FAQ'S
Will this software work on my computer? What about working with the
new Windows Vista or Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard?
We guarantee the software will arrive complete, as
described in the product description, and in working order. We do
not guarantee the software is compatible with your system. You need
to check the system
requirements for the specific software.
System Requirements:
The System Requirements are the basic
technical specifications your computer must meet in order to
successfully install and run the software. Most problems occur
because the computer does not meet these basic requirements. Much
like you wouldn’t expect those old Atari games to run on the new Wii,
you cannot expect all software to run on your new computer, or newer
version software working on older machines.
The number 1 source of problems arise from incompatible
Operating Systems. We list the operating systems shown
on the software, which were tested and found to be compatible at the
time the software was published. Since we deal in mostly older
version software, some of the newer operating systems were not
invented when the software was produced. If the operating system you
have is not listed, you have a better than average chance of
operating system incompatibility.
Windows
With these latest version Operating Systems, the million dollar
question is “will old software, designed for an earlier operating
system, install and run properly?” Unfortunately, the general
(and safe) answer is no. We have heard from many of our
customers who have unsuccessfully tried to get legacy software up
and functional on these new operating systems. Like with the release
of Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.0, these new operating systems are
built on a different framework and pose many issues because the
older version software was not designed with this new framework in
mind. Prudence says, if you have a computer that is running
If you are very determined, there are a few web resources that
may be helpful determining
Microsoft Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.x
(excluding Leopard)
Windows XP: Software designed for 95/98/ME may have issues
running on Windows XP. If you experience problems running a program
designed for an earlier version of Windows on XP, Windows XP
includes the Program Compatibility Wizard to assist users in
applying compatibility fixes for software applications through the
Help and
Mac OS X 10.x (excluding Leopard): We have found that most software designed to run on Mac OS X 10.x (excluding Leopard) to be compatible to a certain degree. However, if you are running an operating system not specifically listed in the system requirements, you run a much greater risk of having compatibility problems. A good resource to check is http://www.macoscompatible.com/compatibility.html.
Legacy Operating Systems:
Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and ME software will normally work with a
later Windows operating system, with the exception of Windows XP.
MAC OS 7-9 software will only run on the required MAC operating
system or a level or two higher. In most cases, it will not be
compatible with Mac OS X.
DOS based programs will only run under the required DOS operating
system or higher.
Please note: We have no resources to assist or
troubleshoot software compatibility problems. The only place
to turn is the software publisher’s technical support.
Media Type is the second biggest compatibility issue.
Media type is simply the type of disk the software comes on. Since
we specialize in older version software, we have software that comes
on DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, 3.5 inch floppy disks, and even 5.25 floppy
diskettes. If you are buying a legacy software program, please pay
close attention to the media type as many newer computers only have
CD and DVD-ROM disk drives, and, unlike movies, most old version
software was never re-released in a newer format. The media type
is clearly indicated on the product pages.
Other basic requirements for the computer include free
hard drive space, the speed required from the processor and the
amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) available. Most computers these
days have an overabundance of all of these so we won’t dwell on them
here. If you think you may have an issue with one of these
requirements, complete descriptions and system requirements can be
requested by using our
Online Support
Request. Please include the Retro Part number.
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What if I have a technical issue or problem installing or using the
software I buy?
We would like to support and troubleshoot all
the software we sell, however, this is not possible. We are a
software retailer and like all software retailers, we can not offer
support for third party products. We don't make the software and in
most cases we know very little about it. You need to contact the
software publisher.
The first place to turn is the
help/troubleshooting section included with the software. You may be
able register the software and be eligible for support from the
publisher. Check the help files or technical support section of the
manual. A word of caution, there is no guarantee that older
version software and/or used software can be registered in your name
and be eligible for technical support. The primary reason for
this is most manufacturers no longer support software that is three
or more years old. If technical support is important to you, we
suggest buying the latest version or contact the publisher to
determine if support is still available for the product you are
considering. Here is a short list of the major software publisher’s
tech support websites:
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Adobe/Macromedia |
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Apple |
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Borland |
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Corel |
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FileMaker |
|
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IBM/Lotus |
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Intuit/QuickBooks/Quicken |
|
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Microsoft |
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Monarch |
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Quark |
|
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Roxio |
http://www.roxio.com/enu/support/default.html?rTrack=m_sup_home |
|
Sage/Peachtree |
http://www.sagenorthamerica.com/support_training/support_logon/ |
|
Symantec/Norton |
|
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**All Others |
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|
**If you are seeking support information for a
company not listed, Computer Hope offers a database of
software publishers and contact information. |
|
If you can not get your software installed and running properly,
you have the option of returning it under our 30 day money back
guarantee (opened new software can not be returned). Please refer to
our return
policy for details. We stand behind the software we sell 100%.
Do you
have a particular piece of software?
If you have tried a
search and checked the the
A-Z index, it is
very likely we do not currently have the software. The index is a
complete alphabetical listing of all the software currently in our
catalog. If you do not see it in the list, we do not currently
have it. EVERYTHING we have appears in the catalog which we
update weekly.
If we do not have the software, or you are looking for quantities
of software we do not have, including items currently not listed in
our catalog, allow us to check our resources. To do this, contact
Customer
Service and select the option "help me find software" from the
drop down menu. Be specific in describing the software including
version, condition (new or used) and quantity. We will do our best
to find the software for you. Please understand that we are under no
obligation (nor are you) and in many cases will not be able to
locate the software. If we are successful in finding your software
we will contact you.
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Do you ship outside the
If you are looking to ship outside the
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What kind of
payment options do I have?
Credit/Debit cards: We have a secure server that processes
the following major credit/debit cards: Visa, Master Card, American
Express and Discover.
PayPal: You can pay using your PayPal account.
Purchase orders: Accepted for businesses and
municipalities only and can be arranged through Customer Support
by using our
Online Support Request. Please submit the following information:
Customer service will then contact the contact person with
approval and the order will be shipped with an invoice. TERMS: net
30 days. Accounts over 30 days past due may be subject to a late
charge at a rate of 1.5% per month.
We do not accept personal checks, money orders, COD, or any other
form of payment.
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Is it legal to
buy and sell used software?
In most cases, yes, it is legal to buy and sell used software.
But, to be sure, we need to read the
license agreement.
The license agreement spells out your right to transfer ownership.
Retrosoftware goes to great lengths to ensure the software we sell
is genuine and legally transferred to a new owner. We make every
reasonable attempt to abide by the manufacturers license and only
deal in software that allows its transfer to a new user.
A word of caution, there is no guarantee that older version
software and/or used software can be registered in your name and be
eligible for technical support. The primary reason for this is most
manufacturers no longer support software that is three or more years
old. If technical support is important to you, we suggest buying the
latest version or contact the manufacturer to determine if support
is still available for the product you are considering.
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Your "handshake" with the software manufacturer. The license
agreement, in some form, is normally included with software. It may
be the unread small print at the beginning of the user manual or it
could be the official looking script that we don't read, but agree
to during installation of the software. Whatever the form, it
describes your rights to the software. For instance, most license
agreements allow you to "install and use one copy of the software
product on a single computer." In a sense, we don't actually own the
software but are given the right to install and use a copy of it.
Most license agreements will specifically address your ability to
transfer your rights (hence, sell your software) under the
agreement. The following is an excerpt from a Microsoft license
agreement:
Software Transfer: You may permanently transfer all of your rights
under this agreement, provided you retain no copies, you transfer
all of the software product (including all component parts, the
media and printed materials, any upgrades, this license agreement
and, if applicable, the Certificate of Authenticity) and the
recipient agrees to the terms of this license agreement. If the
software product is an upgrade, any transfer must include all prior
versions of the software product.
As you can see, under this agreement, it is completely legal to sell
or buy used Microsoft software provided you follow the terms
provided in the clause "software transfer". This verbiage, allowing
the "transfer of rights" or buying and selling of used software, is
usually the norm in most software manufacturers license agreements.
The following is a second example of a license agreement from 7th
Level Software which restricts your transfer rights:
You are entitled to use this product for your own use. You may not
sell, rent or lease the software or the manual to others, nor
reproduce the software or the manual, without prior written
permission of 7th Level, Inc. You may use only one copy of the
software at one time. You may not use this software on a network or
on more than one computer at the same time.
This second example specifically prohibits you from reselling the
software without permission from the publisher. While it is uncommon
for a software maker to not allow you to transfer the rights of the
software, the bottom line is we need to read the license agreement
to be sure.
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How do I
sell my software to you? What do you buy?
Specific information to sell your software can be found
here. We currently buy most types of software, new and used,
that can be legally resold. Here is a short list of what we do
not buy:
Note: It is not legal to sell software you have upgraded
if you continue to use the upgrade. If the upgrade is un-installed,
you can then sell both the full version and the upgrade.
Note: Adobe & Macromedia software needs to include a
Transfer Of License Form (TOL) if the software has been registered.
The original registration information must be included. To access
these forms use the following links: Adobe:
AdobeTOL.pdf Macromedia:
MacromediaTOL.pdf
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How do
I know what I will get from you when I order?
Unlike a lot of what you will find on the web, all pictures of
software in our showrooms are the pictures of the software for sale.
If you see a picture of a retail box, you will receive a retail box.
It is also clearly marked NEW or USED and is described in one of
three ways: RETAIL BOX, FLAT PACKAGE, or a JEWEL CASE. The RETAIL
BOX is complete software including the original box. The FLAT
PACKAGE is everything you need to use the software (but no retail
box)and covers all combinations between the RETAIL BOX and the JEWEL
CASE. JEWEL CASE software is a CD-ROM in a plastic box with the
instructions on an insert.
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What is the difference between retail software, OEM software,
academic software and NFR software?
Good question! The primary difference is in the license
agreement. Retail software is licensed to "end users", you and me,
who install and use the software on our computers. If we choose, we
can uninstall the software and sell or transfer our rights to use
the software to another user (sometimes).
OEM software, on the other hand, is licensed to be sold with a
computer or computer hardware. For example, if you buy a new
computer, the software that comes preinstalled on the system would
be OEM software. You generally can not sell this type of software
unless you sell the computer with it. OEM software for sale on this
web site (you will not find much, we avoid it like the plague) is
clearly labeled as OEM software and is NOT LICENSED FOR END USERS.
If you read an OEM end user license agreement (EULA) you will find
statements such as "If the software product is not accompanied by a
new computer system or computer system component, you may not use or
copy the software product". OEM software is licensed to be installed
on a computer and then be sold to the end user as a packaged deal.
Other differences between retail and OEM software include:
Academic software is full version software which is licensed for
use by students, faculty, and educational institutions. Both
academic and OEM software are sold at significantly discounted
prices because of the restrictions on how they can be used and
resold.
Finally, NFR stands for "Not For Resale" is usually promotional
software, that is given on a trial basis, to businesses, schools,
and institutions and in most instances can not be bought or sold
under any circumstances.
Example of the above mentioned software.
Retrosoftware makes every effort to clearly label our software
for what it is, no games, no gimmicks! We also urge our customers
abide by the license agreement. Failure to abide by the license
agreement could constitute copyright infringement and make one
eligible for prosecution.
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How do I return
software I have bought?
Please refer to our
return policy
for details.
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Request
What if my
question is not listed?
Please use the
Online Support
Request. We will make every attempt to answer your question and
if we can't, we will just make something up;-) Thank you for your
visit!
Shipping Facts:
All software is in stock and ships today (USA & Canada only) if ordered before 3:00 PM ET (M-F). If you are shipping to an address outside of the USA or Canada, click here. All shipping options will be presented during the checkout process. Shipping Policies.
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