Jon,

I called MS one time to ask about what to look out for when buying from E Bay. I was put on hold for about 20 minutes, finally someone answered from MS Legal dept. His first words were due to the difficulties on determining a valid copy MS does not recommend buying on Ebay.

My reply was I am sure you would rather I did not for many reasons $$$$$ however the fact is I need a deal and you cannot tell me that ALL copies are illegal. Having said that what do I look out for.

He was reluctant, I persisted and he said this.

There are 5 things that usually make up a legal copy. If you come up with 4 we will supply the 5th for free.

The original box.
Hologram on box.
Software on original media.
Manuals

and maybe UPC on box (not sure)

I did not get this in writing.

As someone else replied...watch out for Academic copies.

Look at sellers history.

I have been getting deals on software since 1990.

Here in the DFW area way before Ebay there was "First Saturday" a very large computer/electronics flea market that has been going on since mid 70's in downtown Dallas on the first Saturday of the month.

I have applied this technique often. In order to get an upgrade buy a good used copy of an older version. Register and then upgrade. In order to get my upgrade to dBase IV I purchased a copy of dBase III+ for about 50 bucks. Then my dBase IV cost about 200.00. I upgrade to FoxPro from that after my bad experience with dBase IV (I was an original Beta Tester on dBase IV version 1.0 a horrendous product).

It used to be you could purchase other competing products to upgrade from. That is not so prevalent. But I have done this as well.

I own more software than another developer I have personally met as a result of this type of work. I have never had a problem registering or getting tech support. I have never had a question.

I have never purchased a new piece of original major software from the original mfg (Word, Office, Visio Enterprise, .NET Enterprise, VS, Paradox, RBase, Data Ease, dBase, Clipper, NT 4.0, NT 2000 Server etc etc). I have purchased all upgrades from mfg.

Purchase, register immediately if there is a problem take care of immediately with reseller (Never had a problem since 1990).

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The software world would like to make all sorts of little rules to make a used software product much different than any other used product. It is not. It is a product just like many others that is very useful used. As in many many industries there is a robust after market of all sorts of new, used surplus products.

Ron