How to tell if you were sold a used/refurbished laptop?

[Bpuumike]

what model is the machine.

Good thinking, that will help bracket the age.

[jjablonsky]

1. The clock was set for 2012.

This is probably because the bios date is 2012 you can change the date either in the bios or inside Windows. If the date does not stay to the current date the bios battery is probably dead. Not likely though just change the date and that should be OK

2. Programs had been installed from 2009 to 2015.

This is probably because it comes from a previous image (backup) and it is not unusual to find many programs pre installed although in Thailand they are probably hacked or bootleg programs.

3. Loaded Windows 7 Ultimate with no genuine Windows disk included

If you don't have the CD Key Genuine Windows sticker on the bottome of the laptop you got a bootleg version of Windows, again not unusual in Thailand

4. I did a cmd systeminfo | find /i "install date" and it spit back Jan 1. 2009

Again from Image

5. Didn't go through normal windows setup that you go through when you purchase a brand new laptop or even when you wipe your HD clean

Again because you OS was loaded from a previous image (backup) either bootleg or pre activated. You will also find if you do the windows updates it may render your operating system useless as the updates will undo the crack that was installed to activate your windows

6. A bunch of programs that don't normally come with a new laptop like ccleaner, vlc media player, photoshop, etc.

see above

7. There is 1TB of HD space but it's odd. Only 100GB is under the c drive. Then you have 400GB in 2 other particions which makes no sense as programs are typically installed at the root drive C:

There is a 100MB partition that windows 7 sets up for system files, and it is not unusual to find that your hard drive is partitioned leaving 100GB for you windows instalation, programs, additional fonts and other programs you may install and the other partitions containing the bulk of your space for your personal files like movies, music, pictures etc... etc... I have my computer set up some what the same way, 100GB for my windows drive and swap file, the D:\ drive for programs files that I install the E:\ for my data, pictures, movies, music etc... That is not an unusual set up at all. Also if you have one large drive you will lose a lot of space due to what we call "slack" due to cluster size and physical geometry of the drive. Smaller partitions actually give you more usable space than one large drive

Hope this helps

[fanof3d]

1. The clock was set for 2012.

This is probably because the bios date is 2012 you can change the date either in the bios or inside Windows. If the date does not stay to the current date the bios battery is probably dead. Not likely though just change the date and that should be OK

2. Programs had been installed from 2009 to 2015.

This is probably because it comes from a previous image (backup) and it is not unusual to find many programs pre installed although in Thailand they are probably hacked or bootleg programs.

3. Loaded Windows 7 Ultimate with no genuine Windows disk included

If you don't have the CD Key Genuine Windows sticker on the bottome of the laptop you got a bootleg version of Windows, again not unusual in Thailand

4. I did a cmd systeminfo | find /i "install date" and it spit back Jan 1. 2009

Again from Image

5. Didn't go through normal windows setup that you go through when you purchase a brand new laptop or even when you wipe your HD clean

Again because you OS was loaded from a previous image (backup) either bootleg or pre activated. You will also find if you do the windows updates it may render your operating system useless as the updates will undo the crack that was installed to activate your windows

6. A bunch of programs that don't normally come with a new laptop like ccleaner, vlc media player, photoshop, etc.

see above

7. There is 1TB of HD space but it's odd. Only 100GB is under the c drive. Then you have 400GB in 2 other particions which makes no sense as programs are typically installed at the root drive C:

There is a 100MB partition that windows 7 sets up for system files, and it is not unusual to find that your hard drive is partitioned leaving 100GB for you windows instalation, programs, additional fonts and other programs you may install and the other partitions containing the bulk of your space for your personal files like movies, music, pictures etc... etc... I have my computer set up some what the same way, 100GB for my windows drive and swap file, the D:\ drive for programs files that I install the E:\ for my data, pictures, movies, music etc... That is not an unusual set up at all. Also if you have one large drive you will lose a lot of space due to what we call "slack" due to cluster size and physical geometry of the drive. Smaller partitions actually give you more usable space than one large drive

Hope this helps

Yes, this helped a lot. Decided just to keep it as is. This particular model seems to only be sold in Thailand and on all of the other sites, no mention of an OS with it. I simply wasn't told this information when I purchased. I was unaware of the way computes are permitted to be assembled here in the LOS and sold with a bootleg copy of Windows, lol. Live in learn. Thanks again for taking time to provide your insight.

[chingching]

Well the shop should have told you that it was not an original OS, but on the other hand, if you had done any minimal window shopping, you would know that an original windows OS does not come free. You could expect to pay 3-5 thousand for it, which would have made the price of the new laptop 8 -10 thousand. You could invest in your own CD copy of a pirate version of windows 7 which would let you repartition your HD and let you control the bloatware. Most of these CD's come with "free" ms office too, and if you ever have to reinstall you have the CD already.

I would stick with windows 7 unless you have had a good experience with windows 8 already.

Install windows 7 and let it update for 2 or 3 days over the internet. By that time you will have all the major security updates. After that shut windows update off. If you leave windows update on, it will eventually figure out it is not authentic, then your desktop background will turn black and you will get nag screens every 15-20 minutes. A good AV should protect you. That and don't visit porn sites, open email attachments, etc. etc.

There is no sense putting your documents on the D partition if the D partition is on the same physical harddrive. Hard drive failures do not happen on only one partition, and it can be a pain to force your programs to save to another partition, if they have a default set. Anyway of course, u should be backing up to an external harddrive, - no matter how your disk is or is not partitioned.

[Pib]

It's a new computer with a bootleg image put on the drive.

[ravip]

Just go here >>> http://www.asus.com/support/

Enter the requested information and check the warranty status.

You should be able to get the manufactured year of the PC.

Edit

If the machine is brand new, installing a Genuine version of Windows is a minor issue and not worth loosing any sleep over it.

And maybe you could get your free Windows 10!

What's odd is that ON the machine, there is a sticker saying that the model # X554L. When I plug that into the support site, nothing comes up.

Now when I look at the sytem information, the system model# says X555LI. When I type that in, it comes up but didn't see anyway to search for warranty status.

Here they show how to find the exact mode and serial numbers >>> https://www.asus.com/my/support/Article/565/

At one point it says...

Method 1 : Please close the opening lid and flip the notebook with its back facing upward.

Your model name will be printed on the "MODEL" section.

Please neglect the third, fourth and fifth letters in it.

For example：A6Va series (or better known as A6Q00VA)

So try to find the correct 'number combination' and look up the warranty information from the manufacturers website which will help you to know the real situation.

[phantomfiddler]

Just go to Google, type "Is this a new computer" ? and hit "Enter. Google knows everything

[gandalf12]

Looks like a refurbished laptop. Go to disk management and see if there is a hidden partition which may have the original software version of te operating system available. If so go to the options for system restore and select "Return to Factory Settings" click and sit back

[dddave]

I used to own a logistics service in the US and I had many small and medium sized electronics retailers as customers. In order to be able to compete with the mega retailers and their buying power, smaller retailers trade among themselves to a surprising extent. One will purchase a large order of some item and then wholesale portions out to other retailers. I'm sure the system is similar here in Thailand.

My point is that items such as computers can change hands many times between smaller retailers so the store that eventually sells an item often has little real knowledge of the items true history or provenance. They are often just as surprised as the customer when something turns out to be what are termed in the US as "B" goods, that is previously sold and returned or reconditioned or illegally imported.

[Bangkok Barry]

Interesting that some have mentioned demanding a refund. Thailand does not do refunds, except for reputable stores such as Tesco Lotus. I read of one person who returned a pair of shoes that fell apart the next day, and he refused to leave the store until he received a refund. They called the police. Just Thai-style customer service. The best you could expect would be credit towards another purchase. If I bought a new laptop I'd be tempted to purchase from Amazon, but then you wouldn't get the Thai alphabet on the keyboard.

[Don Mega]

Interesting that some have mentioned demanding a refund. Thailand does not do refunds, except for reputable stores such as Tesco Lotus. I read of one person who returned a pair of shoes that fell apart the next day, and he refused to leave the store until he received a refund. They called the police. Just Thai-style customer service. The best you could expect would be credit towards another purchase. If I bought a new laptop I'd be tempted to purchase from Amazon, but then you wouldn't get the Thai alphabet on the keyboard.

I thought it laughable the person who suggested the OP should demand the HDD to be replaced with an SSD.

[fantom]

If you decide messing about with this Windows version on your laptop is not worth the risk and hassle you could take the plunge and load Linux and use open source software.

I have used Linux Mint for many years, the current version is 'Rafaela. 17.2' and through open source has all the software you need - within reason.

Download and set up is easy, just google it, if you want it will give you the option to load it beside your windows version. If you want you can download to a USB stick and try it before loading it onto your system

[Gary A]

Dealers and repair shops usually put on counterfeit operating systems and likewise many programs that you don't want. I took my computer to a local shop and just to be safe, took along the Windows 7 OEM disk. All it turned out to be was a bad RAM stick. Rather than put my legal Windows on he put a bogus copy along with a number of bogus programs. After I got back home and discovered what he had done, I formatted the Hard drive and got back legal. Unfortunately it took a couple days online to download all the updates. I also had to remove partitions. I cannot understand why the Thais want so many partitions. When a hard drive dies, it is dead.

[bino]

Just go to Google, type "Is this a new computer" ? and hit "Enter. Google knows everything

What was supposed to happen here? when I tried it I got normal search results:

About 1,850,000,000 results (0.46 seconds)

Search Results

How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple ...

The first search result is irrelevant - computer is not an Apple. Hence, there is no kind of detection or analysis of my computer by google.

Edited December 9, 2015 by bino

[jacko45k]

I bought a new laptop and it also appeared to have been used.... at least it had been set up to be a display model by the shop.

I also got a lot of software I didn't specifically want, and coincidentally CC Cleaner was among them..

The Windows appeared to be genuine though. Something you may wish to check!

I installed a new virus package and it found some nasties in the Free Games package, so that got wiped. Basically it took me a while to get rid of a lot of junk and get the language sorted, it had been well played with.

Works pretty good now though.

[jacky54]

Got a good deal, they usually charge 500 baht for installing all that, also usually has a few viruses with it

[HardyHarhar]

I suspect you got pirated software. Windows 7 Ultimate would have cost US$319.99 in 2009.

Microsoft Office has never been priced below US$200 unless it's some sort of academic package or special bundling.

The software alone cost is more than what you paid for the whole laptop.

[Don Mega]

I suspect you got pirated software. Windows 7 Ultimate would have cost US$319.99 in 2009.

Microsoft Office has never been priced below US$200 unless it's some sort of academic package or special bundling.

The software alone cost is more than what you paid for the whole laptop.

Not to mention win 7 Ultimate Has not been available since October 2013 for the retain version or October 2014 for the OE-pre install version.

So yes, if the machine was purchased after October 2014 then there is an extremely good chance the OS is a pirate copy.