Refurbished laptop without Windows License?

Basically bought a refurbished laptop and the license sticker was peeled off. Has anyone else had this with their refurbished laptops? Is this right? I didn't get a recovery CD and when I asked for one, they sent me a copied one.

I'm not sure If I should return the laptop or not as some of my friends bought refurbished Dell's any they had the authentication sticker under the laptop.

Any advice would be great.

 

Return it. Without a license it does you no good.

 

Have you checked under the battery for the licence key.

 

Usually below the Right fan. DId you buy it directly from DELL?

 

the guy admited that it has been peeled off. He said that it was removed by Dell themself. I'm sure what I have is illegal, and its illegal to send it through the post. I bought it from an authorised reseller on eBay.

Here is the reply I got:

"HI
thanks for the email
sorry for the delay - we have been closed for bank holiday
sorry we must have sent you the wrong disk
please send your address again so we can send you the win 7 disk
this has the licence key inbuilt with it by dell
the Win 7 sticker has been peeled off by Dell
however the disk has the licence in it,

hope this is ok

kind regards."

He sent me a copied vista recovery cd ( I was supose to get win 7).

 

I don't know if you can return it then...

 

Why do you say that mate?

 

buying off ebay typically means all sales final. But, you never know, I imagine there must be some sellers that accept returns lol

 

It looks like you got scammed. I would try requesting a return and refund from the seller. If he won't, then you have several options including getting ebay involved. Did you buy it with a credit card? I certainly wouldn't want to have a stolen laptop.

Also, you can buy refurbished laptops straight from Dell.

 

You got scammed. You need to ask for a Legal License Sticker. Not a number through E-mail. No Disc has the Key "inside" of the disc. It is a number on a sticker made for that system. DELL Would NEVER remove the license unless the computer was sold without the license itself.

 

Yep he scammed you on the operating system.

 

damn, this is not good. I paid with PayPal via credit card. Should I call my credit card company?

 

I don't think this is necessarily a scam. If Dell sends a technician to work on a broken computer, they sometimes ask if all the little rubber feet and plastics are in place. If the user says that one of the rubber feet or something is missing, Dell sends in the technician with a new bottom piece to the laptop. They take the old bottom piece with them and give you a little sticker to write down the COA for the Windows OS that was on the bottom of the original laptop. If the owner didn't write the new COA # down and didn't put the sticker on, then that would explain the missing COA.
Easiest thing to do is check the service tag # for the laptop on Dell's site. If it lists the operating system that the seller originally represented, there is no need to worry, even if he gave you a backed up copy of the restore disk. From my experience, it will install without the need for the COA.

 

I see what you're saying but I can see the residue from the sticker that has been peeled.

 

just got a reply from the guy:

"HI
thanks again for the email
please give me your address so we can send a disk again
i will ask DELL If they can send us another one
kind regards"

 

You will not have a legally licensed copy of Windows without a Product Key Sticker. Royal OEMs, such as Dell are allowed to use master keys to bypass activation by checking the BIOS for the manufacturer's ID code, but are still required to provide a unique key attached to the system as all OEMs are required to do. What he is doing is sending you a Dell copy, which will install, but he is either keeping the sticker for himself or is selling it on the side if he's not being honest here.

I would be firm that he needs to include the Product Key sticker as well so you have a real license to use Windows, and if he doesn't then I would start a dispute with eBay.

 

Ask for the key m8 that will be the best thing to do.

 

Yeh, I asked for the Sticker, not just the key. If I don't get that, I'll be speaking with my credit card company.

 

If he advertized the laptop with the OS you have a case with PayPal.

It is true with a Dell OEM Windows disk it will install and activate regardless.

But if the price you paid was very good, just go buy a licensed copy if your that concerned about it,

 

Dell (and all other OEMs) use hardware activation. It is the reason you never have to enter the COA number after running a quick restore or recovery. As long as you have the correct version of the OS and the system board hasn't been changed, it will activate fine using the OEM enterprise lisence. The lisence follows the hardware on branded computers, although you may be asked for the COA number if you call Microsoft support.

If it is not too old of a unit, you can get the restore CDs from Dell for pretty cheap.

 

Get the key, even if for no other reason than the peace of mind.

 

If you don't have a authentic product key then you are not licensed to use Windows. It doesn't matter if it will install or not, without that sticker it is still an illegal copy and you have to have the version that the key is for.

 

Do you have any kind of warranty on that machine? If so, without that sticker, you may be SOL.

 

When Dell replaced the bottom cover for my M1730 I made the on site tech move my sticker over.

 

it depends on what specifically the auction says weather or not you have a case with your credit card company. honestly does it really matter? if hes sending you a disk that will install a genuine activated copy of windows 7 that doesnt have to be "cracked" or you dont have to use a activation tool then it should be fine. alot of refurbs come with the sticker removed beacuse the original owner retained the OS, or for reasons that have already been stated. its just a sticker. the windows sticker doesnt have anything to do with warranty for the machine, nor does it make it any less or more valuble, essentially your making a mountian over a molehill.

 

There is a warranty that the seller gave which is 12 months. He claims to be an authorised reseller for Dell. Now the seller says he has one and will sent it to me?! here is the story so far:

ME:
Hi, just received the DVD today thanks. However, I
tried booting up with the CD and its Vista not
Windows 7 64bit. I've also noticed that the
Windows Sticker on the underside of the laptop has
been blatantly peeled off - is there a reason for
this? I have no way of validating if this is a genuine Windows 7 without the sticker.
Please advise.

Dealer
HI
thanks for the email
sorry for the delay - we have been closed for bank holiday
sorry we must have sent you the wrong disk
please send your address again so we can send you the win 7 disk
this has the licence key inbuilt with it by dell
the Win 7 sticker has been peeled off by Dell
however the disk has the licence in it,

hope this is ok

Me:

Hi, I totally understand about the delay.
Thanks for the reply, I will need the certificate
of authenticity sticker as without it I will not
have a valid licence to use windows 7. Sending me
the Dell DVD will not mean I have a valid licence
as I could easily find this on the internet. I
need the CoA sticker to prove I own the windows 7
licence. If i dont have the CoA sticker then the
version of windows will be fraudulent. Perhaps you
could request a replacement CoA sticker from Dell?

Thanks.


Dealer
HI Alex
thanks again for the email
please give me your address so we can send a disk again
i will ask DELL If they can send us another one
kind regards

Me:
Hi, there is no need to send me another DVD right
now as the CoA is most important to me. So when
you get the sticker, you can send it along with
the DVD. I would assume 1 day is enough to get a
firm answer from Dell. Thanks.

Dealer:

Hi Alex
you should not have to wait for Dell
so let us send you a COA today

hope this is ok
please advise your address

kind regards.

*******END*******

So whats the deal? he says he will ask Dell for a COA and now he says he has one?!

 

btw, what does you alienware laptop owners COA look like? Does it say "Dell" or "Alienware" ?

 

He's probably peeling one off of another notebook to send to you, lol. If so, it will not match your machine.

 

no they are micorsoft licenses. has nothing to do particularly with dell or alienware. he may just be buying an COA online from microsoft, to avoid you tyring to return the machine. or may be using a sticker off another machine. really it wont make a difference.

 

I have a dell laptop right next to me and the COA has "Dell" on it. There is no way that he could of bought one from MS and able to send it to me in the same day. So chances are, hes peeling one off another laptop right now. Once I get it, I'm going to confirm with Dell.

 

There are 2 types of OEM System Builders, general ones (like the company I work for) and large ones called Royal OEMs like Dell and Gateway for example. The OEM software packs I get come with a generic OEM DVD and license sticker, the exact same ones you would get from New Egg. They require activation like all retail copies.

The Royals are a bit different. They are issued a Master Key that is used at the time of installation and along with the hardware ID from the BIOS, their copies do not require activation as long as a valid motherboard is still in the system. Royals also generate their own keys and stickers, and that key is based off their identifier. That's why a Dell Product Key would not be accepted on a Gateway OEM install, just like trying to get Windows 7 Pro to accept a Home key. You have to match the OEM install disc with that same OEM's key.

Support also comes from the OEM, not Microsoft as pointed out in the EULA for all OEM sales. Honestly, if he sends you a Dell sticker then most likely he pulled it off another system. OEM keys are supposed to stay with the system and do not transfer to other ones like retail versions do.

 

I hope not, I just bought an M15x from him today!

 

let me know how it goes crazyotterhound. would be very interesting in seeing how it works out.

 

Just an update on whats going on with with my dispute.
The company sent me another Recovery CD with the CoA sticker today.
1 Problem, the sticker says "Win Vista HmPrm - Win 7 HmPrm UPG Fullfill".
The CoA was stuck on the sleeve of the DVD and is brand new but the DVD is 32-bit! I replied him with the following mail:

"Hi, I'm having a nightmare with your company and
I'm starting to lose my patience. The first time
you sent me a copied Vista 64-bit dvd whilst the
laptop came pre-installed with Windows 7 home
premium. Now you have sent me a Vista home premium
upgrade licence to Windows 7 home premium with a
32-bit upgrade installation DVD.

I should have a Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
licence, not an upgrade, not a copied DVD. I want
an original Dell Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
restore/installation DVD and Certificate of
Authenticity.

Please could you send me the right DVD as soon as
possible. Once I have it, I will return the
incorrect items you have sent me.

Thanks. "

and he replied...

"HI there
thanks for the email
the laptop was sold with no recovery disk , it states this in the listing, we only have the disks we sent you
the licence we sent you is a new dell windows 7 licence, and is legal with Microsoft.
the disks we have are the only ones.

if you have a problem you have the means now to reload windows and activate it with the key

sorry we can not be any more help

hope this is ok

thanks"

He said he would give me a recovery disk prior to the purchase thats why I bought it. Looks like he isn't willing to give me the correct CoA and Recovery CD .

 

To be fair I can believe that Dell could have removed the sticker. If they replaced the bottom cover at any time they would have most likely installed a refurbed one which would have had the sticker removed. Alienware sent me one like that when they repaired my M9750 and replaced the casing. I had to phone them up and get my original bottom cover sent back to get the CoA. Chances are if they dont have the original bottom cover then they cant send you it!
I wouldnt say the guy is willing trying to scam you, he sent you a new CoA and disk. Just download the 64 bit DVD and use that in combination with what you have.

 

i really dont see why yoiu were making such a huge fuss over this, if you are that concerned you should have bough it from Dell. now on the the fact that hes now saying that he isnt going to send you the sticker after he said he would, thats pretty crappy. with that you have grounds for a dispute, im sure you have all the original emails, before hand ebay would have only enforced the language in the auction, now hes kinda screwed. IMHO, if your worried about getting a "dell licensed" copy of windows 7 just buy a computer from them, its the only way to be certain your going to get one. but again i dont see what it matters really

 

If it states that there is no recovery disk in the listing then why did you assume that it would have a COA and a recovery disk? Sounds like the listing was for the laptop only, and the seller seems like that are doing what they can for you. They even sent you disk for which you did notpay for. You can not expect them to just drop the $$ for a new windows 7 cd key.

This is why you need to be careful on what you buy on e-bay.

Do a search on newegg.com and order a system build install disk for $100

 

If the listing did not say that it doesn't come with a valid CoA, then he DOES have grounds to complain, provided that the listing states that the Windows 7 was genuine.

 

But if it did not state either way then the OP should have asked before buying and not assume that it will. Not having a COA is really not that big of a deal. It's not like you are going to get arrested for not have a COA on the laptop. Take this is a learning lesson. Ask do not assume.

There is a risk when buying on e-bay. By buying items on e-bay you accept this risk.


Tommy Boy Quote "Modified for COA"

Tommy: Let's think about this for a sec, Ted. Why would somebody put a COA on a computer? Hmmm, very interesting.

Ted Nelson, Customer: Go on, I'm listening.

Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy COA on a computer 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.

Ted Nelson, Customer: Yeah, makes a man feel good.

Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the COA Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?

Ted Nelson, Customer: What's your point?

Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy; well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser, and your daughter's knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.

Ted Nelson, Customer: But why do they put a COA on the computer?

Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a COA piece of ****. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it COA, I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

 

This maybe a dumb question, but from some of these posts I'm now confused.......

If you have a sticker for Windows 7 HP currently on the bottom of your computer, then purchase the "Anytime Ugrade" key from Microsoft via the internet and upgrade to a different version, aren't you authorized to use the upgraded version without having a COA sticker. You obviously don't get a new sticker when upgrading via the internet. I mean, you would have legally purchased the upgrade but would still have and sitcker with a different version and product key attached to your computer.

 

First of all, if there is no Product Key sticker attached to the system or included anywhere else in the package then they should have technically sent it with no OS installed. If they advertised it including the OS then you have grounds to open a dispute with eBay/PayPal.

And as to the Anytime Upgrade, I haven't done it personally with 7, just Vista, but it required an in-place upgrade meaning that the version you were upgrading to was required to be already installed. If 7 works the same way it means the key they issue you will not work for a clean install, just the upgrade install over the version you upgraded from since a clean load rejected the key.

But again I only did that in Vista (Pro to Ultimate) and it may no longer be the case for Windows 7.

 

Ahhh, we're talking about a clean install.. I was curious because I just upgraded a friends netbook (Windows 7 Starter to W7 Professional) and there was no need for a clean install. It works just like Vista, only allows an upgrade. Obviously his system will still have the W7 Starter sticker on it. I just want to make sure he is legally allowed to use the upgraded version..

As for the OP... My advice is to ask the seller for refund for the cost of whatever operating system was supposted to come on the computer and go buy the full version disc wth COA.. I would have lost my patience a long time ago.

 

I did ask about the recovery disk and he said he will give me one. Its like saying, if you went to buy a car online would you ask if it has a steering wheel?

Dell has told me that they never peel off COA's in refurbished laptops and the 'authorised reseller' said it was Dell. I contacted the reseller about this and no reply.

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa&displaylang=en

 

All you have to do is use the dell oem win 7 dvd and your fine, technically you need that key but the oem key just checks for slic 2.1 on your dell motherboard and its not like your stealing windows here because the key is tied with the system and no one can use that key unless they peeled it off and installing it on another dell machine that doesn't have the newest bios aka an older dell machine .

 

Again, the whole point of this is that the OP wants a legal copy of Windows 7 on the laptop he purchased. The buyer is coming off now as extremely shady and I am quite sure he either peeled the sticker off himself or just assumed any buyer would not know the difference. It doesn't matter if you can use a Dell OEM DVD to install from without the key, it's still an Illegal Copy since there is no longer a license on the system.

And you can use the key on any system you want, you just have to use a Dell OEM DVD to install from as any other version will reject the key and you'll have to activate the system afterwards. That's why Microsoft cracked down hard on OEM Windows auctions on eBay, people were peeling off the stickers and selling them separately.

No Product Key Sticker with the system = No Legal Right to use Windows. The OP will either have to buy a copy with one or get the seller to send it to him...

 

I remember trying on a test machine a custom built pc using a Dell copy of Vista and Win 7 and then using a dell key and it would work for like a day then it would have the the not genuine copy screen come up

 

That doesn't surprise me at all, they must have changed the way OEM installs work with Vista. Since I don't work on desktop/laptop systems for my company anymore I haven't really had to try and say get a Dell install working on a Dell system with a non-Dell motherboard replacement in about 2 years. With XP they would just install and you had to activate it within 30 days just like a general OEM or retail copy. Looks like they fixed that hole when it comes to the Royals...

 

The whole Tommy boy qoute was meant as a joke. Meant to give a laugh. What I am stating that if the listing stated there is no recovery disk then you can not get upset that the seller did not send you one. Even if they said they would after that fact as you now have no leg to stand on as it was stated in the auction. Not every laptop has to be sold with a COA from Microsoft, IE bare-bone systems. There is a lot out there that do not. On that note they never should have install the operating system (if they did).

What you can do to get your Serial # from the operating system is to use a program called JellyBean to search it for you and contact Microsoft to see if it's legit and if it is they might send you a COA.

Dell stated that they never do... how many companies have employees do something that the company swears no one ever does. Could have been someone's 1 week and didn't know any better.

 

Jellybean or any other key finder program will not help. All you'll get is Dell's Master Key, not the actual key that came with the system.