You may have (or your customer has) what is called a "COA to Zero" Product Key
for this particular model eMachine computer.
Essentially, it's a Product Key that is given as a symbol of license ownership,
but due to contracts from the OEM (eMachine), should never actually be "used"
with any other Windows XP CD, such as a "generic" OEM Windows XP CD.
It is required in the ownership EULA terms to actually use the eMachine recovery media in this case, as that (in itself) contains a
different Product Key assigned to eMachine OEM computers.
While the Product Key on the outside of the computer is one number (labeled as a OEM COA - ORQ Type), the eMachine recovery image is
labeled an OEM SLP COA.
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
| Just a clarification. So EMachines has not used the SLP technology on older
| EMachines? That's why I have activated about twenty of them with 3rd party
| motherboards using the EMachines COA on the case?
|
| | > Many major PC manufacturers use "System Locked Pre-installation,"
| > or SLP. eMachine uses this technology.
| >
| > SLP uses information stored in an OEM PC's BIOS to protect
| > the installation from casual piracy. When installing a eMachine OEM
| > version of Windows XP, the eMachine CD compares the PC's BIOS to the
| > SLP information. If it matches, Product Activation will succeed.
| > If it does not match, Product Activation will fail. Using a new Product
| > Key will also fail because the eMachine BIOS does not exist with
| > a non-eMachine motherboard.
| >
| > You'll need to purchase a new "Full Version" copy of Windows XP
| > and perform a "repair install". The OEM Windows XP
| > license that originally came with your eMachine PC
| > is no longer valid with a non-eMachine motherboard.
| >
| > Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
| >
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows - Shell/User
| >
| > Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
| >
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx
| >
| > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "The Computer Lab of Zephyrhills" wrote:
| >
| > | Replaced only motherboard in EMachine T3104 after lightning damage. It
| > had
| > | an FIC K8M-800M M/B and now has a Biostar K8M800-M7A; both have similar
| > | chipset, etc. Would not even allow me to log on. OEM key of course
| > would
| > | not work as usuall so I entered the key on the COA. Appears to be a SP2
| > | machine. Last night, I could not activate; there were timeouts and the
| > | RealTek NIC would not connect apparently.
| > |
| > | Today, it apparently sees the Internet so it tells me that even the
| > product
| > | key on the COA is incorrect. This is the first time this has happened
| > to
| > | me. Every E-Machine I ever put a new Non-EMachine M/B activated once I
| > used
| > | the key on the COA. Any clues here? Thanks,
| > |
| > | John
| > | Florida USA
| >
| >
|
|
|
