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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: RichB on 01 January 2009, 21:40:19

Title: Cheap PC
Post by: RichB on 01 January 2009, 21:40:19
My mums PC has gone tits up.  I have already tried a new power supply but still nothing, doesnt turn on at all so I now suspect its the motherboard.  As its getting on a bit and very slow I was looking for a cheap replacement.  I was looking on dabs.com and saw these Acer refurbs.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=5DJM&CategorySelectedId=11101&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11101,4294953510,45860000,422060000,43560000,407200000

Has anyone had any experience of these?  This one is similar spec to mine and mine runs nicely.  She doesnt use the PC for much only email, browsing and office really so doesnt need to be anything special.

Also anywhere else worth looking for a cheap PC?


Cheers,

Richard
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Baron Von Spongebob on 01 January 2009, 21:57:05
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Entwood on 01 January 2009, 21:59:43
Bigpockets often have some good deals ...

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/cat.php?search=PCs&nav=227
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: RichB on 01 January 2009, 22:23:21
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 01 January 2009, 22:27:05
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: fife_omega_v6 on 01 January 2009, 22:50:34
Quote
My mums PC has gone tits up.  I have already tried a new power supply but still nothing, doesnt turn on at all so I now suspect its the motherboard.  As its getting on a bit and very slow I was looking for a cheap replacement.  I was looking on dabs.com and saw these Acer refurbs.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=5DJM&CategorySelectedId=11101&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11101,4294953510,45860000,422060000,43560000,407200000

Has anyone had any experience of these?  This one is similar spec to mine and mine runs nicely.  She doesnt use the PC for much only email, browsing and office really so doesnt need to be anything special.

Also anywhere else worth looking for a cheap PC?


Cheers,

Richard


for all she uses it richard try www.gumtree.co.uk   click on your local area and have a look in the computer section might get summit cheap
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Martin_1962 on 02 January 2009, 00:04:09
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 January 2009, 00:22:09
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days

Hard to see why you need to buy the software again just because you've bought some new hardware to run it on - assuming it's removed from the previous PC.

Then again, when have Micro$haft's EULAs ever been reasonable?

Kevin
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Vamps on 02 January 2009, 00:27:08
I recently bought a full system, flat screen, ex council dell for £60.00, not directly from the council but does the job fine, till I get ours fixed.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Plomien on 02 January 2009, 08:49:04
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 09:37:30
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days

Hard to see why you need to buy the software again just because you've bought some new hardware to run it on - assuming it's removed from the previous PC.

Then again, when have Micro$haft's EULAs ever been reasonable?

Kevin
The 'proper' full retail version can be transferred.  Its the 'limited' OEM, sold only to OEM's for £5-£50 depending on quantity (representing an massive cost saving over retail), that specifically say it cannot be transferred.

Some retailers have found a loophole allowing them to sell OEM versions to unsuspecting Joe Public for what is half the price of the retail version. JP reckons he's bagged a bargain, gets that warm glow from feeling he is legal, and everyone is happy. Until he finds out that it would have been cheaper to buy the retail one in the long run if he builds his own systems frequently.

The OEM licence is cheaper, and is limited in this way.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 09:38:32
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
Depends when it was last (re)activated - again retail versions are less tight on this than OEM
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 09:41:08
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)
Nope, incorrect.  It has to be the 'same system'.  There is a loophole in the OEM reseller's agreement whereby new copies can be sold with certain hardware such as a mouse, but this is not the same thing.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Plomien on 02 January 2009, 09:50:37
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)
Nope, incorrect.  It has to be the 'same system'.  There is a loophole in the OEM reseller's agreement whereby new copies can be sold with certain hardware such as a mouse, but this is not the same thing.
odd they didn't say anything when I transferred mine, only thing that was the same was the DVD writer and a network card
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 09:58:01
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)
Nope, incorrect.  It has to be the 'same system'.  There is a loophole in the OEM reseller's agreement whereby new copies can be sold with certain hardware such as a mouse, but this is not the same thing.
odd they didn't say anything when I transferred mine, only thing that was the same was the DVD writer and a network card
Activation rules are fairly complex (and differ between different products, and between OEM/Retail/Special versions), but if you leave enough time between (re)activation, and the key still has 'lives' left, you may be lucky. Reactivation takes place if its the same machine but has been significantly modified since original activation.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Jay w on 02 January 2009, 10:29:17
i bought a copy of XP SP2 about a year ago for £45, it was an OEM copy, and TBH it has been fantastic.

The only thing i have had to do is find the drivers manually, but once that is done the machine is then back up and running again....

Just about to overhaul one of my Mac machines that i have had for ages, bless it the poor thing is now getting a bit slow   :-/
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 11:12:45
Quote
i bought a copy of XP SP2 about a year ago for £45, it was an OEM copy, and TBH it has been fantastic.

The only thing i have had to do is find the drivers manually, but once that is done the machine is then back up and running again....

Just about to overhaul one of my Mac machines that i have had for ages, bless it the poor thing is now getting a bit slow   :-/
Nought wrong with OEM versions - its pretty similar code (minor differences around setup), its the licencing that is more restrictive.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 11:16:19
I should add that as it is no longer cost effective to build DIY PCs now, I always buy from likes of HP and Dell, and thus have OEM licences on most of my machines myself.  Transferring is not an issue for me, as any replacement PC is likely to come with a new OEM licence.

If my next PC doesn't happen to come with a licence, I have a whole stack of Vista Home Premiums here anyway ;D
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Martin_1962 on 02 January 2009, 19:51:07
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)


I reused case, keyboard, monitor, power cable, DVD Burner
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 19:51:56
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Try here..Ive bought a few from this place and very good..

http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=36


What do you guys think to this one...?

(MX122) Optiplex-TW 755/Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz/2048mb/80gb/COMBO Drive


Its in that link you sent.  Seems a good deal.  Can use the copy of XP I have already on the other knackered machine.  Also can bung the HDD in for extra storage, not that she needs it.  Comes to £147 delivered.
Unlikely you can legally reuse the old XP licence, as it was most likely OEM, thus non-transferrable.  If the COA says OEM, then no.

If its a retail version, it is legal to transfer to a new PC


However the odds are that it will work. THe validation for XP seems a lot less hard these days
as long as you transfer a piece of hardware across then the OEM will transfer as well as it is considered an upgrade ;)


I reused case, keyboard, monitor, power cable, DVD Burner
Doesn't count - its not same system, so licence not valid.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: Martin_1962 on 02 January 2009, 19:53:26
I think that if MS blocked the reuse of an XP OEM licence - the person would be straight off to crack it rather than move to Vista, as XP is now not for sale they have no reason to stop us reusing them.
Title: Re: Cheap PC
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2009, 22:23:12
Quote
I think that if MS blocked the reuse of an XP OEM licence - the person would be straight off to crack it rather than move to Vista, as XP is now not for sale they have no reason to stop us reusing them.
They do block it in the licence. Plain. Simple. No arguments. Except that and live with it. End of.

There are lax on the activation thing so as not to piss off too many genuine users who need to reactivate for technical reasons.

WPA/WGA do a pretty good job of stopping the cracked copies, so people prepared to piss about working around that, wouldn't ever buy the OS anyway.

People who claim to be legal, yet block the WPA/WGA things are either misinformed, or are not legal. No reason to block it.