License Keys

  • Thread starter Thread starter mcp6453
  • Start date Start date
M

mcp6453

I have three IBM computers that came with Win2K installed, probably on a
hidden recovery partition. Each computer has a sticker on it
representing a valid license. While I have several Win2K disks, none of
them accepts the keys from the stickers. Do I need to continue looking
for a version of the CD that will accept the key number or can I
legally install the OS using any disk with a working key? So long as I
have valid licenses, which I do, does it matter which key I use to do
the installation?
 
mcp6453 said:
I have three IBM computers that came with Win2K installed, probably on a
hidden recovery partition. Each computer has a sticker on it
representing a valid license. While I have several Win2K disks, none of
them accepts the keys from the stickers. Do I need to continue looking
for a version of the CD that will accept the key number or can I
legally install the OS using any disk with a working key? So long as I
have valid licenses, which I do, does it matter which key I use to do
the installation?
Click to expand...

For Win2K, no it doesn't matter. This is not the case with
WinXP, just FYI.

Rick
 
Greetings --

Product Keys are bound to the specific type of CD/license (OEM,
Volume, retail, full, or upgrade) with which they are purchased. For
example, a Win2K OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of Win2K, or for any version of Win2K Server, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version
CD, and vice versa. They cannot be mixed & matched.


Bruce Chambers
 
Bruce said:
Greetings --

Product Keys are bound to the specific type of CD/license (OEM,
Volume, retail, full, or upgrade) with which they are purchased. For
example, a Win2K OEM Product Key won't work for any retail
version of Win2K, or for any version of Win2K Server, and vice
versa. An upgrade's Product Key cannot be used with a full version
CD, and vice versa. They cannot be mixed & matched.

Bruce Chambers
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bruce. I undertand and agree. My question is, if a computer
ships with a valid Win2K license but without full install disk (relying
on the hidden partition), is it a license violation to reinstall the OS
from a disk with a different product key? I hope the answer is "yes"
because asking someone to purchase a second license for lack of an
install media is not viable. My take is that so long as there is a valid
COA, the installation media is irrelevant.
 
Greetings --

I don't see how using another OEM disk to perform an installation
using a legitimate OEM Product Key could be a problem. It's no
different, in essence, than using a copied back-up CD in place of a
damaged original. And copyright law clearly permits the creation and
use of back-up media.

You might have a problem, however, obtaining any necessary
proprietary device drivers if the PC's manufacturer declines to
provide them in any manner other than via the Recovery partition.
However, I think the odds of this happening will be slight.


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
 
Bruce Chambers said:
I don't see how using another OEM disk to perform an installation
using a legitimate OEM Product Key could be a problem.
Click to expand...

That's not what he's trying to do. He's taking a machine with (say) a
retail key, and a holographic sticker on the side of the machine, with
a valid retail key, and trying to reinstall Win2K. However, he has
only (say) the MSDN disks, which won't accept the retail key. He's
asking if it's OK to install it using his MSDN key.

I guess the real question is: Is the valid license key the one on the
sticker or the one buried in the hard disk?
 
Greetings --

If the Product Key is on a label affixed to the computer, then he
has an OEM license, not a retail 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
 
Bruce Chambers said:
If the Product Key is on a label affixed to the computer, then he
has an OEM license, not a retail license.
Click to expand...

Sorry, thought you could generalize. Never mind.
 
My laptop has a holographic sticker attached to it, but I can not use that
key. Anytime I restore it uses the key in the restore image that came with
the laptop.
Does this mean I don't have a license to use my OS?
Bruce Chambers said:
Greetings --

If the Product Key is on a label affixed to the computer, then he
has an OEM license, not a retail 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
Click to expand...
 
Greetings --

No, it doesn't mean that, all. You have a valid license. It's
just that the computer's manufacturer has designed the Recovery CD so
that you don't need to enter the Product Key. Were you to attempt an
installation with a generic OEM CD, the key would most likely work.
Were you to attempt to use the Recovery CD on any machine other than
the one for which it was designed, it would also ask for the Product
Key; it would then attempt, and most likely fail, to activate.

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
 
Back
Top