I got mine on Ebay for 15 dollars or so.... but about 2 weeks later I got an email from Ebay telling me the seller was deactivated because they were selling illegitimate keys. So far, so good though. That's been at least a year ago.

With every single update, Microsoft runs their "Genuine Microsoft" check too. I know this for an absolute fact.

 

Buy it! You could put in a new Melling pump, and swap the motor into your '97!


..

 

LMAO.... that would be sweet!!

 

I'd be in for 800 to 1000 dollars if there is no visible metal in the oil. I gotta figure on putting at least a grand into it from the get go.

 

Yeah! There's a guy that's gonna do it in the spring, so you can just follow his thread!

 

Completed by the spring if I read correctly? Lol

 

Looked at a number of those eBay listings, and found many (most) of the sellers have feedback of less than a dozen. Sketchy.

I wonder if the ongoing license tests Microsoft does are just the same one that's performed at installation. If so, then works once, works always, maybe?

 

No, they check all the time for "blacklisted keys". Over the years, people have written "MS Product Activators", and they give you a new key code that works until it gets blacklisted. Microsoft actually has their built in virus protection seek those generators out and delete them now. Even running them off of external media, it will seek and destroy.

I'd rather just pay the piper and be done with it.... but I know a couple guys that do exactly what I said above.

 

I guess I should have realized that. Well, the Amazon seller came through with the keys. I suppose there's a way to verify they're real. I'll have to research and check within the 30-day window.

 

Well.... I messed up everything I typed, LOL

I get this message on the Windows 7 machines that I've moved from 32 bit to 64 bit. But I just call Microsoft, and they give me a key code to fix it via text message.