Re: activation code worries
From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospamcableone.net)
Date: 07/08/04
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Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 19:12:58 -0600
"Charlie" <charlie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1C96165B-AEA5-490C-8912-94A6D61CBC75@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I want to move to XP Professional but the price listed on
Amazon.co.auk is £230 (about US $380) and this is a bit steep for my
budget.
>
> I am considering buying a copy second hand off ebay or the like for
a lot less but a friend says that I might have trouble with the
Activation code.
The main problem with buying WinXP, or any software, for that
matter, on eBay is that, all too often, you can't be sure of what
you're going to get until it's too late. There are an awful lot of
people selling pirated copies, as well as some who apparently don't
understand that they cannot legally sell the OEM installation CDs that
came with their old computer. So, yes, in a sense, you stand a good
chance of having Activation problems, if you purchase WinXP on eBay.
>
> I understand that Microsoft have put this in because of privacy but
does it prevent you from buying second hand software?
>
No, it's not a "privacy" issue, but rather a matter of reducing
software _piracy_. There is, however, no restriction from one's
selling a no-longer-needed _and_ no-longer-installed copy of a WinXP
_retail_ license. (OEM versions must be sold with a piece of
non-peripheral hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not
an entire PC) and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which
they are installed. An OEM license, once installed, is not legally
transferable to another computer under any circumstances. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
transfer ownership of the entire PC.)
> I was hoping to install XP Pro on 2 machines - my home desktop pc
and a laptop. I am not going to use both machines at the same time. I
was just going to use one machine at a time and so just use one
version at a time - copying files over on a CD.
>
> But my friend says that if XP Pro 'contacts' Microsoft whilst I am
on the Internet and it 'knows' that it is installed on two machines it
will disable itself - is this correct?
> You used to be able to install software on more than one machine if
you only used it once.
>
This may have been true, technically, but it has _never_ been
true, legally. Now, Microsoft have added an anti-theft measure, as
they've learned the hard way that there are a great many dishonest
people out there.
You'll need to purchase a separate WinXP license for each computer
on which you wish to install it.
As it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating systems,
it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which
it is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to
determine final applicability in your locale.) The only way in which
WinXP licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is
that Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft
mechanism, Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more
difficult) multiple installations using a single license.
You can buy additional licenses, assuming you have a retail
license. Naturally, Microsoft cannot sell additional OEM licenses. Be
aware, however, that you'll probably pay more this way than you would
if you were to buy a second copy of WinXP from a discount retailer;
Microsoft will only offer you a 15% discount off their MSRP.
Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp
Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp
> I also like to reinstall the OS on my computers every 3 or 4 months
or so as I find performance 'drops' over time. My friend says XP Pro
doesn't like to be reinstalled often as it 'thinks' it maybe illegally
copied onto other machines. Is this true?
>
This is a sign of very poor computer maintenance practices. A
properly installed, configured, and maintained operating system, when
installed on good quality, fully compatible hardware should need
reinstallation _only_ if the hard drive should fail. There should
never be any need, outside of a test environment, to reinstall an OS
so often. Be that as it may, there's no limit to the number of times
you can reinstall and activate the same WinXP license on the same PC.
Nor is there ever a charge. If it's been more than 120 days since
you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be
able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less,
you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.
Here are the facts pertaining to activation:
Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/
Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm
Bruce Chambers
-- Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once. - RAH
- Next message: Margaret Vonet: "Re: WinXP Microsoft Photo Printing Wizard, and Scanner and Camera Wizard"
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