Re: 1 XP Pro CD with 2 lic. keys on 2 computers?

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: D.Currie (dmbcurrie.nospam_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/23/04 

Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 12:30:41 -0600

"tiger" <tiger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2e7b01c470e0$04866bc0$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> I just called and spoke with my computer guy and this is
> what he said:
>
> 1. He says I can reinstall my OEM version of Windows a
> reasonable amount of times (a few times) for a hard drive
> upgrade (due to a crash or something like that). He said
> it will be up to Microsoft to accept the activation and
> they usually do because they know that crashes happen. He
> said if I try to activate too many times, Microsoft will
> not accept it because more than likely I'm trying to
> install it into someone else's computer. What do you think?

You can reinstall the OEM software as many times as you like on the same
computer. How MS defines "same computer" is up to interpretation. If it's a
different motherboard, they may not consider it the same computer.

>
> 2. He also said that the way he installs this OEM version
> of XP Pro software is more open than Dell or EMachines for
> instance in that I can reinstall it to my computer if
> something were to happen in the future (see above).

You can reinstall your Dell or EMachines software as many times as you like
on the same computer. There are differences in OEM software from the big
companies, and generic OEM CDs, but this isn't one of them.

 He
> again said I can install it to my 2nd computer terminal
> here at home and then activate it with the new key that I
> am going to purchase from him on Monday. Does this sound
> right?

NO. OEM keys are not sold separately. Either you get the whole MS package,
or what you've got is bogus in some way.

 I asked if there were different OEM versions and he
> said, "No, it's all in the way that they are installed
> into the computer."

He just contradicted himself. Before he said the Dell and Emachines software
was different.

>
> 3. I asked about support, and he said that Microsoft does
> not technically support OEM versions because that is his
> job to do so since he sold me the product. He reiterated
> that he'll always support us with any problems.

Until he goes out of business for selling pirated software.

>
> 4. Asked why he doesn't give the Microsoft hologram CD
> with the COAs, and he said that he is allowed

BULL

to burn the
> CD because he builds computers and this is a way to save
> customer's money. I'm not sure if I believe this since I
> saw otherwise on the Microsoft website, but this is all he
> would tell me.

He's not allowed by MS to burn CDs. It's pretty clear that OEMs have to sell
the original MS hologrammed CD with the license, or it's not legal in some
way. Maybe whoever is selling him these stickers is duping him, but that
doesn't make it legal in any way. The exception is big OEMs like Dell,
Gateway, etc., who use their own customized CDs, but that's a whole other
story.

>
> At this point my husband and I are confused. I'm not sure
> what to believe at this point since some of the answers on
> this board are contrary to what he is saying as well as on
> the Microsoft website. I wish there was a way I could call
> or email Microsoft with my questions. Is this possible?

The piracy section at MSs website has all the info you need. You can also
call 1-800-RU Legit.

>
> Any suggestions as to what I should do now? Tiger

Shop elsewhere?

>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >He's already lied to you a number of times. For instance,
> MS doesn't sell
> >product directly to computer stores. Second, it's
> completely against the MS
> >agreement for stores to burn copies of Windows and sell
> them with individual
> >keys. If he's not getting MSs CDs and selling them with
> their original keys,
> >he's doing something illegal.
> >
> >Figure that he's not going to be in business very long.
> >
> >Your key may be coming up as valid, but that may just
> mean that it hasn't
> >been filtered out yet. Or he may have a crop of stolen
> stickers that are
> >good numbers, but still illegal.
> >
> >I'd worry about doing business with this guy. If he's
> willing to blatantly
> >steal from Microsoft, what makes you think he'd deal
> fairly with you? Or if
> >he's being duped by whoever he's buying product from,
> then he's not so
> >bright.
> >
> >As far as the fancy MS certificates, don't be so
> impressed. It means he's
> >been to seminars or whatever; it doesn't really prove
> anything.
> >
> >"tiger" <tiger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:2f3401c470c6$29a63350$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> >> Good suggestion! Actually, the price is the same with or
> >> without the CD as he basically burns them for free (he
> >> also doesn't automatically preload any of his systems
> with
> >> XP OEM versions, only sells full versions for new
> >> computers or upgrades if needed). We pay full price for
> >> each licence key (which is an actual coloured key
> >> Microsoft certificate) that he attaches right to the CD
> >> case.
> >>
> >> Just for my own info, I've been reading about OEM
> >> versions, retail versions, etc... So what type of
> version
> >> would this be? Is it only something that certain
> computer
> >> techs have access to? It's very popular at his store as
> >> he is waiting on his 2nd shipment from Microsoft of the
> >> week, so I can't even buy my additional key today
> anyway.
> >>
> >> Thanks, Tiger
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >If I were you, I would insist on getting the Windows
> XP CD
> >> >along with the Product Key. Otherwise, if you have an
> >> issue
> >> >installing Windows XP, you'll be out the price you paid
> >> for
> >> >only purchasing the Product Key.
> >> >
> >> >Is Your Copy of Windows Legal?
> >>
> >http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/windows/de
> >> fault.mspx
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Carey Frisch
> >> >Microsoft MVP
> >> >Windows XP - Shell/User
> >> >
> >> >Be Smart! Protect your PC!
> >> >http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
> >> >
> >> >-------------------------------------------------------
> ---
> >> -----------------
> >> >
> >> >"Tiger" <tiger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> message:
> >> > news:2dcd01c470c1$fe94f330$a301280a@phx.gbl...
> >> >
> >> >| As a new XP Pro user, now with 2 home computers, I've
> >> >| posted quite a bit over the past week and have been
> >> very
> >> >| grateful for all of the help that I've recevied.
> That
> >> >| being said, I have another question, so here's some
> >> info -
> >> >| Just purchased new system with XP Pro CD & Key. Need
> >> to
> >> >| purchase another XP Pro key today for 2nd system (was
> >> >| using Win98). Called my computer guy and this is
> what
> >> he
> >> >| does:
> >> >|
> >> >| He is an official Microsoft agent and so he is able
> to
> >> >| sell full version CD and licence keys (I saw the
> >> shipment
> >> >| arrive from Microsoft) without box that he gets
> >> straight
> >> >| from Microsoft at a reduced price. He said I only
> need
> >> 1
> >> >| CD (the one I already purchased for new computer),
> but
> >> I
> >> >| will obviously need another licence key. Does this
> >> sound
> >> >| right? I am going today and want to make sure that I
> >> get
> >> >| everything that I need so that I don't have to go
> back
> >> to
> >> >| his shop for another CD.
> >> >|
> >> >| I really do trust him as he is quite knowledgeable
> and
> >> >| doesn't hide anything - plus, he has a lot of
> >> >| certifications on the walls (Microsoft, etc...) I
> know
> >> >| that with XP the licence key and activation are very
> >> >| important, so I just want to double-check on the
> >> process.
> >> >|
> >> >| Thanks, Tiger
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

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