now. Further, why would original recovery media not being included make it illegal? You can make a Windows ISO by downloading Windows from Microsoft. What am I missing here? I don't have a retail location and don't expect to ever as I'm an on-site technician. I'm just looking to do this on the side selling on eBay. I don't expect that I'll ever sell more than one or two a month. But I'll read up on the stickies and the MS program.

 

[frostbyte5014]

Don't be confused read the EULA. This has been discussed many times and there's plenty of posts here on TN that discuss Microsoft Licensing and what is legal and illegal.

 

[LABFE]

Don't be confused read the EULA. This has been discussed many times and there's plenty of posts here on TN that discuss Microsoft Licensing and what is legal and illegal.

Well I might just have to list them in used good condition instead of refurbished, but still studying it so we'll see. Not seeing it yet though. I'm sure some of you understand something that I don't here, but I'm not operating as a retail store for these and we might be talking about two slightly different things. My primary gig is working as an on-site technician. This is just a side thing I've just started.

Question for anyone, say you purchase a PC that is in need of a repair or two and it has Win 7 COA (we'll just talk Win 7 for now), and you plan to repair it and resell it. So the copy of Windows just gets wasted? Nobody gets it even though it was purchased. The PC came with RAM, processor, etc. and those stay with the PC, but the copy of Windows that was also included in the purchase (that was also paid for) of the PC goes to waste? Even though you have the license key that you can enter and Microsoft approves it because it's valid?

I won't get into the key that is now embedded in the BIOS on the PC for win 8 and 10 at this time.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I'm confused by this. It's my understanding that the majority of new computers aren't even sold with recovery media and that it's been like that for a while now. Further, why would original recovery media not being included make it illegal?

To be a true refurbished machine, each refurb machine MUST have the following.
COA
Original recovery media. This can be EITHER the hidden partition, which IS on ALL machines. OR recovery media you / client makes up and keeps (well supposed to make up and keep).
Windows fully installed, so that the CLIENT, not you the tech, accepts the EULA. Basically the OOBE.

If say for example the drive is completely hosed. You replace the drive, you cannot simply give the new client a form of windows installation media, ie a downloaded iso. (Even though it will work, and activate). It has to be the recovery media for that make/model.

I've had countless arguments with Microsoft over this. Asking why we cannot use our installtion media.

So far, I have the following reasons. (Each of which I have debunked)
Drivers - The drivers for each model are included in the recovery media. What is stopping us from going to the manufacturers site, and downloading them afresh?
Software - Each manufacturer has its own set of software it likes installing. And we all know what we do with their bloatware.
Activation - It won't activate. Bokus. We all know it activates just fine.

So to answer your question above, no the windows coa does not get wasted. It can still be utilised, IF the recovery partition is there, and windows is installed.

If the COA is unreadable, then you have no option other than to use one of your refurb coa's.

 

[Porthos]

Think that is crazy just look at what we are supposed to do when UPGRADING a pc to Win 10.

Windows 10 Tech Bench Upgrade Program Documentation - download file
Includes:

• 2 Tech Bench Scripts
• Steps for Creating an installation USB stick
• Installation Guide for Existing PCs
• Installation Guide for New PCs
• User Quick Start Guide for Existing PCs
• User Quick Start Guide for New PCs
• End User License Agreement
• Privacy Statement

Before you begin

• Make sure you have:
  • An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
  • Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the ISO downloads and scripts.
  • 16GB or Greater USB Flash Drive for use on low disk space systems.
  • Micro-USB Adapter for using media on Tablets.
  • Printed copies of all paperwork that must be given to user in connection with the upgrade including the End User License Agreement, the Privacy Statement and the Windows 10 Upgrade Program User Guide for New PCs which documents the changes made to the PC during the upgrade.

 

[Altster]

EDIT - already answered above.

 

[LABFE]

I've done some looking into it (reading), and I hear ya. It was so shocking to me at first that I thought there must be some misunderstanding. Just seems like a way for Microsoft to dip their hands into refurbish sells on top of the original sell of the copy of Windows. The copy of Windows was already paid for just like the rest of the PC. The manufacturer of the processor and the RAM and the hard drive, etc don't get to collect twice. Why should Microsoft? And they've provided illogical arguments for it. I feel more bad for repair shops than myself as this isn't my bread and butter anyway. The margins with my approach were already looking minimal it's not looking likely that I'll continue to pursue this with the additional costs figuring in. Selling just as used good condition isn't going to bring enough per sell unless I was maybe buying used pc's in bulk and that's probably not going to happen without having proper storage.

How much are copies through the Microsoft Refurbishing Program anyway?

Also now wondering what the policy is for Win 8 and 10 since key is embedded in BIOS. Something similar?

 

[Moltuae]

How much are copies through the Microsoft Refurbishing Program anyway?

Probably depends, to some extent, on where you buy them and how many you buy, but I pay about £55 + VAT (~$79) for a pack of 3 Windows 7 Home Premium refurb licences or about £90 + VAT (~$129) for a pack of 3 Windows 7 Pro licences.

I only do maybe 5-10 refurbs per year though. Still worth getting on the refurb program though in my opinion, if only to give your business a little extra credibility. Like others have said, it costs nothing, so why not?

 

[Kitten Kong]

+1 to what @Moltuae mentions above. If you have clients who are on certain benefits. Or clients who are non profit charities, you can use the taps program.

These are refurb licences which cost $6 each. Bought in multiples of 10's. Min qty 20.

These you buy direct from Microsoft.

I've sold 11 refurbished or new laptops since start of my trading year. 6th Jan to date.

If you push them in the right direction, there's a tonne of money to be made.

 

[LABFE]

Probably depends, to some extent, on where you buy them and how many you buy, but I pay about £55 + VAT (~$79) for a pack of 3 Windows 7 Home Premium refurb licences or about £90 + VAT (~$129) for a pack of 3 Windows 7 Pro licences.

I only do maybe 5-10 refurbs per year though. Still worth getting on the refurb program though in my opinion, if only to give your business a little extra credibility. Like others have said, it costs nothing, so why not?

I think that's good advice. I think I will get setup for the extra credibility and I may look for some ways to acquire PC's that are worth refurbishing for a lower purchase price.

 

[LABFE]

+1 to what @Moltuae mentions above. If you have clients who are on certain benefits. Or clients who are non profit charities, you can use the taps program.

These are refurb licences which cost $6 each. Bought in multiples of 10's. Min qty 20.

These you buy direct from Microsoft.

I've sold 11 refurbished or new laptops since start of my trading year. 6th Jan to date.

If you push them in the right direction, there's a tonne of money to be made.

Good to know. How do you acquire your PC's that you refurbish and turn a decent profit on? Are most of your refurbs trade-ins at your shop?