Installing XP, Activation, Product Key, etc

[Peter]

Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please.

This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it.
Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any
virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's.
So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed
it & its all working great (much better than my Win98).

But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this.
I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to
re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this
area).

Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the
computer is still useable on the Acer Computer?

I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used
limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board).


Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key
on the side of the Acer Computer.

Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I
have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for
6 months now - has Win 98 on it)?


If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other
computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now
& can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people seem
to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the
Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would
it work for me?

I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm
doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer
computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please
guide me on the right path.

Peter.

 

[duke]

Okay, I think I understand your questions:

If you have NOT yet activated the new XP version with Microsoft, for
all intent and purposes Microsoft is not aware of your installation.
The activation process when completed, associates the 25 character
product key that YOU ENTERED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, with several
hardware identities, and the resultant hash is stored in Microsoft's
database.
If you want to go back to the old Product Key that is stuck to the
case of the computer, you will have to reinstall XP again, this time
enter the old product key on the case so that the hash generated will
be based on the old product key.

Any subsequent reinstall of the same product key will attempt to
associate the hardware identities to generate the same hash as is
stored in their database. If there is a mismatch, it would indicate
that some/all of the components have been changed, therefore the
reactivation MIGHT NOT be allowed, as it could be concluded that an
attempt is being made to install it on another computer which violates
the purchase agreement.
Note that I said "might not be allowed" as the process is designed to
allow some changes to occur as replacing / adding components (ex: disk
drives, network cards etc.) is quite common. Should a legal automated
activation process fail, you can still call Microsoft to plead your
case.

Hope this helps

 

[Peter]

Hi Duke, Thanks for your speedy reply.

I can see now I've asked to many questions at once.

I have activated the New WinXP Home & am using it now. At that time I didn't
know about the Original Product Key on the side of my computer. I have learnt
alot since then. Looks like I've learnt the hard way.

Peter.

 

[Peter]

Hi Duke, Before I remove the New WinXP Home I installed & validated. I need
to make sure the Original Product Key will work that was is on the side on
the computer. Else I may dig a bigger hole to bury myself in the saga of my
ignorance. Thanks Peter.

 

[Keith W]

Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer.
please.

This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it.
Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any
virus's, etc. I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing,
Activation's.
So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I've
installed
it & its all working great (much better than my Win98).

But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do
this.
I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to
re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in
this
area).

Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the
computer is still useable on the Acer Computer?

I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used
limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board).


Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product
Key
on the side of the Acer Computer.

Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I
have on this computer now on another computer(that's not been not working
for
6 months now - has Win 98 on it)?


If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other
computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer
now
& can't be De-activated. What about in the other newsgroups some people
seem
to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the
Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation.
Would
it work for me?

I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm
doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer
computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought.
Please
guide me on the right path.

In similar circumstances I have carried out the following successfully.

First I changed the CD Key I had used on one PC to another (still valid) key
using a small free utility called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which I got
from http://www.magicaljellybean.com . This avoided the problem of having
to reinstall Windows from scratch. I then installed my OEM version onto
another PC and it activated with no problems. I have read on another group
that when you purchase an OEM disk you effectively become the manufacturer
and it is your decision as to when the PC becomes a different PC. Mine was
still the original PC case with everything inside replaced and I decided
that this constituted an upgrade to the original machine. I would stress
that, like you, I had paid for and had the legal title to both CD Keys but
needed to move them around. I suggest you give it a try and see what
happens.

 

[Peter]

Hi Keith, I'm wondering were any of your Xp versions validated before you did
the change over. Thanks, Peter.

 

[dadiOH]

Hi Duke, Thanks for your speedy reply.

I can see now I've asked to many questions at once.

I have activated the New WinXP Home & am using it now. At that time I
didn't know about the Original Product Key on the side of my
computer. I have learnt alot since then. Looks like I've learnt the
hard way.

It is only "OEM" (original equipment manufacturer) flavors of XP that are
tied to a specific computer; therefore, you can use the "original product
key" and the install CD for it on your other computer as long as that
install CD is not OEM.

If both of your install CDs are OEM then I would call Microsoft, explain
your problem and see if they will let you install your recently purchased
XP-OEM on your old computer. I'm guessing they will since you have two
legal copies and messed up because of naivete. If they do, use your
original XP on the computer on which it was originally installed and your
new OEM XP on the other computer.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi All, This is my first Question/s ever, so be nice to a first timer. please.

This is my story. I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it.
Acer Veriton 5500. I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any
virus's, etc.

Good. That's the best thing to do with a used computer.

I didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's.
So I bought another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I’ve installed
it & its all working great (much better than my Win98).

But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this.
I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to
re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this
area).

Yes, you could have.

Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the
computer is still useable on the Acer Computer?

There's no need to "find out." Yes, it's still usable. It's usable on
that computer forever.

I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used
limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board).

No, it can be used limitlessly as long as it's on that original
computer. Hardware changes *are* permitted. Only a move to a different
computer is forbidden.

Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key
on the side of the Acer Computer.

Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I
have on this computer now on another computer(that’s not been not working for
6 months now - has Win 98 on it)?

No. The biggest disadvantage of the OEM CD you bought is that its
license ties it permanently to the original computer it's installed on
and it may never be moved to another. That's the reason I almost
always recommend a Retail Upgrade copy instead, which usually costs
only slightly more than an OEM copy, can be moved to another computer
as desired, and *can* do a clean installation (despite what many
people think) as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying
version (such as Windows 98) to show it when installing.

If you say that I "can't" use my newly bought WinXp Home CD on the other
computer. If the reason be because it's locked to the Acer 5500 computer now
& can't be De-activated.

Yes.


What about in the other newsgroups some people seem
to say something about "if I don't activate for 120 days" I can use the
Product Key again, etc. Please explain the 120 days without activation. Would
it work for me?

Are you asking about whether you can get away with violating the rules
in the EULA? Yes, there are people who have gotten away with doing so.
That doesn't change the fact that what you are suggesting is against
the rules. Some people get away with driving through red lights, too,
but that doesn't make it legal to do so.

I believe I've stuffed up. Is there any way out of this. I don't think I'm
doing anything illegal - I have the original product key on the Acer
computer. I've paid for the right to use the WinXp Home Cd I bought. Please
guide me on the right path.

You've paid for the right to use the CD you bought, but your right is
only to use it in accordance with the terms of the EULA. What you
propose, unfortunately, is in violation of those terms.

 

[N. Miller]

I bought a second hand computer with WinXp Home on it. Acer Veriton 5500.
I wiped the Hard Drive clean because I didn't want any virus's, etc. I
didn't understand to much about Re-Installing, Activation's. So I bought
another WinXp Home SP1 OEM Cd brand new(unused). I¢ve installed it & its
all working great (much better than my Win98).

But I believe I've read in your newsgroups that I didn't "need" to do this.
I could have used the Product Key that was on the side of my computer to
re-install Wimp Home with the Cod they gave me. (I know I'm real dumb in this
area).

Is there a way to find out over the net if my Original Product Key on the
computer is still useable on the Acer Computer?

I believe in principal your laws seem to say the Product Key can be used
limitlessly if no hardware changes (i.e. Mother Board).

I am not sure about "over the 'net". You probably need to call the Microsoft
number for product activations; alas, I've never needed to phone in a
product activation, so I don't know that number.

Future Questions if the answer is "Yes" - I can use the Original Product Key
on the side of the Acer Computer.

Would this allow me to use the existing WinXp Home (I bought new) that I
have on this computer now on another computer(that¢s not been not working for
6 months now - has Win 98 on it)?

AIUI, the OEM license stays with the computer, so you should be able to use
the product key on the side of the Acer case. However, your activation of
the retail box version has created a situation where you will almost
certainly have to contact Microsoft by telephone.

The way I would approach it is to call their product activation number
(assuming I could find it), and explain that I have an OEM license for the
Acer, and another computer. And that I want to apply the OEM product key
from the Acer for the OS on the Acer, and the retail box product key for the
other computer. I'd try calling first and running it by Microsoft, just to
be sure. But I don't see why you couldn't apply the OEM product key to the
Windows XP installation on the Acer, and the retail box product key to the
Windows XP installation on the other computer.

These links might prove useful:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302806
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457054.aspx

 

[Keith W]

Yes they had been. In fact one had been activated only a couple of months
earlier because I had set up a dual boot PC (500mhz) for my wife booting
into Win XP or Win 98 (for her older games) but it was too slow so I
switched it for my backup machine which was faster but I used her OEM copy
of XP for it and it activated with no problem. Come to think of it, my
earlier statement about the computer case was wrong as well because I
finished up switching the two PCs. Like I said, give it a whirl. If your
Dell accepts the old CD key you are no worse off than now and after that I
would be very surprised if you could not install your OEM copy on another
machine with no difficulty. Incidentally, the old machine happily
validated on the copy of XP that had been on the backup one. Don't ask me
why I switched the copies over, I think that because I had to do a full
install on my wife's machine to get the dual boot I automatically used her
copy.