Windows – Buying used windows license. How to tell if they are still active

virtualizationwindows

I want to buy used copies of Windows Full Retail Version, (XP, Vista, 7) so we can install our PC application on customers Macs using something like Vmware fusion.

If we do buy these licenses, how can we tell they are legit and not being used anymore?
Will it tell us when we try to activate them?
Are we liable if they are being used at the same time as the original owner?

Any other pitfalls to this strategy? Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

Windows 7, for example, has the following provision. This means that the seller must be the first user, and provide you with any media/collateral, and a proof that they purchased the software.

You don't have any way of verifying that they are no longer using the software, there is no mechanism to do this.

From the Windows 7 EULA at

http://www.microsoft.com/About/Legal/EN/US/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

TRANSFER TO A THIRD PARTY.
a. Software Other Than Windows Anytime Upgrade. The first user of the software may make a one time transfer of the software and this agreement, by transferring the original media, the certificate of authenticity, the product key and the proof of purchase directly to a third party. The first user must remove the software before transferring it separately from the computer. The first user may not retain any copies of the software.