Microsoft offers up new Windows XP license for refurbished PCs

Good news for companies looking to refurbish and resell their dust-collecting PCs -- as of Friday, Microsoft has broadened its refurbishing rules in order to give outfits with heaps of not-quite-antiquated computers a way of offloading them with genuine copies of Windows XP. More specifically, Redmond will now be offering up a license for refurbishers "that is only available through the MAR program," and PCs that get equipped with Windows XP Home for Refurbished PCs or Windows XP Professional for Refurbished PCs will need to have a Certificate of Authenticity, too. Essentially, Microsoft is attempting to make the lives of those looking to deliver preinstalled Windows XP licenses on refurbed rigs a bit easier, but of course, there's a pretty rigid list of requirements that you'll have to meet before the MAR welcomes you in.

[Via Yahoo / TechWeb]

[Gav @ Nov 11th 2007 7:19AM]

You need to refurbish 5000pcs a month for at least 12 months to be eligible...

[AV @ Nov 11th 2007 7:41AM]

They just don't want anyone installing Linux on old machines to revive them.

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 11th 2007 9:29AM]

That's exactly what it is.

There are a TON of old PCs out there and MS fears losing control over them.

TS MS

[ldrn @ Nov 11th 2007 10:23AM]

Competition at its finest, then, really.

Proof (if there was ever doubt) that having competition in the PC OS area is good if you prefer Linux and it's good if you prefer Windows... and good if you prefer another choice, too.

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 11th 2007 11:37AM]

@ldrn: You make an excellent point.

If left unmessed with it could be interesting to watch how this situation develops.

[tekdroid @ Nov 11th 2007 7:49AM]

I don't think this is gonna stop the 'refurbished for ebay with no certificate' program...

[spam_from_engadget @ Nov 11th 2007 8:26AM]

If you told the average man-on-the-street that he wasn't allowed to sell the Windows that came with his PC when he sold the hardware, and that he or the buyer was supposed to go and buy a new copy from Microsoft, he would not believe you.

Do you know *anyone* who has ever bought a second-hand PC and bought a new Windows to use on it?

[Kizorblade @ Nov 11th 2007 8:30AM]

Nope. And I really hope that I don't meet someone like that... Authentic advocating bunnies.

[RC @ Nov 11th 2007 8:53AM]

Why should he believe something untrue?

[Jon @ Nov 11th 2007 5:47PM]

You're telling me that when a Windows PC changes hands a new Windows licence needs to be bought? And the old licence just becomes null?

I wouldn't put it past Microsoft but I'd never heard that and I also can't imagine anybody going to the trouble of actually doing that.

Isn't it tantamount to theft if Microsoft invalidates your existing licence and demands purchase of a second licence just cos the machine has been sold? How about requiring a new licence every time I upgrade the graphics drivers? Or upgrade the motherboard? Oh wait, they do that already...

Although there probably IS a "non transferable" clause somewhere in the licence...

[Wole @ Nov 11th 2007 8:35AM]

Woot??? Microsoft Authorized Rubbish???

[Josh @ Nov 11th 2007 9:12AM]

Just slap Ubuntu (or Xubuntu if it's really old) onto it. Will work better anyway ;)

[m-p{3} @ Nov 11th 2007 1:37PM]

Or Xubuntu if the computer doesn't have much resources available.

[Sean M. @ Nov 11th 2007 9:44AM]

Well, I look forward to having my next 2nd-hand PC MARred.

[J @ Nov 11th 2007 9:52AM]

Weak attempt to protect against Linux. If 5000 units noted in the comments is true then this isn't really a program for the ebay set now is it?

Refurbish that old pc and put Linux on it (ubuntu/kubuntu/xubuntu, DSL, PCLinuxOS). Most of the top Linux programs for doing things are already on Windows that you're likely using now... so the transition is easy (Firefox, Open Office, Thunderbird, Gimp).

J

[Jon @ Nov 11th 2007 12:30PM]

The license was paid for once, and now they expect someone to pay all over again?

[Dan Parmelee @ Nov 11th 2007 2:24PM]

This is really only good for Dell, HP, Sony, etc. Smaller guys can't get in on this.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 11th 2007 2:34PM]

Since when has Microsoft cared for the little guys? It has always been Gate's and Microsoft's position that the software is their's and you must pay to use it. They have always set the rules and the market has been playing by them.

Bill was on a vendetta since 1976 to make people to "pay up" for his software: http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/gateswhine.html (from: http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/corporate/microsofts_open_letter_to_open_source.html )

[michael @ Nov 11th 2007 10:15PM]

@Andir3.0:

Thank you for the brief history, but is a company's past that important to it's present? I mean, every successful company has had a rough start and big mistakes. So saying that this company used to do this and that is stupid. Focus on the present. Microsoft isn't as bad as they used to be. They still make mistakes of course, but they're not out to be 'evil'.

So thank you for giving a link that means nothing.

I view this article post, as a good thing. Microsoft is making it easier for legal XP's to be on refurbs.

Apple treats you far worse with making sure OS X goes ONLY on Macs, you buy it (retail) from ONLY shops Apple allows, and etc. Apple's lock-in system is far worse.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 12th 2007 4:30AM]

Why does everyone assume that I have a Mac?

And FYI, the link is valid today as it was 30 years ago. They haven't changed stances in as equal of time. To assume that Microsoft is not out to "be evil" as you say is ignorant. If they weren't out to be evil, you wouldn't have monkey boy claiming patent infringement without detailing the patents so the competition can attempt to remedy it. You also wouldn't have DirectX10 only in Vista. (It's been proven to work in XP with games like Crysis by copying some settings.) Microsoft is still trying to remain a monopoly and still trying to dodge the laws.

If you think Microsoft isn't evil, I feel bad for you.

[michael @ Nov 12th 2007 5:00PM]

@andir3.0:

Sorry. I didn't mean to call you a Mac fan.

But I think I'm still right about Microsoft not being 'evil'.

I was giving an example of Apple, primarily because they're the #1 software company after Microsoft.

Apple throws out crazy patents, that they haven't even implemented yet. Some of these patents to me, look like so no other company can ever create a good product, or a successor to Apple's products.

Did you hear of Apple trying to patent the term "multi-touch"? I mean, how egotistic can you be?

I don't think any company is 'evil'. They might have some stupid laws, but you can't doubt that Microsoft has changed for the better than what they used to be.

[Emerson @ Nov 11th 2007 8:24PM]

Did anyone see that techcrunch did a story about www.vois.com? Go check it out http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/09/vois-an-otc-listed-social-network/#comment-1746686

[thefultonhow @ Nov 11th 2007 9:40PM]

It's not like Microsoft didn't sell 98 and 2000 under the MAR program before this. They're just making it easier for MARs to provide current software. I ran a MAR-affiliated program for a year, and MAR was invaluable for our program (which I might add was non-profit). Linux, even Ubuntu, would have required too much handholding for many of the schools and small non-profits that we donated the computers to, and since we could get 2000 for $5 a license, it was totally worth it over trying to use the same OS each computer was licensed for (often 95, 98, or even Me).

[davijordan @ Nov 11th 2007 10:21PM]

I have had it with the bully company. What a laugh.... We have already switched to linux and are not going back. Just converted another machine from windoze last night.

[John @ Nov 11th 2007 11:24PM]

...Interesting that the original article mentions that the refurbished market is currently 10% of computer sales - larger than that pesky Apple Mac market everyone so cares about / is frightened of (which is something like 8%).

By the way... a researcher found that 2 tons of raw materials are consumed in producing a new computer.. so reusing is a better way.

I'm working from a used 2003 formerly Windows XP computer converted to Kubuntu right now, surfing with Firefox.