can my windows be used again?

DotFifty89 · 5 Aug 2014 at 08:29

Hi, just sold one of my computers. I had installed a full original copy of windows 8.1 that i bought from a pc shop. It came with both 32bit and 64. I used the 64bit on this pc. Is this copy of windows now useless? Or can i sell it on?

imb4tman · 5 Aug 2014 at 08:35

Did you sell the computer with that copy of Windows installed on it?

DotFifty89 · 5 Aug 2014 at 08:48

I sold it all in bits, but yes it was still installed on it.

linktoinsanity · 5 Aug 2014 at 10:53

You should always thoroughly erase a hard disk when you sell it on. I hope you did that as otherwise all your data could be recovered.

If you still have the License Key and Disc in your possession then you can still use it, however the copy installed on your old hard disk will not be legally licensed. Despite this though there is nothing stopping whoever you sold it to from recovering the key (Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder) and using it themselves, even though it may not technically be legal. This may cause you activation issues, however it won't lock you out completely.

Ben Cole · 5 Aug 2014 at 11:47

I presume it was a retail copy not an OEM copy since you bought it in a shop. If it was OEM then it would be tied to the motherboard I imagine.

If you still have the media/COA/licence sticker then yes you can use it again.

You really should have wiped the machine before selling it though.

imb4tman · 5 Aug 2014 at 13:11

Windows 8 OEM can be swapped over to another machine I believe. Microsoft changed their terms and conditions to allow this and got rid of "retail copies". But as linktoinsanity says, you may run into activation problems if the person you sold to is also using the same copy.