Re: Branded OEMs


"News Groupie" <newsgroupie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:iOegf.25052$DL6.4661@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> No piracy. I'm trying to resolve this problem. I got two Dell machines not
> too long ago, both came with branded factory sealed OEM discs (WinXP SP2),
> but I only used one of those discs and the other remained unused in
> factory seal because I installed Linux on the second Dell machine. Now I
> want to do a fresh & clean install of Windows XP on my main custom built
> machine, but there's no WinXP OEM disc for it because it came with XP
> pre-installed on it. I figured I could use that unused factory sealed Dell
> branded disc on the custom machine, but wasn't too sure and didn't want to
> wipe my drive until I was, so I test installed on another machine I had
> lying around and it installed perfectly (at least it appeared to), but I
> soon realized it was actually a Dell machine (the older one mentioned
> previously in this thread) and figured it wasn't a good test, so that's
> when I test installed that same previously unused Dell branded OEM disc on
> the main custom machine. It installs fine, but has all those drivers
> missing and the activation icon showing up after installation.

Dell supplies a separate disc for the drivers. Those Dell drivers wouldn't
work in your custom machine anyway, unless it had the exact same specs all
around. You need to go download the drivers for each piece of hardware from
their respective manufacturers (video card, sound card, etc.). As for the
activation icon, that is normal because that custome machine is not the
computer that copy of Windows was activated for. It's only preactivated by
the OEM computer maker for the computer they ship the Windows disc with. You
can install the copy of Windows on any computer you want, but that copy can
only be properly activated on ONE machine. If Windows is not activated in 30
days, you're locked out of it.

>
> I just tried to use my unused branded OEM disc on my custom machine. I
> don't believe that's piracy or illegal since I actually own the hardware
> the disc came with.

Technically, even if you are using it for yourself, it is piracy if you are
trying to use that same copy of Windows on more than one machine. The reason
being is that you only paid for one license. Installation can occur for many
machines, but activation only works for one computer, unless another license
is purchased. Installation and activation are two completely different steps
in getting Windows up and running.

>
> Plus the installation never asks for a product/CD key, so it doesn't seem
> like the disc is only for a specific machine.

It is. Regardless of whether or not it asks is irrelevant because you only
have one license for that copy.

>
> Anyway... any solutions/recommendations on this problem?
>
> TIA

I recommend you get another license before continuing to ask your question.

>
> "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:uxkZ1vk7FHA.252@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> News Groupie wrote:
>>> Actually, how true is that?
>>>
>>
>>
>> Completely.
>>
>>
>>> Because I used the copy first to install on an older Dell machine and it
>>> seemed to work perfectly (no activation messages, installed updates,
>>> yada yada).
>>
>>
>> If the motherboard was based on the same chipset, the installation
>> routine was likely "fooled" into thinking that it was the right computer.
>> OEM CDs are not linked to specific machines, but rather to a specific
>> type or class of motherboard. It simply saw a Dell BIOS and worked.
>>
>>
>>> I took that same disc later and installed it on a custom built PC and it
>>> installed without a hitch. The only difference was that most of my
>>> devices weren't recognized (including the network card) and the
>>> activation icon was in the system tray. I'm assuming the icon only shows
>>> up because my most of my drivers (especially my network card) weren't
>>> installed yet.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Incorrect assumption. The older Dell OEM CDs will install on any
>> computer, but will require activation. The newer CDs won't even install.
>> And more recently, even Dell has stopped shipping CDs, all to combat
>> people such as yourself.
>>
>>
>>> Am I right in assuming that the unrecognized devices are so because the
>>> Dell brand disc is full of drivers for devices Dell installs on their
>>> machines and not regular default/generic drivers found on regular WinXP
>>> install discs?
>>
>>
>> Obviously. Why would Dell include drivers for their competitors
>> products?
>>
>>
>>> Furthermore does this mean that I could just install the needed drivers
>>> for the custom machine and everything should work just as fine as the
>>> older Dell machine?
>>>
>>
>>
>> You can install the necessary 3rd party drivers and probably get the
>> machine working, yes. However, you should not be able to activate that
>> pirated OEM license on another computer. (Oh, you might get away with it
>> by lying to the telephone activation center when you call, but that
>> depends upon the competency the random operator you get when you call.)
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> 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
>
>


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Branded OEMs
    ... seal because I installed Linux on the second Dell machine. ... I figured I could use that unused factory sealed Dell branded disc on ... previously unused Dell branded OEM disc on the main custom machine. ... >> Because I used the copy first to install on an older Dell machine and it ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Help w/uninstalling a corrupt, uninstallable Microsoft applica
    ... went to install it, it asked for a Product Code! ... on the Resource CD Dell included for ... the Resource Disc that came with my computer? ... asking me for a Product Key. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: In plain English - how do you wipe these Dell partitions and restore points!?
    ... Has anyone here ever rebooted from a Dell Dimension 3000 OS disk? ... So if you bought a machine with Windows 98 that had MS Office on it you got an MS branded OS disc, MS Office on CDand a Dell drivers and utilities disc. ... HOWEVER that disc is nothing special, it is MS Windows ME WITH a DELL folder added during install. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Branded OEMs
    ... >> factory seal because I installed Linux on the second Dell machine. ... but there's no WinXP OEM disc for it because it came with XP ... You can install the copy of Windows on any computer you ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Fresh Install went Wonderfully
    ... Dell diagnostics can be accessed from your Dell utilities CD if you need to ... Internet connection working so you can download additional drivers. ... Chose the main partition to install Windows on. ... Now I plan on doing fresh install on my other laptop. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)