registration / activation question

[Wonderman]

I have an original purchased version of XP Pro and after doing a fresh
install of Vista I wanted to sell it. Since buying an OEM machine I haven't
used this version for three years. I'm sure it was activated but cant
recall if I registered it. I have the original Product Key sticker.

What issues if any would a buyer for this software encounter ? Does MS
maintain records of all " owners " and could a new owners install of this
software fail ? Due to the ability of a buyer to copy the disk and knowing
the product key I cant really offer a return policy on it.

 

[Gerry]

Is the copy of XP Pro you wish to sell Retail or OEM?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Wonderman]

retail

Is the copy of XP Pro you wish to sell Retail or OEM?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Poprivet]

I have an original purchased version of XP Pro and after doing a fresh
install of Vista I wanted to sell it. Since buying an OEM machine I
haven't used this version for three years. I'm sure it was activated
but cant recall if I registered it. I have the original Product Key
sticker.
What issues if any would a buyer for this software encounter ? Does
MS maintain records of all " owners " and could a new owners install
of this software fail ? Due to the ability of a buyer to copy the
disk and knowing the product key I cant really offer a return policy
on it.

As long as it doesn't have "OEM" in the code key, you can resell it. Note
that you CAN buy OEM's retail, so if it's ever been installed, it can't be
sold.

Pop`

 

[Harry Ohrn]

If it is not an OEM version then you can sell it provided you include the
Certificate of Authenticity and Product Key that came with it. These will be
with the box or sleeve that XP came with. It doesn't matter if you
registered it or not. If you activated it within the past 120 days then the
now owner may need to call the telephone center to activate it on their
system but if it hasn't been activated for over 120 days a Retail version
will generally activate over the internet. You must also remove any copy of
XP that was installed with the specific Product Key that accompanies the
disc.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have an original purchased version of XP Pro and after doing a fresh
install of Vista I wanted to sell it. Since buying an OEM machine I haven't
used this version for three years. I'm sure it was activated but cant
recall if I registered it. I have the original Product Key sticker.

What issues if any would a buyer for this software encounter ?

If it's a retail copy, there should be no issues at all. Retail copies
are fully transferable (however OEM copies are not, so be sure yours
is not OEM).

Does MS
maintain records of all " owners "

No. Activation ties the license to the computer, not to the
individual. However, the tie can be changed when the product is moved
and reactivated.

Registration is irrelevant, since, although it does identify the
individual, it is used only for Microsoft's marketing purposes.

and could a new owners install of this
software fail ?

Installations can fail for lots of different reasons, and I don't want
to tell you that installation of your CD could not fail. But there's
no reason why having sold the product should make any difference, *as
long as* it's a retail product, not an OEM one.

By the way, some people think that OEM copies are only those that are
sold preinstalled on computers. Note that that is *not* correct, and
generic (non-branded) OEM copies are also sold by many large discount
houses, as well as by smaller local computer builders. Be sure yours
is retail, not OEM.

 

[Wonderman]

Should I assume that an OEM version has OEM in the product key and a retail
version does not ? Mine dosnt but I did want to clarify that.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Should I assume that an OEM version has OEM in the product key and a retail
version does not ? Mine dosnt but I did want to clarify that.

Yes, that's one way to tell.

 

[Paul Randall]

Yes, that's one way to tell.

Now I'm confused as to what the 'product key' is.
In the General tab of my system properties window, there is a 24-character
sequence containing 4 dashes like : XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX, but I don't
consider this the product key. I thought the 25-character thing is the
product key.

What is the correct terminology for these two character sequences?

-Paul Randall

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Now I'm confused as to what the 'product key' is.
In the General tab of my system properties window, there is a 24-character
sequence containing 4 dashes like : XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX, but I don't
consider this the product key. I thought the 25-character thing is the
product key.

What is the correct terminology for these two character sequences?

-Paul Randall

The Product *Key* is a 25-character alphanumeric code used to
"prove" ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the
installation, and is either stored on the CD packaging on a bright
orange sticker that says "Do not lose this number," or is on a label
affixed to an OEM computer.

The Product *ID* is created during the installation process and is
displayed on the General Properties tab of the My Computer icon. The
Product ID of a retail or volume license is entirely numeric, while that
of an OEM license will contain all numbers except for the letters "OEM."
If retail, it is used to obtain/qualify for technical support
(limited though that may be) from Microsoft.



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Ken Blake, MVP]

Now I'm confused as to what the 'product key' is.
In the General tab of my system properties window, there is a 24-character
sequence containing 4 dashes like : XXXXX-OEM-XXXXXXX-XXXXX, but I don't
consider this the product key. I thought the 25-character thing is the
product key.

What is the correct terminology for these two character sequences?

You are correct. The string with the "OEM" in it is called the
"Product ID." My statement above didn't make that clear.