License tansfer

[Marko Jotic]

I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license and
installing everything on a new system.

I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
unlicensing the old one to bring down the count no that licene?

TIA
--
Marko Jotic
"Common sense is anything but common".
From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[PopS]

When you activate it on the new system, which you will have to
do, it will take care of the counts.


:I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license
and
: installing everything on a new system.
:
: I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
: unlicensing the old one to bring down the count no that licene?
:
: TIA
: --
: Marko Jotic
: "Common sense is anything but common".
: From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
: Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
: http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[Marko Jotic]

I know that part, I asked about the old computer, I want then to
deactivate the one on the computer being thrown in the garbage

When you activate it on the new system, which you will have to
do, it will take care of the counts.


:I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license
and
: installing everything on a new system.
:
: I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
: unlicensing the old one to bring down the count no that licene?
:
: TIA
: --
: Marko Jotic
: "Common sense is anything but common".
: From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
: Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
: http://www.knifeforging.com/

--
Marko Jotic
"Common sense is anything but common".
From the notebooks of Lazarus Long. Robert A. Heinlein.
Handmade knives, antique designs, exotic materials at
http://www.knifeforging.com/

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I know that part, I asked about the old computer, I want then to
deactivate the one on the computer being thrown in the garbage

There is no "de-activation" process, as such.

Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not legitimately
transferable), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on
and then install it on the new computer. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, the you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Marko Jotic]

I didn't see that my first post wasn't quoted, its not a retail license:

I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license and
installing everything on a new system.

I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
unlicensing the old one to bring down the count?

Thanks

Marko

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I didn't see that my first post wasn't quoted, its not a retail license:

I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license and
installing everything on a new system.

I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
unlicensing the old one to bring down the count?

No, as you've been told repeatedly, there is *NO* "de-activation" or
"de-registration" process. Period. Microsoft doesn't have an automated
means of keeping track of such things. But, as the owner of a Volume
License, you know that you are subject to a physical audit at
Microsoft's discretion; it's part of the Volume license agreement.

Otherwise, a VL is pretty much the same as a retail license: it can bew
installed on only the number (or fewer, as VL's are normally sold in
lots of 5) of computers for which it was purchased. There is no problem
transfering an installation from one computer to another, as long as
it's removed from the first computer and prior to installation on the next.

For more specific answers, consult your employer's IT department; they
should have someone monitoring their licensing status, as the current
civil penalty for software license copyright infringement can cost as
much as $50,000 USD per illicit installation.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license and
installing everything on a new system.

I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
unlicensing the old one to bring down the count no that licene?

There is no "de-activation". Remove it from the old machine and install it
on the new machine.
What sort of volume license do you have?

 

[ANONYMOUS]

No. MS does not keep a count of how many systems are using VL
software. Also, a volume licensed product does not need activation.

Just make sure that you have wiped your system completely before
scrapping it otherwise apart from your personal data which could be
abused, people can retrieve the VLK and use it somewhere else.

In my expeience, piracy these days is about abusing VLKs as they don't
need activation.

hth

 

[Marko Jotic]

No, as you've been told repeatedly, there is *NO* "de-activation" or
"de-registration" process. Period. Microsoft doesn't have an automated
means of keeping track of such things. But, as the owner of a Volume
License, you know that you are subject to a physical audit at
Microsoft's discretion; it's part of the Volume license agreement.

Actually, I WAS NOT told, he referred to retail which I know about, been
there, done that.

Otherwise, a VL is pretty much the same as a retail license: it can
bew installed on only the number (or fewer, as VL's are normally sold in
lots of 5) of computers for which it was purchased. There is no problem
transfering an installation from one computer to another, as long as
it's removed from the first computer and prior to installation on the next.

And there YOU go, how do I REMOVE it (your words)? sounds like what I
was asking, Yes/No?

For more specific answers, consult your employer's IT department;
they should have someone monitoring their licensing status, as the
current civil penalty for software license copyright infringement can
cost as much as $50,000 USD per illicit installation.

The real problem: not my employer directly, and they are MS Project
trainers, and there are no IT specialist at all, and I am working
separately for one of them, and they don't clearly understand what I am
asking, and they asked me to find out, and I always try here first, and
sometimes I get clear answers fast, and sometimes everybody argues the
question like now. Make sense? Am I clear enough? BTW its not only XP
Pro I am worried about, the full installation includes Server, Office
Project and Project server.

So I will have to call, for which I charge extra since I can't do
anything else while I talk to telephone bozos. On top of this its
Sunday, I started this no Saturday, I can't get the info I need to call
MS with, so I am stuck, I can't scrap the old system and install the new
one without an answer, he would have had it done by now but he'll have
to wait until Thursday when I have more time for him.

As for your insinuation about an illicit installation WTF do you think I
am asking this?

Thanks but no thanks!

Marko

 

[Marko Jotic]

There is no "de-activation". Remove it from the old machine and install it
on the new machine.

I don't think that is enough, when you activate doesn't it keep a
hardware ercodr for that activation, will it still be there?

What sort of volume license do you have?

see my pissed off answer in the thread about 45 min ago

Marko

 

[Marko Jotic]

No. MS does not keep a count of how many systems are using VL
software.

that implies that the hardware record it keeps of your computer is
actually stored in the computer and not at MS?

Also, a volume licensed product does not need activation.
Yes it does, I installed it the first time and each product still needs
activation, it does not need registration since that was done on the
first installation

Just make sure that you have wiped your system completely before
scrapping it otherwise apart from your personal data which could be
abused, people can retrieve the VLK and use it somewhere else.

don't worry, I data shred the HDs and if I can't reuse them (to
old/small) I open them and break the disks (I have so very paranoid
customers


Marko

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I will be scrapping a computer that has an XP Pro volume license
and installing everything on a new system.

I am curious about how MS keeps track of this, shouldn't I be
unlicensing the old one to bring down the count no that licene?

There is no "de-activation". Remove it from the old machine and
install it on the new machine.

What sort of volume license do you have?

I don't think that is enough, when you activate doesn't it keep a
hardware ercodr for that activation, will it still be there?

see my pissed off answer in the thread about 45 min ago

No - If you remove it from the old machine - it is gone.. Why - because
removing the operating system means wiping the drive. Before I give away
any machine - I run a 7-pass zero wipe over the drive. Does it mean NO one
will ever be able to get data back off that hard drive - ever? Probably
not - but they are going to have to really know what they are doing or be
willing to spend some BIG BUCKS doing it. And seven passes is not the max I
could do - but for my sanity - it's usually the number I choose. Some
larger drives can now take entire weekends to accomplish this task. *grin*

The real problem: not my employer directly, and they are MS Project
trainers, and there are no IT specialist at all, and I am working
separately for one of them, and they don't clearly understand what I am
asking, and they asked me to find out, and I always try here first, and
sometimes I get clear answers fast, and sometimes everybody argues the
question like now. Make sense? Am I clear enough? BTW its not only XP Pro
I am worried about, the full installation includes Server, Office Project
and Project server.

Are you clear enough - no - that was the point of all the questions.
You say you have a "Volume License". That's great. You have a volume
license.
Then your question is moot in many ways - but mainly - just know - there is
*NO* deactivation - no tracking - nothing. With a volume license (dependent
on the type you actually have - thus my question) - you usually do not have
to ACTIVATE anyway - so you are indeedn not going to have to de-activate.

You never mentioned the other programs. Do you have the installation media
for those? The CD Keys? The configuration data?
If not - it seems to me you are trying to do something that is beyond your
means to do.

So I will have to call, for which I charge extra since I can't do anything
else while I talk to telephone bozos. On top of this its Sunday, I started
this no Saturday, I can't get the info I need to call MS with, so I am
stuck, I can't scrap the old system and install the new one without an
answer, he would have had it done by now but he'll have to wait until
Thursday when I have more time for him.

You're likely stuck anyway. Your "third party" but not an IT specialist -
should not be doing this, methinks.

You have a volume license key - supposedly. If so - you have been told,
quite simply - what needs to be done.
(Volume licenses are not stuck on stickers on the machine - that is an OEM.)

1) Backup the data on the old machine. May want to use the Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard (do this from your Windows XP CD) to export your
profile and then you can later use the CD on the new install to import the
profile (look/feel/application settings.)
2) Collect all installation media/keys for EVERYTHING you need to be
installed on the new machine.
3) Wipe the old machine using your favorite wipe utility (you could just
format it - but for peace-of-mind - use a zero-write (zero fill) utility.
(BCWipe, GDISK, etc.)
4) Install and configure the new machine using the media/keys, etc.
5) Configure and use - dispose of old machine however you feel like.

That's it. It's not complicated and given the information you have (Volume
License Key for Windows XP, etc) - that's the only way to do this without
REALLY knowing what you are doing and making a sysprepped image that will
cross-HAL transfer.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

My reply within your comments:

that implies that the hardware record it keeps of your computer is
actually stored in the computer and not at MS?

YES the info is in the system but for retail and OEM versions MS has a
record of serial numbers that are already used. NOT for Volume Licensed
Versions as they are NEVER activated.

Also, a volume licensed product does not need activation.
Yes it does, I installed it the first time and each product still needs
activation, it does not need registration since that was done on the
first installation

In that case it is not a volume licensed version. Can you imagine a
corporation installing 2000 systems and all requiring activation? Do
you think people would accept such incovenience? VLK REQUIRES NO
ACTIVAION. Repeat after me!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Also, a volume licensed product does not need activation.

Yes it does, I installed it the first time and each product still
needs activation, it does not need registration since that was done
on the first installation

Mark,

You need to re-investigate your usage of "Volume License" and "Activation"
then.
As seen in the Microsoft VLK FAQs --

---------------
How are businesses supposed to activate software on dozens or even
hundreds of machines? This can't be done efficiently.


That is why Microsoft Corp. does NOT require customers who acquire their
licenses through one of its volume licensing agreements, such as Open
License and Select License, to activate most of their licenses.

For example, a customer can acquire licenses through the Microsoft® Open
License Agreement program with an initial purchase of just five licenses.
Customers in these programs will be required to use a Volume License Product
Key (VLK) when installing products with Product Activation. Using the VLK
will bypass activation.
---------------

So either you are not using the VLK license/media (possible - if you have a
laptop and are using the number off the bottom of it and the CD that came
with it - that is neither volume license media or key) or your definition of
the term "activation" or "Volume License" is different than the actual one.

I repeat my question about "What type of Volume License do you have?"

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Marco,

You seem to be asking the questions in such a way that implies you are
trying to do something that is not right!!! Could you be straight with
us so that we can give you straight answers. We don't bull-sh** here as
this is a public NG and people can point out easily if something is not
right!!

hth

 

[Marko Jotic]

Mark,

You need to re-investigate your usage of "Volume License" and "Activation"
then.
As seen in the Microsoft VLK FAQs --

---------------
How are businesses supposed to activate software on dozens or even
hundreds of machines? This can't be done efficiently.


That is why Microsoft Corp. does NOT require customers who acquire their
licenses through one of its volume licensing agreements, such as Open
License and Select License, to activate most of their licenses.

For example, a customer can acquire licenses through the Microsoft® Open
License Agreement program with an initial purchase of just five licenses.
Customers in these programs will be required to use a Volume License Product
Key (VLK) when installing products with Product Activation. Using the VLK
will bypass activation.

I know that, you can't buy a laptop without the OS so its obvious, and
since I mentioned it is XP Pro you need to order the laptop to get it
(here in MTL stores only have home or media centre) so you really know it.

or your definition of

the term "activation" or "Volume License" is different than the actual one.

I repeat my question about "What type of Volume License do you have?"

I repeat my previous answer on sone other opst in this thread: Not mine,
I don't have this info here on Sunday night, he (that I am helping) will
have to get through to the others (that he works with and supplied it)
or wait for me to call them. but I was originally told it was a volume
license, to be careful with the key (duh),and FYI each product activates
itself in 2 seconds so I think I will can MS anyway to clear that issue.

between the lines it seems the entire activation record is in the
computer itself, Ok so no problem, wipe it and fini. but that leaves me
dumbfounded, astonished, no thesaurus is big enough to describe my
incredulity: MS can't even count how many activations occur under any
given license? Really, I'm no particular MS fan but I can see they have
that right.

Marko

 

[Marko Jotic]

should have read this one before the last one

but then I am also working on a logo and plastering, fun.

My reply within your comments:





YES the info is in the system but for retail and OEM versions MS has a
record of serial numbers that are already used. NOT for Volume Licensed
Versions as they are NEVER activated.

"YES the info is in the system" The answer! Thanks. Sorry about being
picky but no one said that explicitly until now. Don't forget I am
experiencing activations, so I assumed they were being counted, and as I
told Shenan I will have to clear that up.

In that case it is not a volume licensed version. Can you imagine a
corporation installing 2000 systems and all requiring activation? Do
you think people would accept such incovenience? VLK REQUIRES NO
ACTIVAION. Repeat after me!

as per above I will clear that up

But I will counter your assertion,I can easily imagine 2,000,000
activations: how many hours for a clean OS/office install+updates, then
User starts word, OKs activation on the internet, done, 2 seconds per
user, big deal.

As I implied to Shenan: they aren't counting? are they nuts?

Thanks
Marko

 

[Marko Jotic]

just answered you elsewhere

Marco,

You seem to be asking the questions in such a way that implies you are
trying to do something that is not right!!!

not you too
Could you be straight with

us so that we can give you straight answers.

I am, I said all along all that I nkow, you guys keep assuming its my
system and my disk, READ
We don't bull-sh** here as

this is a public NG and people can point out easily if something is not
right!!

DUH, I must be a stupid nigerian scammer to ask about something like
this direct to MS newsgroup and NOT assume MVPs are listening, I have
been here before, years ago, I know exactly what I am doing here:
getting the NO BULLSHIT ANSWER

I am royally pissed off to have asked ONE question, to have had to pull
teeth to get ONE answer that made sense, and to have twice been accused
of something illegal as if I am some sort of stupid twit.

I thanked you elsewhere READ THAT TOO OK

But if you or Chambers were here in front of me you would be eating crow

Marko

with a "k" but you read too fast don't you?

 

[Marko Jotic]

I will add to my previous response that there is one (1) Marko Jotic
(the c has an accent like é) on this planet, so I am not hiding

 

[Marko Jotic]

just for reference I will follow this up and update you, it will take
some more teeth pulling on this end but so be it. at least I know I can
can the old system