Selling a pc with various software installed - bad idea?

david39

You could just delete the software, either via Control Panel or by downloading a free, simple utility program like CCleaner: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

If the old software was not mentioned when selling, it is unlikely that the new owner would ever know it was on there. Theoretically, they could recover it but, if they didn't know it was there, they wouldn't be looking for it.

DazedAndConfuzed

Deleting the software's not a problem, thing is I don't want to delete it if I can avoid it as it'd add to the resale value if it's on there.

Chimpofdoom

Well it should only effect the price if you can provide the original discs along with the PC.

Mainly people will buy a PC then reinstall the OS anyway, so they can strip it down to what they want. If they've paid extra for software they no longer have discs for then they'll be going "!!!!!!?!"

There's also the legality of the whole thing..

DazedAndConfuzed

That's my point, I'm pretty sure they're all legit as he's not particularly dodgy, but you never know. All of the software works without the discs (which I presume is normal), they can run updates when you get online, etc, etc.

My thinking is to list it on e-bay and just mention it comes with x, y and z but they can be deleted if needs be.

JasX

DazedAndConfuzed wrote: »

That's my point, I'm pretty sure they're all legit as he's not particularly dodgy, but you never know. All of the software works without the discs (which I presume is normal), they can run updates when you get online, etc, etc.

My thinking is to list it on e-bay and just mention it comes with x, y and z but they can be deleted if needs be.

If you don't have the original disks its pretty much a default into the 'dodgy' category, even if it was legit whats to stop whoever has the original disk installing another copy? then where would you be with licenses etc etc.

The only real non-dodgy options are:

-find the original disks and include them.
-Supply some evidence they are legitimate copies (eg proof of purchase, copy of confirmation emails, etc with an explanation of why the original disks are missing)
-uninstall the software

otherwise you leave yourself quite exposed.

if you remain in doubt drop your friend an email and delay the sale a week or so to confirm things.... I'm sure he is likely to remember if he spent £700-£1200 a few times over on full/non-student/non-restricted licenses for all that top grade software.

DazedAndConfuzed wrote: »

Problem is he's in Thailand now

...yes, thats not at all a hotbed of fake DVDs, cracked software and/or other miscelanous dodgy goods.:cool:

kalaika

Personally I'd just wipe the whole disk and sell the computer as having no O/S. That way the next owner won't have access to the [STRIKE]p0rn[/STRIKE] personal documents that your mate has probably left on it.

DazedAndConfuzed

Luckily that's not a major problem as there's 2 hard discs, 1 has all this installation stuff and the other had the personal 'data', etc so all I need to do is format that one.

Chimpofdoom

JasX wrote: »

:
-find the original disks and include them.
-Supply some evidence they are legitimate copies (eg proof of purchase, copy of confirmation emails, etc with an explanation of why the original disks are missing)
-uninstall the software

Agreed, you'll need to get the discs/proof of purchase for the OS and any software that was purchased.

Although arguably, having the disc doesn't matter as you don't own it, you just own a licence, so you would need to check the T&C's about renaming it etc (if it is legit)

DazedAndConfuzed

That's probably the best plan, although if the software was legit and registered doesn't that make it impossible to be registered on another pc? I'm pretty green about all this as I've never needed to know before.

Will have to wait and see what's said about the software, really don't wanna get in trouble cos someone else was being dodgy!

Donnie

DazedAndConfuzed wrote: »

That's probably the best plan, although if the software was legit and registered doesn't that make it impossible to be registered on another pc? I'm pretty green about all this as I've never needed to know before.

Will have to wait and see what's said about the software, really don't wanna get in trouble cos someone else was being dodgy!

We are still waiting for the make and model of PC.