If I wanted to purchase w2k - where can I get it now?
I could not find it Microsoft website.
Is it OK to purchase it "second hand" from someone?

Try ebay.  You can buy it from someone providing that you get a product
key with it and that it isn't an OEM version with a BIOS lock on it.

John

aa wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

Thank you, John,
Where exactly should I look to see if it is an OEM version and it has a BIOS
lock?
BTW, what does a BIOS lock mean and how will it affect the user?

aa wrote:
If the cd has the computer manufacturer's name stamped or printed on it
don't buy it (unless you want to use it on the same brand of computer).
  OEM versions from the large manufacturers such as Dell, IBM, Compaq/HP
are clearly labeled and are easily identified, these are usually BIOS
locked.

The other type of OEM is the one from Microsoft, they are usually
referred to as "generic OEM" in these groups, they are used by small
system builders who do not have the resources or means to produce their
own cd's or who buy to few licenses to warrant the expense making their
own cd's.  These cd's are hologramed and they have the Microsoft logo on
them, they have the distinctive Microsoft look.  These will install on
any make of computer, they have no BIOS lock.

On BIOS locked versions there is a small file on the cd, when you boot
with the cd and select the option to install Windows 2000 the setup
program will get or read special instructions from that small file and
it will check the BIOS information of the computer on which you are
wanting to install.  If the information does not correspond with the
information in the small file the setup will abort and you will get a
message stating something to the effect that Windows cannot be installed
on your make of computer, it verifies that your motherboard is from the
particular manufacturer whose cd you are trying to use, this is an
anti-piracy measure.  For example, you cannot use a Dell cd to install
on a non Dell pc.

By the way, if you do a search on the internet you will still find a
handful of on-line stores who still have generic and retail Windows 2000
versions available for sale.  Do your homework, verify that the stores
are legit and trustworthy and make sure that what you buy includes the COA.

John

They sell OEM Single on Ebay - what is the problem with OEM licence?

On Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:19:26 +0400, aa <A@aa.com> wrote:
Hi

OEM software usually has a licence restriction that it only be sold with
hardware. The intent of this is that it means the OS is pre-installed on
new computers. However some sellers will stretch the meaning of hardware
a little (e.g., a 50cent audio CD cable, or an old, dead hard disk).
Watch out for ebay sellers trying to sell an OEM version for the price
of the retail full/upgrade version.

A bientot
Paul

restriction that it only be sold with
I looked up "OEM licence" on the Web and still do not see it clearly. I wand
w2k for my personal usage, not for installing it on other computers in order
to resell. Neither do I intend furnish with it an office stuffes with
employees. However I would like to remove preinstalled VISTA from my desktop
and XP from my notebook and install w2k instead.
1. What does "new computer" mean? Doeas it mean a literally new computer, or
it also cover a computer with new HD? Or an old HD, but freshly formatted?
2. If OEM software is designed to go on a particular computer and cannot be
transferred onto another computer then it should be somehow locked on the
particular computer is this done? If it is, then selling OEM separately like
they do on Ebay is a)illegal and b)does not make sense as it would not
install

aa wrote:

You will have to make sure that the necessary drivers are available for
Windows 2000, it may be a problem with newer computers.

John

aa wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteI bought my copy (OEM disk) from Ebay. But be careful who you buy from.
I had dealings with 2 sellers who tried to sell me a Win2k disk, which
arrived without a product key in one case, and the incorrect product key
in another, despite adverting in both cases that it came with one. Make
sure the disk is for sale with a COA, then you shouldn't go wrong.

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