Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (
More info?)
> Hi, Fugwump.
>
> Rather than listening to other users' interpretations of the rules, why
> not get the story straight from the source:
> Microsoft Product Activation
>
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation.mspx
>
> The OEM rules may seem unfair when seen from the perspective of one who
> has already bought an OEM copy without knowing those rules. But if you
> start at the beginning of the story, it makes more sense. Major OEMs
> (such as Dell or HP) buy WinXP licenses by the millions and they negotiate
> special prices - and special terms - with Microsoft. Among other things,
> each OEM is allowed to customize WinXP to fit that company's specific
> hardware. Since Microsoft can't control these changes, the OEM is required
> to assume the responsibility to support this customized version. Also,
> since there's no way that either the OEM or Microsoft can be sure that the
> customized WinXP will run properly (or at all) on different hardware, the
> OEM agreement specifies that the WinXP license for that copy is limited to
> the specific computer on which it is pre-installed. Any customer who buys
> that computer gets the license to run that copy of WinXP on that one
> computer, but cannot move it to any other computer. Ever. And any later
> buyer of that hardware as a used computer is bound by the same license
> agreement.
>
> Smaller OEMs don't have Dell's bargaining power, but they still need to
> buy WinXP to pre-install on the computers they assemble and sell.
> Microsoft produces a "generic" OEM version of WinXP which computer dealers
> can incorporate into their products. This generic OEM is not as highly
> customized, but the dealer must agree to terms that restrict each copy to
> the computer on which it is pre-installed. The consumer buys the bundle
> subject to this contract and cannot legally move the generic OEM WinXP to
> a different computer. Ever.
>
> The boxed copies of WinXP that you see on your computer store's shelf are
> the "retail" version. Microsoft can't know in advance what kind of
> computer it will be installed on. The license for that retail WinXP
> allows it to be installed on any computer in the world (almost), so long
> as it is installed on only a single computer at any one time. So a retail
> WinXP can be removed from one computer and installed on another. And it
> can be reinstalled on "the same computer" an unlimited number of times.
> If it has been more than 120 days since the last prior activation, it can
> be reactivated automatically over the Internet, even on a different
> computer.
>
> That leaves the problem of defining "the same computer". Without getting
> into the details, it is clear that just changing the graphics card or a
> hard drive or adding a USB camera does not make this a different computer.
> But installing a new mobo/cpu/chipset/controller and HD in the existing
> case is not much different than moving WinXP to that new hardware in a new
> case; it's what's inside that counts, so this is not "the same computer",
> even if it still looks the same. Even a retail WinXP will probably need
> to be reactivated after such a significant change.
>
> So the first question is: OEM or retail? You said:
>> but I have a OEM copy.
>
> So it seems that, if you've changed your hardware so significantly that
> your copy of WinXP no longer recognizes its environment as "the same
> computer", then you will need to buy a retail copy of WinXP and start
> over. The "upgrade version" is much cheaper but, unless you can show it
> evidence of a qualifying product (your old Win98 CD-ROM?) when Setup asks,
> you'll need the full version.
>
> You could buy just enough hardware to allow you to buy another OEM WinXP
> disc and license, I suppose, but that would simply put you back in the
> same situation the next time you significantly upgrade or change your
> computer.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
> rc@corridor.net
> Microsoft Windows MVP
Hi
Thanks for taking the time to type a long reply.
In the newsgroup "microsoft.public.windowsxp" someone by the name of "Black
Shuck" wrote on "10/02/2005 23:33" (this newsgroup doesn't seem to be
carried on google so can't link to it)
"Am having problems with regularly having to re-activate my copy of XP.
It's very annoying...
Let me explain. I own a legitimate copy of XP Pro OEM, and I recently
upgraded my system, with a new motherboard, HDD and memory. (the old
parts were passed on to a relative). Upon reinstalling windows, I was
asked to re-activate, which I expected, however it told me I could not
activate it, as it had already been activated. I had not transferred
the licence with my old parts, so I still had a valid XP Pro licence. So
I phoned the helpline number, they generated a new installation ID, and
provided the code. All was good again..."
What he seems to be saying is he owns a copy of XP Pro OEM and upgraded his
system significantly, a new motherboard, HDD and memory. This especially if
his MAC address, i.e an inbuilt NIC caused him to need to re-activate. But
he goes on to say that he phoned the helpline and they generated a new ID.
Either he was lucky, or you can significantly upgrade hardware if you have a
standard OEM instead of a SLP OEM. Mine is a standard OEM. Probably just
lucky though!
BTW he goes on to say he has trouble when he installs new memory, it keeps
asking him to re-activate.
I read my EULA when I re-installed a few hours ago, but couldn't make much
out from the legal mumbo jumbo!
Something interesting I noticed. Theres a program called XPInfo that I
checked before I re-installed. A checkbox was unchecked for "CD-ROM drive".
I haven't changed my DVD-Writer since I first activated about August last
year, I figured this must be due to me upgrading the firmware on it about a
month ago.
I re-installed a few hours ago and activated through the net fine. Now when
I check XPInfo my CD-Rom check box is checked meaning it is now using my
current profile with the firmware upgrade because its been over 120 days.
So when's longhorn coming out? Is the activation process going to be any
different? I may just stick with what I got and upgrade minor parts until
then.
Thanks
Mike
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