How can I check my copy of Vista Ultimate is legit

DirtyJester

DirtyJester

DirtyJester

Caporegime
Joined
17 Oct 2006
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Ok I have a copy of Vista Ultimate in a clear plastic box with seals intact .... how do I know its a legal version before actually opening the box .... is there any way of checking ?
 
There is quite an easy way of telling if your software is legit.
How much did you pay for it?

The bottom line is that "Windows" cost is much of a muchness wherever you buy it from.
Sure you can save a little bit by shopping around, however like for like it should cost you about the same anywhere you buy it.
If a company was selling legit copies at a really low price then the world would know about it and they would be getting 90% of the orders.
So - if you paid approx. the following price:

Vista Ultimate Retail Full - £275
Vista Ultimate Retail Upgrade - £180
Vista Ultimate OEM - £105

At the above price there is a good chance your copy will be legit as you will have bought from a legit site.
If however you paid a lot less the chances are it will not be legit, unless you purchased it through some deal with your school/college.
 
if it says in tiny tiny letters a load of rubbish like translucencyopennessneccessityhumanity with a holographic silver thread going through it with something like ourpassion then it's probably real.
 
if it gets detected as not legit by microsoft auth servers, it wont work properly. But tbh, the same microsoft servers can be fooled into thinking a linux box is an authentic copy of windows, even though its linux and has no trace of windows on it.
 
Ok thanks for replies .... fumbles I checked the link and everything on the COA appears exactly as it should .... so I guess its time to peel of the seals ..open it up and see whats inside . Full retail version of vista ultimate with both 32bit and 64bit versions ..£150
 
DirtyJester said:
Ok thanks for replies .... fumbles I checked the link and everything on the COA appears exactly as it should .... so I guess its time to peel of the seals ..open it up and see whats inside . Full retail version of vista ultimate with both 32bit and 64bit versions ..£150
Click to expand...

A full retail version of Vista Ultimate for £150?
Then I'm afraid there is something not right about it.
I don't know if you've got an Educational version, a version that shouldn't be sold in this country etc.
However you cannot pick up the Full Retail (not upgrade) version of Ultimate for that price or else everyone would be doing so.
 
I have installed ... activated .... and Im on it now ...its the Full Retail Ultimate version with both DVDs ..32-bit and 64-bit and I thats what I paid .... its called being in the right place at the right time ....

This has on the label Windows Ultimate English Intl DVD orgin Ireland ...and its running away fine .... that said your 100% correct in that 'or else everyone would be doing so.' simply cause there was only one copy for sale ....
 
see the bit with the title on it like Jester's "Windows Ultimate English Intl DVD" and my "Windows Vista Home Prem English INTL UPG AE DVD" - is that meant to be able to smudge? cos mine's pretty bad but the tiny writing bits on the left are sharp as ever.

Do they do Academic versions of Ultimate? out of interest, if they do, how much would it be (non upg)
 
stoofa said:
A full retail version of Vista Ultimate for £150?
Then I'm afraid there is something not right about it.
I don't know if you've got an Educational version, a version that shouldn't be sold in this country etc.
However you cannot pick up the Full Retail (not upgrade) version of Ultimate for that price or else everyone would be doing so.
Click to expand...

I got a full retail 32 and 64 bit sealed vista ultimate from the bay for £170. It's definitely the official thing and has never had a problem with activation.
 
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