[Webslinger64]

OK, I have always wondered about online classified ads selling Windows 7 OS and the legitimacy of them. Quite often, the software is brand new and sold at a price lower than what you generally find with online sellers like Newegg, Amazon, etc. Here are some examples of classified ads I found this evening...

http://www.ksl.com/i...dows 7&ad_cid=3

http://www.ksl.com/i...dows 7&ad_cid=4

There are similar ads on this same website and there are a lot of them at any given time. Are these sellers legit, is the OS software legit, or if I were to purchase from them, am I buying an illegal/pirated product? It's hard to tell!

Edited by Webslinger64, 27 October 2013 - 10:23 PM.

[Advertisements]

Honestly, we can't answer this. It's classifieds, meaning anyone can post them and with any legitimacy. Most of those though, are where they copy down keys from the local shop they work at or off display machines at stores and then go home and post. Or they install that OS somewhere but keep the discs, then sell them. Granted some are legitimate though, and have NEVER been used... But more often than not they are not legitimate.

There is my 2 cents, sorry I can't be more precise.

[PhrantiQ]

Honestly, we can't answer this. It's classifieds, meaning anyone can post them and with any legitimacy. Most of those though, are where they copy down keys from the local shop they work at or off display machines at stores and then go home and post. Or they install that OS somewhere but keep the discs, then sell them. Granted some are legitimate though, and have NEVER been used... But more often than not they are not legitimate.

There is my 2 cents, sorry I can't be more precise.

[Webslinger64]

Honestly, we can't answer this. It's classifieds, meaning anyone can post them and with any legitimacy. Most of those though, are where they copy down keys from the local shop they work at or off display machines at stores and then go home and post. Or they install that OS somewhere but keep the discs, then sell them. Granted some are legitimate though, and have NEVER been used... But more often than not they are not legitimate.

There is my 2 cents, sorry I can't be more precise.

Thank you for the reply. Your explanation helped a great deal.

[PhrantiQ]

Not a problem. Wish I had a more YES/NO type of answer for you. I actually just got hit with a fake serial on a friends machine who purchased his OS from a local classifieds.

[Webslinger64]

Not a problem. Wish I had a more YES/NO type of answer for you. I actually just got hit with a fake serial on a friends machine who purchased his OS from a local classifieds.

Well that says it all right there. Can't be too careful. Most of the ads I've seen are suspect as well.