Buying Windows 7 corporate PC's at auction

seligman · Aug 21, 2013

I'm interested in purchasing several Dell Optiplex desktops at a corporate bankruptcy auction. Dell tech support won't help me without supplying the service tag numbers -- which I don't know at this point. The cases have Windows 7 product key stickers on them, but the discs and documentation are long gone.

Three questions:

1. Can I continue to use the original Windows 7 product keys even though I'm not the original owner? The company is history and their assets are being liquidated. I don't know the terms of the volume licensing agreements in situations like these.

2. If yes, would I be able to purchase a single set of discs for all computers and use the product keys associated with each PC?

3. If no, what are my options for reinstalling Windows 7 after wiping or replacing the HDD's?

Kennytran320 · Aug 21, 2013

1. Yes, it will register online.

2. You can use any OEM Windows 7 disc, as long as it matches the version. ie. Home Premium, Ultimate, etc. Then you can make copies or use that one disc on all of the PC's, checkmark activate later when installing, and use the code on the sticker later.

3. 1 and 2 are Yes

Tom Tancredi · Aug 21, 2013

1. Volume sales is a contract. Companies that are liquidated have all contracts NULL AND VOID. The 'product stickers' on the side of the computers will NOT be Corp Ed. Windows (totally different version), so depends if the Tech in house rolled out the Corp Ed or just used what Dell installed on them.

2 & 3. Your EASIEST solution will be (from Microsoft's website) download the ISO to burn a DVD for that model Windows (Pro, Home, etc.) and use the key on the side of the case (this is all legal), when you wipe reimage the machines.

spawnkiller · Aug 21, 2013

Tom Tancredi :

I second him, as long as you have all original keys on the invidual computers, then the windows linked to them is still legal unless it's the company keys (but from what i've seen it's almost always the DELL keys (or any other maufacturer)

Make sure it's windows Home Premium or Pro per example, then contact microsft, they'll give you the windows 7 Iso that you need and reinstall all windows, you'll be legal

PS: explaining microsoft that you just buyed some used computer with keys bundled with them also work, they'll give you new windows keys or reactivate those old ones (buyed a 5 laptops bundle from lenovo and microsoft reactivate the keys for 4 of them and give me a new one for the fifth as the key was already in use (and therefore this keys was void for the guys that was using it as i had the original in hand...) That will make sure you own all of them and you're legal and protected if someone had copy the windows key and is using it...

They'll sure ask questions like where did you get these computers but since you're not a thief, then you'll be able to reinstall without any trouble... Microsoft have a great support on this side

seligman · Aug 22, 2013

Tom Tancredi :

In all honesty, I have no idea what OS is currently on these machines. They have Windows 7 Pro stickers and product keys, so I assume the keys are still valid.

I went through a similar ordeal years ago with a Dell running XP Pro. I didn't have the original disc so out of desperation used one of my own slipstreamed XP Pro w/ SP2 discs because I needed the SATA drivers. The product key on the PC label wouldn't work, but my own product key did. Still not clear why this happened because it was the same version of the OS (minus the Dell drivers and XP SP2). This wasn't pretty because the Dell drivers were necessary right away. Windows loaded fine, but I had no networking or USB and had to burn a DVD to transfer the drivers over.

That's the basis of my concern because I don't have any Windows 7 license keys to spare if something similar were to happen again. I definitely don't want to purchase new licenses for Windows 7 unless absolutely necessary.

Are you guys in agreement that an .ISO downloaded from Microsoft should work without any problems or do I need to obtain an .ISO or replacement discs directly from Dell?

Tom Tancredi · Aug 22, 2013

seligman :

The keys on the outside of the box for Windows 7 Pro as provided by Dell are still valid for Windows 7 Pro provided by Dell (i.e. get the Dell DVD) to be installed. The problem I was saying was, you power it on, looks and acts like Windows but is actaully CORP Vol on the HDD being used, then down the road says your not running a legitamite copy of Windows and the key on the side (for Pro not Corp Vol) won't work, was alerting you to that possibility.

Yes your best bet would be, for a cost, ask Dell for that model replacement DVD. They will ask for the P/N and so on, and then tell you hose much it will cost for replacement for each (or if they are all the same model sell you a set of them).

seligman · Aug 22, 2013

Thanks Tom. I'm not planning to use the computers as is. I want to wipe the hard drives first or replace them if they are missing. So it probably doesn't matter what OS is currently installed, if any.

The thing I'm not clear about is who manages the Windows 7 product keys here, is it Microsoft or Dell? I was under the impression that in return for steep discounts, the OEM (i.e. Dell) has to provide the customer support and certain administrative tasks for Microsoft.

What I'm getting at is whether or not I'm at the mercy of Dell to get these product keys to work with a reinstall? Remember, these computers are from a bankruptcy auction. It's entirely possible the company failed to make its payments to Dell before going under. Could Dell turnaround and deactivate the product keys or refuse to provide replacement discs until the balance owed to them is paid?

Tom Tancredi · Aug 22, 2013

Having been through bankruptcy, once the bankruptcy is settled by the court (and that can be up to 5 years AFTER selling these computers mind you) technically they could be in the right to try that scenario as your saying, but I really doubt it, simply as they would have the first right to seize back the assets then allowing the courts to permit sale through auction.

Realisticly I think your way overthinking it. The keys are valid, they work, the OS to apply can be downloaded free from MS as ISO and do it on your own, but your better assurance would be to get the original DVDs from Dell (as your planning to resell these right?) and the proper driver disks to save you 'manhours'.

My personal experiance would be to just download the ISOs, then if I know the model computers go to the website and download them all also to the thumb drive. Make both ISO and DBAN disks, and just line them up on a table, going from system to system to system getting them to run. Then off to the side burning the amount of disks / labelled for each system to be sold with the system and call it done after you start the 200 patches (yes there is that many) for W7 updates.

seligman · Aug 23, 2013

I probably am overthinking it.
I just don't want to buy several computers and find out I have to purchase Windows 7 for all of them. Kind of ruins the deal, you know? These won't be sold again, except maybe to friends or family and in that case I might just give them away.

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Buying Windows 7 corporate PC's at auction

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