Laptop Stolen - report XP key?

[Justin]

I tried Google but I got a few conflicting answers from people who don't
have a clue. SO I figure I should ask this question on Usenet where
everybody knows everything.

Some sales reps went out to a tradeshow, had a laptop in a CASE, closed
and it was stolen overnight.
It was running XP. Is there a way to flag that install preventing
further updates or making it look like it was pirated?
I'm guessing the answer is no.

 

[Mike Torello]

I tried Google but I got a few conflicting answers from people who don't
have a clue. SO I figure I should ask this question on Usenet where
everybody knows everything.

Some sales reps went out to a tradeshow, had a laptop in a CASE, closed
and it was stolen overnight.
It was running XP. Is there a way to flag that install preventing
further updates or making it look like it was pirated?
I'm guessing the answer is no.

Great guess.

 

[nass]

I tried Google but I got a few conflicting answers from people who don't
have a clue. SO I figure I should ask this question on Usenet where
everybody knows everything.

Some sales reps went out to a tradeshow, had a laptop in a CASE, closed
and it was stolen overnight.
It was running XP. Is there a way to flag that install preventing
further updates or making it look like it was pirated?
I'm guessing the answer is no.

Hi,
I will flag the sales reps as Unvalid and part out. It is their
responsability to look after their equipements which belong to the Co.

If you don't have a remote access to this machine, you can't do that I'm
afraid.

If you do have access ( if the thief used or anyone else to connect to the
Int) and afraid that the thief will see the data, you can easly issue a
formate/wipe out this machine remotely.
HTH,
nass

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I tried Google but I got a few conflicting answers from people who don't
have a clue. SO I figure I should ask this question on Usenet where
everybody knows everything.

Some sales reps went out to a tradeshow, had a laptop in a CASE, closed
and it was stolen overnight.
It was running XP. Is there a way to flag that install preventing further
updates or making it look like it was pirated?
I'm guessing the answer is no.

My guess is that whoever took the machine was more interested in the
hardware than the OS. A reformat and re-install at leisure would see an end
to the keycode in use..

 

[Bob I]

My guess is that whoever took the machine was more interested in the
hardware than the OS. A reformat and re-install at leisure would see an
end to the keycode in use..

The OEM sticker is likely still on the case. The question exists as to
"what keycode" was in use.

 

[Justin]

My guess is that whoever took the machine was more interested in the
hardware than the OS. A reformat and re-install at leisure would see an
end to the keycode in use..

Right, that I understand.
What about the Windows key printed on the bottom of the machine? Why
can't that be flagged? I remember about five years ago when that
"corporate license" number got out people who used it weren't able to
run the updates - that install key was flagged. I'm guessing while this
is technically possible it is MS's policy not to flag individual install
keys.
Until the government tells them to.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Right, that I understand.
What about the Windows key printed on the bottom of the machine? Why
can't that be flagged? I remember about five years ago when that
"corporate license" number got out people who used it weren't able to
run the updates - that install key was flagged. I'm guessing while
this is technically possible it is MS's policy not to flag individual
install keys.
Until the government tells them to.

No. You're out of luck. Don't even pursue this line of thinking - it's a
complete waste of your time. In the future you'll want to make sure your
reps take greater care, and that you use encryption so that an unauthorized
user can't get any sensitive data.

 

[Max Goldman]

What about the Windows key printed on the bottom of the machine? Why
can't that be flagged?

Because there is NO mechanism set up for "flagging" it.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Right, that I understand.
What about the Windows key printed on the bottom of the machine? Why
can't that be flagged? I remember about five years ago when that
"corporate license" number got out people who used it weren't able to run
the updates - that install key was flagged. I'm guessing while this is
technically possible it is MS's policy not to flag individual install
keys.
Until the government tells them to.

Guys

The keycode is printed on a REMOVABLE sticker which can be replaced with a
sticker from an new OEM XP pack..

 

[Leroy]

No. That would be like notifying your bank that the money
in your wallet was stolen along with the wallet.

The Windows XP license was also stolen and can no longer
be used by you or anyone else.

 

[Bob I]

Correction, the OEM Windows XP license was also stolen and can no longer
be used by you, as you don't have the PC the license is licensed for use on.

 

[db]

what you should do
is to report it stolen
to the police and give
them the serial number
of the machine.

also, contact the seller
because they always
ask for the serial number
of the laptop whenever
they get a call for assistance.

subsequently, ensure the
machines have passwords
set at the bios level for
setup, booting and hard
disk and another for the
windows login.

I think ibm machines scan
thumb prints to ensure
security.

also, you might want to
purchase a lojack type
service, where the stolen
machine can be tracked
down when it connects to
the internet.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Justin]

Because there is NO mechanism set up for "flagging" it.

Theoretically, would Microsoft be able to do that?
The magic key we enter during the install - isn't that technically
traceable?

 

[Justin]

No. You're out of luck. Don't even pursue this line of thinking - it's a
complete waste of your time. In the future you'll want to make sure your
reps take greater care, and that you use encryption so that an unauthorized
user can't get any sensitive data.

Yeah, I know. this is the second time. The laptop was only used as a
common machine everybody uses while at a tradeshow - no sensitive data
was on it.
Well, I think I may have has some Sasha Grey stuff on there, but that
can be replaced.

 

[Max Goldman]

Theoretically, would Microsoft be able to do that?

The magic key we enter during the install - isn't that technically
traceable?

Everything is "theoretically" possible. What has theory got to do
with your reality???

It's time for you to move on to something else.

 

[XP Guy]

The Windows XP license was also stolen and can no longer
be used by you or anyone else.

Wrong. The XP license is now being used by the theif, or by who-ever
bought the laptop from the theif.

 

[Justin]

Everything is "theoretically" possible. What has theory got to do
with your reality???

It's time for you to move on to something else.

Take it easy Goldberg; I'm just asking a few questions for
conversation's sake. If you don't like it nobody is forcing you to reply.

 

[Justin]

The OEM sticker is likely still on the case. The question exists as to
"what keycode" was in use.

Ah ha, so the keycode is generated via an algorithm from the number on
the COA; right?
A reformat/reinstall would change that thus making the machine appear
completely different to MS?

I'm just trying to understand how the whole COA works for curiosity's sake.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Oh yes there is. It's not for stolen systems, but this can be done when
product keys are misused or leaked. Microsoft can a stop to XP product
activation with those keys.

Theoretically, would Microsoft be able to do that?
The magic key we enter during the install - isn't that technically
traceable?

Yes, at least in some sense of the term. Your product key is reported during
product activation--if you have to go through it. (On hardware that was
bundled with Microsoft software, such as Windows XP, you might not have to
do that.) Microsoft is the only entity that can definitively answer that
question and they don't tell us everything.

I doubt very much that Microsoft can or would help you get the laptop back.
Personal experience--even if you do, you may find that it's not even a
"laptop" anymore but rather a collection of parts. These days I keep my
laptop backed up once per month, and I also carry some form of insurance on
it.

William

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Ah ha, so the keycode is generated via an algorithm from the number on the
COA; right?
A reformat/reinstall would change that thus making the machine appear
completely different to MS?

I'm just trying to understand how the whole COA works for curiosity's
sake.

When a keycode is applied and activated, MS records it.
What MS doesn't record is the name and address of the owner.

Maybe they could block the keycode to prevent it getting updates, but
whoever has the laptop could easily re-install using a different keycode
and, as I have already stated, replace the old sticker with a new one.

When Apple sells a Macbook, the serial number of the machine is recorded
against the owners name and address. If the Macbook is reported as stolen.
It can be traced, but has to have been taken to a official Mac repairer who
runs the serial number through a security check..