QUESTION 1I once got a USED COMPUTER at a yard sale. It needed a product key to use it. I had to buy some WINDOWS XP which cost me 199 dollars.I ended up getting an new EVEREX computer which has quit. Now I am about to buy a REFURBISHED COMPUTER which has XP on it. My queston is what if the XP on it is owned by another person. This place sells refurbished computers and warrents them for 90 days. Well can they shut off the XP on it? What is the laws on this? Is the owner of a computer supposed to shut off his own software if he sells it before he gets rid of it or can he shut it off after it is sold?1 person needs an answerI do too

You spent $200 on a Windows XP license *now*? Sheesh. My suggestion to you - stop buying things until you figure out what you need and what things cost. Buy from reputable places and UNDERSTAND what you are getting even if you have to ask those you are about to hand money over to - and don't hand over the money until you UNDERSTAND. What you have listed are symptoms of poor decisions, not a computer issue. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP --How To Ask Questions The Smart Wayhttp://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Make sure seller supplies you with System Recovery or System Reinstallation DVD\CD. That way you know that it matches the license with the tag on the computer. Not fool proof, but you have a way to restore.Now, if you said that you have $199 Windows XP? I think you want to make sure if it is an UPGRADE or RETAIL. There is a big difference. With UPGRADE you can only do upgrade of a previously licensed (OEM or RETAIL) Windows OS (98, 2000, NT).With Windows XP Retail, you can install on any ONE pc of your choice. But, you may not install it on additional pc.So, for long term viability, your "mistake" into buying the RETAIL version may be boon in case you do a whole drive format, without worrying to backup data. This is a single, most prevalent issue with OEM installed Windows product since customer is not sophisticated to figure what will their problem be when their computer is hit with a malware and their is a need to reinstall. I was one who learned lesson little softly because it happened during first week of new pc. I simply returned and got a new pc.So moral of the story: make sure you have a readable OEM Windows System Recovery (or Reinstallation ) media, or RETAIL Windows XP media.