Hardware change...

[casey]

Rich said....
Oh and if it has been activated? Do it again as "hardware change" and Ms will pass you though with flying colors

Rich, in the other thread you talked about hardware change for XP. This is something I am interested in but haven't got to that point yet. I have a computer running XP Home and want to transfer it over to another completely different computer. I wasn't sure about the procedure and when I read you saying "hardware Change" I thought that's it.. Want to explain a little more about where the hardware change comes in as to a new install?

[casey]

Some things to know about XP.....

What if I make too many changes?
If, on Windows startup, there are not the required seven Yes votes, the system will, in the original version of Windows XP, only boot to Safe Mode. You will be required to reactivate by a phone call to Microsoft. You will have to write down a 50-digit number, call into the activation center on a toll-free number that will be given to you, read and check back the number you recorded — and explain the circumstances. In exchange, you will be given a 42-digit number to type in. This will reactivate your copy of Windows.
This is made easier if Windows XP Service Pack 1 has been installed: The system will continue to boot normally for three days, during which time you will be able to contact the activation center via the net. If the extra changes have been removed, or if 120 days have passed since the original activation, you will be able to use the automatic process once more

How long does this go on?
The license for a retail version of Windows XP is in perpetuity. You get to use Windows XP forever, if you choose.
But Microsoft recognises that machines do get upgraded. If, following the activation after setup, you do not need to contact the activation center for 120 days (any changes you make during this time being seen as acceptable when the system boots), then the sheet is swept clean and you can start again using the current hardware as the new baseline to make more changes.
If you get a new computer, you are entitled to remove Windows XP from the one that is being junked, and install the same Windows XP on the new machine — but you will have to do the reactivation by a voice call and explain (unless, as was just mentioned, 120 days have passed since the activation was last performed).
Microsoft has said that if it ever becomes not worthwhile for them to keep this activation system going, they will take steps to allow users to disable it.

OEM versions
Restrictions of specific license types may limit the foregoing. OEM versions of Windows XP are licensed together with the hardware with which they are purchased, as an entity, and such a copy may not be moved to a different computer. Also, other specific license types (e.g., Academic licenses) are handled in different ways. These aren’t a WPA issue per se, but rather an issue of the license for that purchase, and therefore outside the scope of this discussion of WPA.
There are two versions of OEM Windows XP systems. One can be purchased separately, with qualifying subsidiary hardware, and installed with that hardware to an existing machine, to which it becomes bound. The software may be reinstalled and reactivated indefinitely as with a retail system as long as it is still on the original machine. It may not be transferred to a different computer. It is activated as described above, but if it were installed to hardware seen as not substantially the same, the activation would be refused as falling outside the license.
In the other OEM form, the system is provided pre-installed by a major supplier. Instead of activation, the system is ‘locked’ to the BIOS on the motherboard. The validity of this lock is checked at boot. As long as this is satisfied, other hardware may be changed freely, but any replacement motherboard must be for a compatible one supplied by the original maker.
If a BIOS-locked system is installed to a board where the lock fails, it enters a normal Activation process at startup. However, beginning 1 March 2005, the Product Key supplied on a label by the computer manufacturer, and used for the initial intallation, will not be accepted for activation. A new copy of Windows XP, with a license allowing installation on a different machine, will be needed. This means that any replacement motherboard (or upgrade to its BIOS) must be supplied by the original maker, who will ensure the lock is maintained.

[PeteF]

In the other OEM form, the system is provided pre-installed by a major supplier. Instead of activation, the system is ‘locked’ to the BIOS on the motherboard. The validity of this lock is checked at boot. As long as this is satisfied, other hardware may be changed freely, but any replacement motherboard must be for a compatible one supplied by the original maker.

On DELL PCs the WinXP product key on the case is usually different from the
product key in the registry. Neither of those keys work with a retail version of
the WinXP CD. Any other insights on this?

---pete---

[mylanta]

Pete,
I have had this argument on every major forum where experienced users claim that as long as you have the same OS, and a product key, you can install from XP cd and put in the product code on the COA with a Dell or any other and I have never found it to work for me without changing any hardware. What I usually do is before I wipe it, I use Magical Jelly beans to read the product code to be sure.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

[PeteF]

Pete,
I have had this argument on every major forum where experienced users claim that as long as you have the same OS, and a product key, you can install from XP cd and put in the product code on the COA with a Dell or any other and I have never found it to work for me without changing any hardware. What I usually do is before I wipe it, I use Magical Jelly beans to read the product code to be sure.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

Rich, I've only tried it a few times and it never worked for me when trying
to use any of the key codes from a DELL PC with a retail version of the
XP CD.

I still like to know the relationship between the product key on the
case and the one in the registry on the DELL PCs. That's always been
a mystery to me.

BTW: What is the COA?
Sounds very familiar but I can't place it.

---pete---

[Terry Hanushek]

Pete

BTW: What is the COA?

Certificate of Authenticity

Terry

[mylanta]

Terry beat me to it!

[athomsfere]

I still like to know the relationship between the product key on the
case and the one in the registry on the DELL PCs. That's always been
a mystery to me.

The key in the registry is Dells OEM disk they use for all of that make of PC.
For example, you buy a Dell Dimension 4700. All the builders at Dell are given a disk with the generic number already in that disk, along with software and drivers. Its the same if you were to use Nlite, everythings there, you don't even have to watch it, it just goes!
Then they slap the OEM sticker on the case and (hopefully) ship you their OEM driver/software/OS disk minus their bulk key.

Hope that clears things up...

[Dan18960]

Ok to clear somethings up here.

(1) Class of XP COA MUST match the install media. i.e. IF you got the XP upgrade installed - you can use ANY XP UPGRADE version to install with an upgrade COA, it can be pre-sp, sp1, or sp2 but the UPGRADE version will work. Same with OEM and Retail full version.

(2) OEM builders - NOT us one's and two's guys but the Dells, HPs, Gateways, and even my distributor purchase a distribution license that they bulk burn to drive banks per configuration. Each month they report to M$ the number of units moved and M$ updates their license coverage so the computers are not denied in the Authenication COA update patches.