Selling PC - Software Licence Validity

Hi all,

I have a copy of MS Office which I bought separately from my PC (it' s genuine, legal copy bought from a well-known High Street shop) & have it installed on two PCs at present (the licence allows use on up to 3 PCs). I'm intending to sell one of the PCs & would like advice regarding selling / transferring this software, please.

The PC I'm selling will obviously be more attractive to a buyer if I sell it with the original Office installation CDs. However, in the future something might happen with the PC that I'm keeping that requires a re-install of Word, Excel, or the entire Office suite. Can I make a copy of the original installation CD & use that if I encounter problems in the future (and use the original product key)? Alternativey, if I don't copy the entire disk, could I just copy MS Office from my hard disk to a CD? If so, is it simply a question of copying the MS Office folder from the Programs folder on the HD or is there more to it than that?

The same question also applies to the OS installation disk (Windows XP home) that came with the PC - it's a 'proper' version, not an OEM system disk. Am I entitled to copy that & pass on the original with the PC I'm selling? Again, what happens about the product key? Or, to stay legal, do I have to buy another copy of XP for the PC I'm keeping, back up all my files, install the new copy of XP & reinstall all my files? Surely not!

Your thoughts & advice would be appreciated. I'll consider any workarounds BUT do want to keep everything legal, both for my benefit & for that of whoever buys the PC I'm selling.

Thanks for your help.

 

I'll let others more knowledable comment on the license issues but I can say there's a lot more to an office installation than what's in the programs folder.

Copying from HD to CD is not an option.

 

Thank you both for your thoughts; Pete C especially. The Office software is 2003 & is definitely licensed for up to 3 PCs (I checked some time ago). However, if I can't sell the PC with it installed as well as retain it on the PC I'm not selling, then I'll sell the PC without it (probably put Open Office on it before I advertise it).

I honestly don't see the difference it makes to Microsoft's income, though, whether the Office software is installed on a desktop + a laptop (legal, it seems) or on two desktops (not legal). And if the price I've paid Microsoft for the software entitles me to install it on two computers (desktop & laptop) what difference does it make to Microsoft whether it's me or someone else using one of them? Or have I misunderstood?

If I've got it right then it's really greedy - it doesn't work like that with music. For example, one of my Rolling Stones CDs is at home & I've a copy on my MP3 player & a copy on my girlfriend's MP3 player. The Stones (a band not noted for their financial laxity) don't insist on my buying two more copies of the album. Or do they?!

As regards the OS, I do indeed have just one XP CD & two computers. One PC had no OS at all when I got it (given to me as a 'thank you' by the committee of a voluntary project I'd worked on with the disk totally wiped for Data Protection, etc. reasons - they kept all CDs as they have a multi-user licence & need them for their other machines) & that's why I bought a brand new XP CD from a shop. At that time I also installed that XP on my other computer which was previously running Win98. It therefore seems likely that I've unintentionally been illegal for these past few years. Still, too late now!

So, to be legal with this sale, I'll include the original XP CD with the PC I'm selling. I'll also do a back up (mirror) of the HD of the PC I'm keeping so can resolve any future problems that need a re-install that way. Also, or alternatively, I can look out for another genuine XP CD from somewhere (probably cheap on ebay) so that:
Quote "When making a repair install this can be done using any XP CD with the same SP as the installation provided that the COA of the install under repair is used. "

Incidentally, when you have a moment, please could you tell me what COA is - is that the product key?

Does all that sound like to the right way to go?

Thank you again for taking the time to give what was some very helpful advice.

Martin

 

Thank you, Pete; helpful & quick, as I've come to expect from you!

Yes, Office 2003 Home & Student edition. I knew I'd checked the licence some time ago. I don't recall having any trouble installing the XP CD on both machines. I'm sure I'd remember if it had been any hassle. Mind you, I haven't needed the disk to reinstall or anything on either machine & maybe that would have caused problems if I had. Still, as you say, water under the bridge now.

I'd guessed 'COA' did refer to what I termed the product key & thanks for clarifying. You've spent enough of your time on me now, so I'll assume that what I proposed as they way to go with the sale / mirror image / buying 2nd hand XP from ebay or somewhere will all be OK unless I hear otherwise.

Thank you again for your help. If you want to buy a used Compaq Evo desktop with 40GHb HD, 2GHz Celeron processor, 512 MB RAM, DVD R/W, Floppy Drive, PLUS (special offer) legal copy of XP Pro SP3 & Open Office installed let me know & you can have a discount!

Best wishes,
Martin