Windows XP Home activation - emachine

[Mistoffolees]

Yes, Alias, they are cheap.

I am working on this one for a friend.

I build my own PCs.

I'm not sure what 'cracked' version means, but if it means 'pirated' then
no, I don't wish to use that.
I merely want to use the license I rightfully purchased when the machine was
bought.

As you wrote, the license is assocated with the machine you
bought. By definition, the motherboard constitutes a major
part of the machine. The license expired with the original
motherboard unless it was replaced by eMachines, at its
discretion, but obliged to do under conditions of warranty,
if it was still in force. As a OEM-VAR, I always give the
buyer the option of buying OEM or retail, along with giving
the proper advice assocated with each.

 

[Plato]

I realize I can purchase an OEM version of Windows, but I do not believe I
should have to because I have already paid for a Windows license when I
bought the PC.

You bought the emachines version. You didn't buy a real version.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

eMachines with a version of Windows XP preinstalled make use of the
"System Locked Preinstallation" (SLP) activation method. In this process,
Windows XP determines from the motherboard whether it is installed on
a genuine eMachine system. Therefore, you can upgrade or install any
component in your PC (except for the motherboard!)
If you changed to a different motherboard, no new Product Key will activate
since the new motherboard BIOS is not an eMachine BIOS.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Thanks again everyone.
|
| To clarify:
|
| I realize I can purchase an OEM version of Windows, but I do not believe I
| should have to because I have already paid for a Windows license when I
| bought the PC.
|
| eMachines can not supply me with a replacement motherboard as Trigem no
| longer manufacturers them.
|
| I have tried to activate Windows to no avail. Online activation doesn't work
| and phone support tells me to contact manufacturer (emachines).
|
| I'm stuck.
|
| I believe emachines should supply me with an cd key for activation.
|
| Thanks for your input.

 

[Brian]

Thanks to everyone for your input.

 

[Leythos]

Read the OP Lethos! HE didn't HAVE a choice, eMachines no longer carries
that board.

I replied to the statement about support - the reply was correct. It
doesn't make any difference if emachines provides a board or not. E-
Machines COULD provide the OP with a key if they wanted to - and that is
permissible under the Systems Builders Agreement (and documented under
the agreement also).

If the OP replaced the board without e-machines permission, then he's on
his own - this part was not clear in his post.

 

[Greg Ro]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.

I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
help me.

Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

Thanks,
Brian

If it was purchase before March 2005 you might be able to try the key
fix. Use the key listed on the Machine.

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html

It is not illegal or against the eula-regardless of what some people
might say

Technically, Carey is wrong. You can buy an oem copy because if
Microsoft consider it New computer by replacing a motherboard than you
are considered a system builder since you replace the motherboard.


Carey,
He did not want to buy a retail copy. He possible spent a lot of
money already on Power Supply and a motherboard. He possible can not
afford to buy a retail copy.

Greg Ro

 

[Greg Ro]

Unfortunately, yes. When your eMachine motherboard died,
so did the eMachine-supplied Windows XP OEM license.

Your incorrect. A motherboard can be replaced. If it not available
from the original oem and microsoft will allow this. He need to call
the activation place again and explain he could not get a replacement
motherboard from emachine and had to get it from somewhere else.
This info was from an MSFT

Greg Ro

 

[Greg Ro]

You never bought the full version of XP in the first place because you
shopped on price, not quality. Time to buy it now.

typical rich person response

 

[kurttrail]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail
version of Windows since the motherboard is different than the
original.
I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS
can not help me.

Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

It already may be too late, but try calling MS's PA phone line and don't
mention the crap about the mobo, power supply . . . . Tell them you
built your own slipstreamed SP2 copy of XP, and used your PK with it and
you now you need to activate.

You should actually learn how to create a slipstreamed version of a SP2
CD. Don't know how. Google.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Peabody]

Carey Frisch [MVP] says...

eMachines with a version of Windows XP preinstalled make
use of the "System Locked Preinstallation" (SLP)
activation method. In this process, Windows XP
determines from the motherboard whether it is installed
on a genuine eMachine system. Therefore, you can upgrade
or install any component in your PC (except for the
motherboard!)
If you changed to a different motherboard, no new
Product Key will activate since the new motherboard BIOS
is not an eMachine BIOS.

Just a technical question about this. I believe the
actual key is in the bios. Could you save a copy of your
bios when you buy the computer, and then flash that copy to
the replacement motherboard (assuming it's the same model)
if you ever need to replace it. Are there utilities that
copy the bios to a file?

Then you could buy the motherboard anywhere. Ebay. Whatever.

One other point about this. Even if the mobo manufacturer
has an updated bios with bug fixes, etc., you can't flash
it. You have to get all bios updates from the OEM to maintain
your authentication. Is that right?

 

[Alias]

If it was purchase before March 2005 you might be able to try the key
fix. Use the key listed on the Machine.

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html

It is not illegal or against the eula-regardless of what some people
might say

Technically, Carey is wrong. You can buy an oem copy because if
Microsoft consider it New computer by replacing a motherboard than you
are considered a system builder since you replace the motherboard.


Carey,
He did not want to buy a retail copy. He possible spent a lot of
money already on Power Supply and a motherboard. He possible can not
afford to buy a retail copy.

Greg Ro

Carey must think everyone is rich.

Alias

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Incorrect. A motherboard can not be replaced with a different model
if the computer manufacturer used a "System Locked Preinstallation"
(SLP) activation method which is tied to the original motherboard BIOS.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Your incorrect. A motherboard can be replaced. If it not available
| from the original oem and microsoft will allow this. He need to call
| the activation place again and explain he could not get a replacement
| motherboard from emachine and had to get it from somewhere else.
| This info was from an MSFT
|
| Greg Ro

 

[kurttrail]

Thanks to everyone for your input.

And who the f*#k do you think you are to close a thread?

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Howdy All,

Looking for some advice on how to handle this situation.

I have an emachine PC and the power supply and motherboard died.

I replace the power supply and motherboard.

Now when I boot, windows wants to be activated.

I called emachines, they tell me that I need to buy another retail version
of Windows since the motherboard is different than the original.

I call Microsoft and they tell me to contact manufacturer and the MS can not
help me.

Any ideas on what to do? (besides buy windows again)

Either get the replacement motherboard from eMachines, or buy a new
license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

I replied to the statement about support - the reply was correct. It
doesn't make any difference if emachines provides a board or not. E-
Machines COULD provide the OP with a key if they wanted to - and that is
permissible under the Systems Builders Agreement (and documented under
the agreement also).

If the OP replaced the board without e-machines permission, then he's on
his own - this part was not clear in his post.

That is eMachines choice, NOT the OP's! The OP did NOT have a choice.
The end user is NOT bound by the terms of the "Systems Builders
Agreement" and unless one IS an OEM that has privvy to the password
protected "Systems Builders Agreement", how the hell could he/she even
know about it? All these people know is they paid good moeny for a
computer and an OS and now they are screwed. Not only do they have to
buy a new MB to repair the computer they also have to buy a new OS to
install on it. It's a ludicrous situation and should not exist in the
first place.

Steve

 

[Leythos]

Your incorrect. A motherboard can be replaced. If it not available
from the original oem and microsoft will allow this. He need to call
the activation place again and explain he could not get a replacement
motherboard from emachine and had to get it from somewhere else.
This info was from an MSFT

Yes, sort of, the OEM is responsible for the new activation. The OEM
must agree to replace the board with a DIFFERENT board under warranty.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Where in my original reply did I ever mention "Retail"?

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Technically, Carey is wrong. You can buy an oem copy because if
| Microsoft consider it New computer by replacing a motherboard than you
| are considered a system builder since you replace the motherboard.
|
|
| Carey,
| He did not want to buy a retail copy. He possible spent a lot of
| money already on Power Supply and a motherboard. He possible can not
| afford to buy a retail copy.
|
| Greg Ro

 

[GregRo]

Carey Frisch [MVP] says...


Just a technical question about this. I believe the
actual key is in the bios. Could you save a copy of your
bios when you buy the computer, and then flash that copy to
the replacement motherboard (assuming it's the same model)
if you ever need to replace it. Are there utilities that
copy the bios to a file?

Then you could buy the motherboard anywhere. Ebay. Whatever.

One other point about this. Even if the mobo manufacturer
has an updated bios with bug fixes, etc., you can't flash
it. You have to get all bios updates from the OEM to maintain
your authentication. Is that right?

Peabody
See the original thread called "Windows XP Home activation -
emachine"

You can also try the key fix.

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/computertips/key.html


Greg Ro

 

[D.Currie]

Yes, Alias, they are cheap.

I am working on this one for a friend.

I build my own PCs.

I'm not sure what 'cracked' version means, but if it means 'pirated' then
no, I don't wish to use that.
I merely want to use the license I rightfully purchased when the machine
was bought.

You rightfully purchased a crippled, short-term emachines version of XP
which isn't worth much, and you didn't really pay much for it, either. If it
lasted as long as the warranty, that's about all it was worth, anyway.
Seriously, you haven't lost much.

People look at what retail or generic oem versions of XP cost, and they
think that's what they've paid for their preinstalled os, but really, it's a
cheap, cheap version which is why it has so many annoying restrictions.

 

[Michael Stevens]

It already may be too late, but try calling MS's PA phone line and don't
mention the crap about the mobo, power supply . . . . Tell them you built
your own slipstreamed SP2 copy of XP, and used your PK with it and you now
you need to activate.

You should actually learn how to create a slipstreamed version of a SP2
CD. Don't know how. Google.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

eMachines only supplies restore disks, he can't make a slipstreamed CD.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm