It Pays to Be Prudent When Buying Used PC

Q What’s the best way to buy a used computer, and what factors should be considered?

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A There is no question you can save money with minimal risk if you’re a prudent shopper.

If you’re just getting started, rely on a knowledgeable relative or friend to help you. If you can’t do that, buy from a reputable dealer.

A good dealer--check the Yellow Pages--will have a business license to sell secondhand goods, generally the same license required of pawnbrokers, and will submit serial numbers to the police to verify that the equipment isn’t stolen. Ask to see the license.

Some computer dealers offer late-model, factory-reconditioned computers from name-brand manufacturers. Typically, these are machines that were replaced under warranty and then fixed and should present no problems as long as you get a good warranty.

Smaller dealers may have “used” computers that are really new and used components put together from parts acquired when people upgrade. Hard drives, video cards, sound cards, CD-ROM drives, even computer system boards and memory chips all fall into this category. What may be new about the computer is the case, power supply and floppy drive, which are seldom replaced.

Prices for such equipment can be attractive, but don’t expect more than a 30-day warranty. Early-model Pentiums can be found for as little as $500. Later models are typically priced several hundred dollars less than comparable new models.

If you really want to go retro, you can get a complete Apple IIe system for $99 or a Macintosh SE for about $200.

Be careful about software. Generally you’ll get the pre-installed software that came with the computer, which may be extensive. But manuals and diskettes may be missing. Ownership of licensed software can be transferred, but dealers are supposed to verify that the software on a PC they sell was licensed.

Richard O’Reilly, Times director of computer analysis, will answer questions of broad interest in this column. E-mail questions to cutting.edge@latimes.com, fax to (213) 237-4712, or mail to Answers, c/o Richard O’Reilly, Business Section, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.