A windows Install that comes on a flash drive from private seller -

[DonM123]

What evidence to I have that this install that I get on a flash drive from a private selling has not been tampered with in some way. ? Is there a way I can check ? For instance could they make it possible to crack my password to facebook or gmail by installing a hack that could only be done by hacking a install that has not been installed yet. ??? I am thinking that the only way a person can know he is safe is to use restore disks that come with a PC OR buy a windows 7 install from New Egg or something like that.

 

[mrjimphelps]

I'm not sure how you can verify it.

The safe way is to download a clean copy of Windows 7 from a known source, and then purchase a license key from a reputable dealer to activate it.

In fact, you aren't buying the copy of Windows 7; what you are buying is the license key.

 

[Layback Bear]

You can not legally buy a COA key only.
You buy a legal Microsoft Windows 7 and it comes with a matching legal COA key.

The problem is finding a seller of legal Windows 7.

Their are a boat load of things a private seller could of done.
Does this computer have one of these Microsoft stickers on it?



Jack

 

[Alejandro85]

That's a very real problem. In fact you're completely right, the seller CAN modify the installer as he pleases and it can do virtually anything after that (whether or not he actually did is another history).

To detect such tampering, the usual procedure is to compare to a well-known source that you can trust it's clean. That implies downloading the Windows ISO image from Microsoft and comparing it. But that defeats the purpose, since you already have the original disc, why bother with testing another one?

So I would say that it doesn't matters. Just download the original disc from Microsoft and forget about the other one. You can always make backups of that to have handy for another time.

I am thinking that the only way a person can know he is safe is to use restore disks that come with a PC OR buy a windows 7 install from New Egg or something like that.

Not exactly. The ONLY way to get a known-clean installer is to get it directly from the producer himself, MS in this case (that applies to every software out there, not just Windows). The so-called "recovery disks" are just an image of the out-of-box state of pre-built computers, and in many cases are known to be tampered with unwanted programs or even malware in some cases, they're not safe at all.
As for that "New Egg", that's just..... a private seller, not a privileged redistributor. The disks they provide aren't inherently any safer that those got form anywhere else, which return us to the very same starting point of this thred.

You can not legally buy a COA key only.
You buy a legal Microsoft Windows 7 and it comes with a matching legal COA key.

Quite the opposite. When you buy software (any software) whay you're really buying is not the program, but the license to use it. Though that license you get a serial to activate the program for unlimited use. But it's that license (and accompanying serial, "COA" or whatever) what is actually bought, the install disk in itself has no value, and is even freely distributed sometimes. MS itself had freely available Windows 7 install disks some years ago, which can only be activated though purchase of respective licenses.

 

[Layback Bear]

@ Alejandro85

Okay, exactly where can one buy a legal COA key from? Just the key.
Of course the COA key is what one is paying for anytime one buys a Windows 7 operating system.
A Windows 7 download is free. If one gets the download, where do they buy a legal key?
Microsoft no longer sell the COA keys for Windows 7. So one must trust the seller.
There lies the problem.

Jack

 

[SIW2]

Usedsoft.

I don't know if they sell licenses one at a time. They supply used MS , Oracle, etc to large commercial concerns, schools, hospitals, police departments, etc. That saves the taxpayers quite a lot.

 

[torchwood]

W7 has never been sold (stand-a -lone) on a usb drive

end of story


roy

 

[Barman58]

The usedsoft case was brought by the Frankfurt Germany local legislature and ratified by an EU court, I always understood that it only applies in Germany and would not be legal in any other country. With the exit of the UK from the EU and the fact that it has never been enshrined in English law, and does not have a royal warrant, I doubt that it would apply here. It obviously does not apply to any country outside of the EU, as for example to apply in the US it would have to be ratified in the US legal system and probably require an act of Congress.

 

[SIW2]

Your understanding is not correct. To the best of my knowledge, they do significant business in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, India, China and Southeast Asia. There is an office in Singapore, and now in South Africa. edit : There is an office in Hong Kong also.

 

[Alejandro85]

@ Alejandro85

Okay, exactly where can one buy a legal COA key from? Just the key.
Of course the COA key is what one is paying for anytime one buys a Windows 7 operating system.
A Windows 7 download is free. If one gets the download, where do they buy a legal key?
Microsoft no longer sell the COA keys for Windows 7. So one must trust the seller.
There lies the problem.

Jack

There is no need to buy "just the key". The typical package contains an install disk and the serial somewhere inside, that's how software used to be distributed since many years ago. Here comes the OP's problem of the need of trusting the install disk.

But given that MS still offers the install disk for download there is no need to do so. You just purchase though a reseller, discard the install disks provided and download the original one from a known-good source (MS in this case). And the problem goes away.
This is coincidentally how some games have been distributed since some years ago. A tiny install disk (if there is any disk at all) and download the rest from their servers.

Now the problem remains that you still need to trust a seller for the serial itself. I don't have a safe approach for that, since MS no longer sells Windows 7 themselves. Reputation, comments and the like are the last resort.

 

[Joan Archer]

I'd be very dubious of buying an OS that came on a USB Flash drive. I don't know of any way to check it but I wouldn't risk spending money on one.

I got Windows 7 when it first came out through the pre-order offer and it was a full retail copy on discs in the official case with the key inside. Of course it now sits in storage as I don't use 7 anymore and don't have it on any machines here.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

What a bucket of Worms!, when you start talking about an OLD OS and keys and licensing.
Especially, when the original source no longer sells it or supports it.

I'd rather try to find a new whatchamacallit for a '49 Studebaker.

Just the fact that it came on a Flash Drive, makes me suspect that it was a Pirated copy to begin with.
If it gave up the Ghost, or somehow got corrupted, I'd flush it, and go buy an Original OS on an original DVD with a legal license key. It might be a good time to upgrade to Windows 10. Eh?

Well, that's the "LEGAL" answer anyway.....

Good Luck,

 

[Layback Bear]

I doesn't matter if one downloads Windows 7, gets it on a DVD, gets it on a flash drives or pours Windows 7 in the computer using a funnel; you still have to trust the seller for a legal COA key.

**Now days that is the problem**

Jack