OEM versions of XP

[Gordon]

I recently had to do a clean re-install of XP Home on a Dell laptop. I
thought I would save some time (silly me) and use an installation CD from a
different OEM vender (since it included SP2, and the older Dell CD had only
SP1). Of course, I would use the correct (and valid) product key shown on
the bottom of the laptop. Little did I realize that Microsoft would not
accept a valid Dell product key on the Dell machine to which it was assigned
unless I installed Dell's flavor of XP. So I ended up having to install XP
again using Dell's (older) CD in order to get Microsoft to accept the
product key. Why should Microsoft care whose CD I install with? XP should
be XP, so long as I have a valid product key (I did).

Gordon

 

[Gordon]

I recently had to do a clean re-install of XP Home on a Dell laptop. I
thought I would save some time (silly me) and use an installation CD from a
different OEM vender (since it included SP2, and the older Dell CD had only
SP1). Of course, I would use the correct (and valid) product key shown on
the bottom of the laptop. Little did I realize that Microsoft would not
accept a valid Dell product key on the Dell machine to which it was
assigned unless I installed Dell's flavor of XP. So I ended up having to
install XP again using Dell's (older) CD in order to get Microsoft to
accept the product key. Why should Microsoft care whose CD I install with?
XP should be XP, so long as I have a valid product key (I did).

Gordon

I think you'll find it's nothing to do with Microsoft and all to do with the
fact that Dell use BIOS-locked versions AFAIK. That's to stop you installing
their pre-activated OEM on another non-Dell machine....

 

[Frankster]

And there you have it folks! Another example of how legitimate honest
customers are unfairly inconvenienced due to the dishonesty of others,
combined with Microsoft's tendency to "throw the baby out with the
bathwater".

I still remember the day before license keys. Gawd that was nice. And
convenient. Of course, I also remember the days when honest customers THAT
HAD JUST LEFT THE DAMNED CASH REGISTER PAYING FOR THEIR PURCHASE WERE NOT
SEARCHED BEFORE THEY COULD LEAVE THE DAMNED STORE!

Pet peeve? Yeah, I guess so.

Sorry for the rant.

-Frank

 

[GHalleck]

I recently had to do a clean re-install of XP Home on a Dell laptop. I
thought I would save some time (silly me) and use an installation CD from a
different OEM vender (since it included SP2, and the older Dell CD had only
SP1). Of course, I would use the correct (and valid) product key shown on
the bottom of the laptop. Little did I realize that Microsoft would not
accept a valid Dell product key on the Dell machine to which it was assigned
unless I installed Dell's flavor of XP. So I ended up having to install XP
again using Dell's (older) CD in order to get Microsoft to accept the
product key. Why should Microsoft care whose CD I install with? XP should
be XP, so long as I have a valid product key (I did).

Gordon

While Frankster's rant is amusing, the answer is that it is all in the
licensing. Microsoft makes different deals with different OEM's.

 

[Rock]

I recently had to do a clean re-install of XP Home on a Dell laptop. I
thought I would save some time (silly me) and use an installation CD from a
different OEM vender (since it included SP2, and the older Dell CD had only
SP1). Of course, I would use the correct (and valid) product key shown on
the bottom of the laptop. Little did I realize that Microsoft would not
accept a valid Dell product key on the Dell machine to which it was
assigned unless I installed Dell's flavor of XP. So I ended up having to
install XP again using Dell's (older) CD in order to get Microsoft to
accept the product key. Why should Microsoft care whose CD I install with?
XP should be XP, so long as I have a valid product key (I did).

Branded OEM CDs will only work with a license key that matches it from that
OEM. This is a similar issue to the fact that a retail XP Home key will not
work with a retail XP Pro CD.

Often times the license key on the sticker attached to an OEM computer will
work with a generic OEM XP installation CD, but some times, depending on the
OEM and the system, the license key will only work that OEM's recovery CD.

You used a branded OEM CD, right, and not a Dell CD? If so that's certainly
why it didn't work. If you try a generic OEM CD it might.

 

[Tecknomage]

I recently had to do a clean re-install of XP Home on a Dell laptop. I
thought I would save some time (silly me) and use an installation CD from a
different OEM vender (since it included SP2, and the older Dell CD had only
SP1). Of course, I would use the correct (and valid) product key shown on
the bottom of the laptop. Little did I realize that Microsoft would not
accept a valid Dell product key on the Dell machine to which it was assigned
unless I installed Dell's flavor of XP. So I ended up having to install XP
again using Dell's (older) CD in order to get Microsoft to accept the
product key. Why should Microsoft care whose CD I install with? XP should
be XP, so long as I have a valid product key (I did).

Gordon

First, this is _not_ due to MS directly, it's Dell. OEMs pay very big
bucks for OEM licenses so they want (and deserve) pirate protection.

Second, _most_ OEM installs are not vanilla (retail) WinXP, they are a
PE (Preinstall Environment) WinXP install. This is a Dell (or any
OEM) modified OS install where they add/change things. Examples; add
unique drivers (especially for the motherboard), add Dell specific
apps (i.e. Dell homepage default in IE or Dell troubleshooting tools,
CD writer and anti-virus utilities, default desktop settings, etc.).
This is especially true on laptops or notebook PCs since their drivers
can be very unique. This PE install CD also means that the Product
Key is only for the PE install and since previous activation with MS
includes the system's recognition data, MS will know your PC and see
it's an OEM, so accept only the original manufacturer's OEM install.

Comment: This is why I don't buy off-the-shelf systems. I build my
own (you could have a mom-and-pop PC shop build it). Then I get a
vanilla WinXP install (with CD) and CDs for all the hardware
(motherboard, video card, sound card) with full documentation, AND
none of the trash OEMs put on their systems. Then I install the
important utilities such as anti-virus, CD writers, etc.

 

[Frankster]

First, this is _not_ due to MS directly, it's Dell. OEMs pay very big

bucks for OEM licenses so they want (and deserve) pirate protection.

Whoa... an OEM distribution of licenses is an AGREEMENT between TWO parties
(MS and the PC Manufacturer). You cannot blame only one party for an
agreement which they struck together.

Additionally, you cannot single out Dell as the bad guy. Virtually all major
manufacturers do the same thing and have the same agreement with MS.

If people would only smarten-up! There is nothing inherently wrong with an
OEM license. Yes, it is more limiting than a full retail license. But it is
also a lot cheaper! It's your choice. But, most ordinary consumers are fully
satisfied with the OEM license and don't mind buying everything again every
few years when their PCs become obsolete.

Unlike a lot of folks in this newsgroup who enjoy keeping their older
systems alive as long as upgrades are available.

Bottom line, there is a license of everyone. The onus is on the consumer to
choose the right product to buy. How novel!

-Frank

 

[Tecknomage]

Whoa... an OEM distribution of licenses is an AGREEMENT between TWO parties
(MS and the PC Manufacturer). You cannot blame only one party for an
agreement which they struck together.

Additionally, you cannot single out Dell as the bad guy. Virtually all major
manufacturers do the same thing and have the same agreement with MS.

Sorry, maybe I was not clear. I was using Dell as an example. "This
is a Dell (or any OEM) modified OS install" is what I said, note
what's in ().

If people would only smarten-up! There is nothing inherently wrong with an
OEM license. Yes, it is more limiting than a full retail license. But it is
also a lot cheaper! It's your choice. But, most ordinary consumers are fully
satisfied with the OEM license and don't mind buying everything again every
few years when their PCs become obsolete.

I did not intend to imply anything is wrong. The ordinal post was on
why he had problems trying to use an OEM install from another system.
The poster didn't realize that the install CD he attempted to use was
_not_ a vanilla retail WinXP install.

Unlike a lot of folks in this newsgroup who enjoy keeping their older
systems alive as long as upgrades are available.

Bottom line, there is a license of everyone. The onus is on the consumer to
choose the right product to buy. How novel!

-Frank

The real bottom line in the context of the ordinal post is that many
human beings that are not organized enough to keep their system's
ordinal install CD(s) and documentation in one place where they can
find them when necessary. Or just loose them.

Hell, I over-organized (aka packrat), I have the ordinal software
installs media going back to MS-DOS 6.2! Two "ByteVault" drawers are
full of old DOS utility floppies. Also, books on DOS, Win98, WinXP,
etc. As to hardware, I have an old Staples printer paper cardboard
box with every install CD, documentation, extra unused hardware, for
my self-built system.

Ahaaa... someday I'll have to clean out that old DOS stuff.... maybe.

 

[Frankster]

Yeah, I agreed with everything you said, really. Shouldn't have used the
term "whoa"... Your post was just a convenient place to interject my
ramblings. Sorry for any confusion.

-Frank