Windows COAs

There is a lot of discussion around reselling windows COAs. I would highly caution those who decide to sell COAs to understand the legality of this practice... or lack there of.

As an R2 recycler we have to play by a set of rules. There is a high expectation of understanding applicable laws (local, state, federal, international) which pertain to the scope of our business.



Decide for yourselves if the risk is worth the reward.

Let me say i second this post. I know someone here in colorado that was given a letter from microsoft lawyers tell him to stop doing this same very thing. The letter of the law is grey here but I know for a fact I dont want to be the one it becomes black and white on.

Originally Posted by Ewasted

There is a lot of discussion around reselling windows COAs. I would highly caution those who decide to sell COAs to understand the legality of this practice... or lack there of.

As an R2 recycler we have to play by a set of rules. There is a high expectation of understanding applicable laws (local, state, federal, international) which pertain to the scope of our business.

Decide for yourselves if the risk is worth the reward.

Point well taken !

As of early Saturday morning sidemicro.com was offering software keys for sale. As of Saturday afternoon there were no software offerings of any kind.

One should never assume anything but if you look at the overall, including product offerings and unfavorable customer reviews it paints a certain picture.

Another thing to watch out for are those using key generators. ( If the price seems too good to be true it probably is !)

As of windows 8 the product key is stored in the BIOS so the OS is married to the motherboard. It appears they will discontinue the practice of having COA stickers on the exterior of the computer case ?

From what i've read, Microsoft will be offering free upgrades to Windows 10 for win 7 or win 8 systems that have genuine installations.

That's something to look for because Windows 7 is already halfway through it's ten year service life.

I won't be buying them anymore, but on that same note, I'm building machines with them and selling the entire apparatus. Microsoft isn't very clear about any of this, including using a key on oem machines that at one point HAD a windows 7 key but no longer have support to get a recovery disk. I've called microsoft and navigated their maze of telephony and people to ask this very question. Keep this in mind, I've been in contact with Microsoft for months now, I'm not doing this willy nilly, I sell 200 or more machines a month wholesale.


I've been in the process of of becoming a Microsoft Value Added Reseller. Pretty much means I will be participating as a Reseller but in the In the Volume Licensing Program. It's taken months for microsoft to get with the program...(this open licensing, VLP stuff used to be for oems only) but they have opened it up to value added resellers which is what I am. Originally I had become a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher...but the cost vs price vs volume was not possible. I expressed as much to Microsoft, and recently (this last week) they referred me to the now open to individual business VLP. This has three categories, minimum 5 license purchase, waived on setup of account and license costs are at or lower than I have been buying COAs combined with the cost of issuing myself a new refurbished key from the coa.

If anyone was interested in this, feel free to contact me.

I wish microsoft had a set of rules for licensing but their a victim of having 30 or more diffrent licensing programs...and the legalities of each offering. I hope win 10 is laod out better. frankly i like bios keyed os.

Originally Posted by Scrappah

Point well taken !

As of early Saturday morning sidemicro.com was offering software keys for sale. As of Saturday afternoon there were no software offerings of any kind.

One should never assume anything but if you look at the overall, including product offerings and unfavorable customer reviews it paints a certain picture.

Another thing to watch out for are those using key generators. ( If the price seems too good to be true it probably is !)

As of windows 8 the product key is stored in the BIOS so the OS is married to the motherboard. It appears they will discontinue the practice of having COA stickers on the exterior of the computer case ?

From what i've read, Microsoft will be offering free upgrades to Windows 10 for win 7 or win 8 systems that have genuine installations.

That's something to look for because Windows 7 is already halfway through it's ten year service life.

Unfortunately when they are bought and sold outside of their intended, and legal purpose, it has not only put scrappers at risk, but their clients. Truly reckless in my opinion.

over 500 sold listings on ebay (and this probably only goes back a month or so)

windows 7 pro COA | eBay

No, you can't go wrong. However, the more I'm reading the more I'm learning microsoft is concerned ONLY above the following instances. Legitimate COAs used on more than one machine at once, Illegitimate COAs, Piracy (duping an activation) which when you google it, you will note ALL of their cases are for actual copyright infringements.

This is what I have been told by microsoft so far, some of it verbatim, some through verbal communications on the phone.

1. An end user cannot purchase a COA from a refurbisher without also purchasing the pc it is installed on, OR by purchasing from the refurbisher an "upgrade".

2. Microsoft holds no position on legitimate COA transfers. Officially it is not allowed, however because of the multitude of configurations, upgrades and the act of refurbishing, a COA may be used (transferred) if the cpu, hard drive or motherboard are from an OEM software equipped device. Microsoft also has 3 different programs, 12 different tiers and 4 different coa types (not software, COA), all of which have their own rules, I have not read everything, and what I have read is contradictory.

3. Microsoft maintains a website for changing COA activations from one machine to another. This is available to MRR and individuals who have a Microsoft Authentic COA in hand. it's the sequence of numbers for generating a new activation if your wondering. As long as the service does not see an active PC that isn't the one you are trying to activate, it goes off without a hitch, phone service is the same way. NOTHING on the service or website indicate rules for which you may or may not activate, only that if it does not work you may purchase a new key.

4. The labels are not to be sold separately. This was my mistake and I own that. Originally I had required a CPU or hard drive from the original machine, as that makes it legal (yes a microsoft representative told me if I am building or upgrading my machine and keep my cpu, motherboard or hard drive...these are all considered OEM parts and maintain a valid COA, if any of these parts fail and it must be replaced, refer to 3. This is not legal according to TOS, but then after I read the agreement everyone clicks on but never reads when installing windows it only refers to a proof of license...which is the COA, not where you got it from. Confuses me too, but then why would they issue me a new key on an old one if I don't use original hardware at all?

5. please keep this in mind. Microsoft can say and do pretty much whatever it wants. I've worked for huge companies before, hands not knowing what the brain is doing or wants, feet doing whatever they want all while they are looking at something else entirely. The MRR people had NO IDEA that the VAR program existed or that an individual could participate.

Let me point everyone interested to the VAR program to a link
https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/h...thAdistributor
Also, detailed information on what I have signed up for...
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rams_Guide.pdf
And for customer based retail and service shops
Microsoft Refurbisher Programs
Keep in mind, the last one has rules and they can pull your status for pretty much any reason they want. There is a "test" when you sign up for this and it's basically a knowledge test of their licensing rules. For instance, no third party license sales. The Value Added Reseller is for BULK, that is someone like myself who is build 200-500 machines a month who can make an bulk up front license purchase at a fraction of the cost of the COAs I've been getting or the MRR program which...is similar in cost (slightly greater). I also encourage watching a video on the MRR website called crossing the digital divide, I'd have to watch it again but this talks about the benefits of various programs and cost mitigation strategies. That's what more and more of the e waste guys on this forum are doing, I totally encourage it. Microsoft encourages it too. I have used MRR to build computers for charities, like the boys and girls club in madison, something to keep in mind for all of you, Microsoft does provide options...I just have happened to be the peg that didn't quite fit and it appears they've accommodated guys like me.

I will be completely honest, I never intended to make my business dependent on scrap only intake, or even resale intake. I intend to build wholesale machines, to be made available to regional customers (people I get scrap from as it happens) on a regular basis. Customers who might buy 3 or 4 display models a month but call me and ask if I can provide a certain specification in a larger quantity. I can, and do it cheaper than companies much larger than myself (such as dell and hp, each who offer refurbished PC programs). This is my business model, there will be growing pains, I've designed this whole thing around it, scrap intake enhances my strategy by providing potential wholesale parts and resuable components...even if it's as simple as a case or a power supply. Small and aggressive, that's me


Finally I want to close it out by saying, thanks for bringing the legalities to my attention. I really should have stuck to my guns about receiving COAs with CPUs or Hard drives (or even motherboards). However, legalese aside, what's my business is mine, what's yours is yours. Someone here brought the legalities to my attention directly while another decided it was best to publicize it. I am not too happy with that. Nothing I'm doing or not doing is any business of another business nor is any business of another business my concern unless it concerns a possible deal. Nobody thought to ask what I am doing with the COAs...that's interesting in itself, they don't go on ebay and are not sold. Admin didn't ask me to pull that part of my buyer section, I did it for moral reasons at this time.

I know someone was looking out for me and the other appears to have been looking AT me. Shout out to the guys who weighed in on this, those that came to me, appreciate it.

That's all i have.

Originally Posted by armygreywolf

No, you can't go wrong. However, the more I'm reading the more I'm learning microsoft is concerned ONLY above the following instances. Legitimate COAs used on more than one machine at once, Illegitimate COAs, Piracy (duping an activation) which when you google it, you will note ALL of their cases are for actual copyright infringements.

This is what I have been told by microsoft so far, some of it verbatim, some through verbal communications on the phone.

1. An end user cannot purchase a COA from a refurbisher without also purchasing the pc it is installed on, OR by purchasing from the refurbisher an "upgrade".

2. Microsoft holds no position on legitimate COA transfers. Officially it is not allowed, however because of the multitude of configurations, upgrades and the act of refurbishing, a COA may be used (transferred) if the cpu, hard drive or motherboard are from an OEM software equipped device. Microsoft also has 3 different programs, 12 different tiers and 4 different coa types (not software, COA), all of which have their own rules, I have not read everything, and what I have read is contradictory.

3. Microsoft maintains a website for changing COA activations from one machine to another. This is available to MRR and individuals who have a Microsoft Authentic COA in hand. it's the sequence of numbers for generating a new activation if your wondering. As long as the service does not see an active PC that isn't the one you are trying to activate, it goes off without a hitch, phone service is the same way. NOTHING on the service or website indicate rules for which you may or may not activate, only that if it does not work you may purchase a new key.

4. The labels are not to be sold separately. This was my mistake and I own that. Originally I had required a CPU or hard drive from the original machine, as that makes it legal (yes a microsoft representative told me if I am building or upgrading my machine and keep my cpu, motherboard or hard drive...these are all considered OEM parts and maintain a valid COA, if any of these parts fail and it must be replaced, refer to 3. This is not legal according to TOS, but then after I read the agreement everyone clicks on but never reads when installing windows it only refers to a proof of license...which is the COA, not where you got it from. Confuses me too, but then why would they issue me a new key on an old one if I don't use original hardware at all?

5. please keep this in mind. Microsoft can say and do pretty much whatever it wants. I've worked for huge companies before, hands not knowing what the brain is doing or wants, feet doing whatever they want all while they are looking at something else entirely. The MRR people had NO IDEA that the VAR program existed or that an individual could participate.

Let me point everyone interested to the VAR program to a link
https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/h...thAdistributor
Also, detailed information on what I have signed up for...
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...rams_Guide.pdf
And for customer based retail and service shops
Microsoft Refurbisher Programs
Keep in mind, the last one has rules and they can pull your status for pretty much any reason they want. There is a "test" when you sign up for this and it's basically a knowledge test of their licensing rules. For instance, no third party license sales. The Value Added Reseller is for BULK, that is someone like myself who is build 200-500 machines a month who can make an bulk up front license purchase at a fraction of the cost of the COAs I've been getting or the MRR program which...is similar in cost (slightly greater). I also encourage watching a video on the MRR website called crossing the digital divide, I'd have to watch it again but this talks about the benefits of various programs and cost mitigation strategies. That's what more and more of the e waste guys on this forum are doing, I totally encourage it. Microsoft encourages it too. I have used MRR to build computers for charities, like the boys and girls club in madison, something to keep in mind for all of you, Microsoft does provide options...I just have happened to be the peg that didn't quite fit and it appears they've accommodated guys like me.

I will be completely honest, I never intended to make my business dependent on scrap only intake, or even resale intake. I intend to build wholesale machines, to be made available to regional customers (people I get scrap from as it happens) on a regular basis. Customers who might buy 3 or 4 display models a month but call me and ask if I can provide a certain specification in a larger quantity. I can, and do it cheaper than companies much larger than myself (such as dell and hp, each who offer refurbished PC programs). This is my business model, there will be growing pains, I've designed this whole thing around it, scrap intake enhances my strategy by providing potential wholesale parts and resuable components...even if it's as simple as a case or a power supply. Small and aggressive, that's me


Finally I want to close it out by saying, thanks for bringing the legalities to my attention. I really should have stuck to my guns about receiving COAs with CPUs or Hard drives (or even motherboards). However, legalese aside, what's my business is mine, what's yours is yours. Someone here brought the legalities to my attention directly while another decided it was best to publicize it. I am not too happy with that. Nothing I'm doing or not doing is any business of another business nor is any business of another business my concern unless it concerns a possible deal. Nobody thought to ask what I am doing with the COAs...that's interesting in itself, they don't go on ebay and are not sold. Admin didn't ask me to pull that part of my buyer section, I did it for moral reasons at this time.

I know someone was looking out for me and the other appears to have been looking AT me. Shout out to the guys who weighed in on this, those that came to me, appreciate it.

That's all i have.

Way to own it!
There is a lot of great content there for anyone who may have previously been uncertain about this situation.

Great job and keep up the good work!

MRR program includes the ability to upgrade a license, transfer a license, create a new refurbished key, etc. It's based on a point system. Basically you pay for xx points up front and then consume them in various licensures. Having a COA on hand, has so far mitigated my costs. It doesn't always work like that, it's highly dependent on the build, manufacturer, original license, (if it was xp or vista...) and on top of that it changed again recently...

Anyways, the big point was...I wasn't reselling COAs by themselves, and if I buy again, I will make sure they are being sold with a cpu, motherboard or hard drive.

With our military and financial institution clients it is written in the security contract that all identification and product code stickers must be removed and recorded before resale to any one. There are occasional exceptions but only 3 or 4 in 5 years.