Hardware

[#1]

 I'm running standard windows XP SP3 on my Asus motherboard which has an Athlon 64 processor.

 I can buy a second hand copy of Autocad 2010 64 bit pretty cheap. Will it run on my machine? Or do I need a 64 bit OS first?

[#2]

No, 64bit will not install on 32bit OS, and vice-versa.

AND.... AutoCAD is not sold in only 32bit or 64bit, you get both free and at the same time if your source is legit: sounds like you are going to lose your shirt, enjoy those savings for 30days.

[#3]

its probably not a legal copy

[#4]

Agreed.  You cannot buy a "second hand" copy because the license is non-transferrable.  You will be left with a trial version that will expire and never activate.  Only buy from certified Value-Added Resellers.

[#5]

 Oh, okay, thanks for all that.  It is supposed to be from a deceased estate - the widow doesn't want any of this stuff. You mean I wouldn't be able to activate it if I got it because I'm a different person or because I've got a different machine - with that stuff about licence not transferable?

 There's no pressure. I don't need it. I use - no, I don't use - I have the 2008 version and I've never learned to use it.

[#6]

Well, sorta.

The lisencse is transferable......under certain circumstances, and for a fee.  In my case, the boss closed the office, and working through our reseller (Delta Engineering) we were able to transfer the lisencse into my name for $350.  It has to do with a transfer of assets if a company divests or splits.  I, then have become responsible for maintaining the subscription.  In the case of a death, I'm not sure the survivors can transfer the lisencse.

For the other part of your question, you'll need to have a 64 bit OS before a 64 bit version of acad will work.  So, your choices are XP 64 (NOT recommended at all) Vista 64 (not really that good a choice), and Win 7 64 (not a home version) as the currrent supported OS.  If you're still running XP, it's time to do this anyway.

Reid

[#7]

Not worth my while bothering, is it? what they're selling me they can't sell... it's worthless to me...

The lady will be interested to hear all this.  Sadder but wiser, she'll be.