OS ownership on used laptop

I have been searching Ebay for just the right deal on a Lenovo T410 laptop. Tough venture to accomplish. I've wanted a Lenovo for quite some time.

I'm not really sure how to ask my core question but here goes.

My question arises if I buy a laptop from a small Ebay store and it comes loaded with Windows 7 Professional (or Premium, Ultimate, etc.). Who owns the OS? In other words what do I do if I have to reinstall the OS? How do I reinstall the OS without an install disk that I bought or own? I guess I could clone the OS using Acronis but what do I do if during the reinstall the Certificate Of Authenticity on the bottom does not end up matching the reinstall?

I'm really nervous about buying a laptop on Ebay but yet that is where the good prices are. I risk the chance of getting something that looks like it's been through a war but I guess there is no way around that. Just because pictures are posted does not really mean those are the pictures of what I'll get, paid for, or, won an auction for.

Tough road I'm going down. IMO. I'm known on this forum to be OCD but I gotta live with it. :cry:confused

 

Firstly, before you buy a Lenovo, read this news report on MajorGeeks.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/lenovo_apologizes_and_offers_security_software.html

Secondly, irregardless of how you 'buy' Windows (pre-installed or retail disc), you only buy a license to use the OS. If Windows has been pre-installed, there is a recovery partition to reset Windows and everything that was installed by the manufacturer.

 

The OS is yours to use as your see fit. If you would like recovery media, check here

 

Thanks Eldon,

I did read the link you sent me. Looks like I would be covered with the fix from Major Geeks.

Is there anywhere where I can learn how to use that recovery partition? However, though, if the T410 were originally loaded with XP (of which I don't know if XP was loaded on T410's by Lenovo) and the laptop now has Win7Pro installed - Would the recovery partition take me back to XP? ALSO, the recovery partition does not exist as an option if the seller changed the hard drive and then put an OS on the new hard drive - does it?

Just trying to understand all of this.

 

Just Playin,

Thanks for your help. Here is a quote on the link that you sent me.

Forgive my potential ignorance, but, what are they trying to say? Are they trying to say that if I live in the USA then I can't get the software? I don't understand what they are trying to point out.

 

You have asked all the right questions.

You will have to search MajorGeeks Support Forums for "How to use the recovery partition on Windows 7". I have discs for Windows XP Professional and 7 Ultimate. If something goes wrong, I repair or re-install.

I believe if Windows has been upgraded from XP to 7 and you use the recovery partition, you'll be back to XP. Hopefully someone can shed more light on the issue.

If the seller changed the HDD and installed Windows, there will be no recovery partition.

The bottom line is: If you buy a used PC from anywhere, you are not going to have the luxury of checking the PC prior to delivery. It's a risk I wouldn't take.

 

Dekade...

I have purchased a number of PCs on ebay, and I have never bought a lemon, yet. In fact, I have been amazed at the value for the dollar that can be found this way. The thing is all my purchases were desktops. Most of the used desktops on ebay that come off lease from companies are almost barely used. That's a matter of searching for the listings that actually give the right pictures.

I did a search for laptops one time, and I have to admit, it's a completely different situation. Honestly, with all that can be wrong with a used laptop and because they are used so hard and treated so roughly, I would steer clear of buying a used laptop.

I apologize, and I know these are personal opinions, but I feel used laptops are insanely overvalued by sellers. I saw very few that weren't somehow broken. Not that laptops are worth less to someone. For many/most they are their most important PC. It's just that they are so brutally used...not at all the same thing as a desktop. Then there is also the expense of replacing worn out batteries and power supplies. Too many expensive parts.

If you are looking for a desktop, ebay is a gold mine. Otherwise, I really feel it's best to look into finding any way possible to get your hands on a new laptop somehow.

By the way, there is a download site for a Windows 7 .iso. I got my W7 Pro iso from Digital River when MS was using that site to host the W7 iso downloads, so I can't say whether this will work for you:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...s/software-recovery+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

I do think you would need the key from the PC to get he download to work. If you have an XP key on the box, I am not sure the key used by the seller to activate W7 will be approved for the download. Because of this, I would steer clear of PCs that don't have a key for your preferred OS on the machine. This will work every time for the download and for reinstalls. You can, as you mentioned, image, and this is very effective as long as you make sure you have enough of them on different drives, etc., in case something breaks and you lose a drive containing your images.

If the PC is refurbished, and the OS was upgraded that way, the recovery partition is likely gone.

Hope this helps. I don't know why, but, after looking over the laptop deals on ebay, I kind of feel for you trying to find one there. I was so completely disappointed by the ones I saw there . I guess, it was kind of shocking to me how rough laptop users are on heir machines, since I haven't ever owned one...

 

Thanks LauraR,

I will check out their site

 

AltBo,

You have actually EXACTLY mirrored my mind and thought process. I build my own desktops. Wish the task existed for laptops.

The task is daunting on Ebay to find a laptop. There is so much deception in the pictures that represent what the item being sold is actually to look like. I get really bothered when seeing "new OS install" or "fresh OS install". I realize they are probably wanting you to think they are wiping off their personal data - BUT - then why don't they furnish the OS CD/DVD?

Originally I thought I had a great opportunity in front of me for a laptop on Ebay, but as time goes on it gets dimmer.

To me, Ebay, in this regard is major deceptive. Here's the other factor my mind plays with me on. Laptops are a very good black market item - stolen goods.

On the other hand it is obvious that some of the sellers have bought out company leases and have acquired many laptops in a single lot purchase. That is an understandable means of acquisition. The only problem there is they show a modified picture of a single laptop. Obviously it looks brand new. rolleyes That one laptop is supposed to be the way they all look - inclusive with the one that "I" would receive? I'm not certain - but, I don't think so. So, anyway, I guess I'll look maybe one more time for one that stands out and then try some "honest" communique with the seller. At the same time I'm going to head on in to Lenovo's web site for a look see.

 

Dekade...

Yes, I know what you mean. I felt, as I was looking at the deals there, that sellers were asking double or even triple what the machines are worth (or what I would pay). It really surprised me to feel that way, because I know how much people value them, but I just didn't realize how much abuse laptops take being hauled around and so on.

I got really frustrated, as you, with the off-lease ones. The sellers seem to be glossing over serious problems that could be common with the units, and, again, the prices were way too high. I even tried focusing on units owned by an individual, but without fail the unit had some major problem or damage. Questions about the OS were abundant, as you mentioned, too, and there were too many without main drives at all. Really made me feel sad that I could not find even one.

I really hope in the future sellers of used laptops will learn to take into account the difference between a used laptop and a used desktop and price their units accordingly. For buyers of a used laptop, it's just a bad deal to get into a used one at the current ebay prices, knowing the battery or power supply could go bad at any time...or the mouse pad or screen could fail. Those kinds of repairs can add up to $200 for a laptop.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place and good luck to you. I am sure you will find one.

 

Yep, Thanks.

 

Most of the T410s series machines were shipped with Vista, unless downgraded to XP. I own a T410 with an SSD onboard. It's SATAII, and uses a 1.8" drivebay, mSATA.

It's a reliable machine, and mine is DDR3 with a vPro Core2 Duo.

The 410 series differed greatly regarding specs depending on the year they were made. Later models shipped with an i5 and Win7.

 

the mekanic,

Thanks. That is what I was assuming relative to the original loaded OS's. I was surprised to hear of yours having DD3 capability. I did not know that was an option.

As this whole thread as progressed it has side tracked (for the positive) and I definitely am steering away from Ebay for a laptop. Thanks to LauraR I have done a lot of manufacturer refurbished research per their respective web sites. Now I am strongly looking at an HP Probook which boasts a physically strong structural body similar to Lenovo. The Probooks are supposed to meet certain military criteria.

As I had three chat sessions with Lenovo I was very surprised at their curt attitude. Definite negative impact.

 

I was a little disappointed at first about the SATAII, but the ddr3 made up for it. The 400 series overall was produced over the course of many years and had many different models.

as far as Lenovo don't let a couple disgruntled customer service associates completely turn you off on the brand, but I have to say that the HP Pro books are definitely a solid piece of equipment.

 

Thank you the mekanic,

Yeah - I know - I get a little too defensive with customer service reps in any venue. I need to settle my jets down in that regard. Anyway, I am still looking at Lenovo but HP ProBook has some VERY nice refurbish prices. Better prices than my initial look at Lenovo. Like I said I always have wanted a Lenovo - so I'll just have to play things out.