Non-branded XP Pro OEM cd?

[Ben1985]

Hello!
I work for a company which deals with support contracts for many schools.
One of the issues we have is when these PC's need reformatting and the old
CD's have been lost. Does Microsoft sell XP Pro OEM cd's which aren't
manufacturer locked and don't come with a licence, I'm getting sick of trying
to get individual CD's for each manchine.

Thanks!

 

[DL]

Generic OEM cd's are avilable, but I believe you would have to source from
your software supplier

 

[Ben1985]

Our supplier doesn't provide them.
Doesn anyone know where I can buy one in the UK WITHOUT having to buy a
licence?

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Quote from Microsoft:

If the refurbisher does not have the original recovery media, they may be able
to obtain the recovery media from the original manufacturer of that PC.

A new Windows license is required for a refurbished PC if:
The refurbisher cannot obtain the original recovery media,

or

The PC does not have a hard-disk based recovery image.
In this case, the refurbisher must purchase a new license in order to deliver
a genuine Windows operating system experience with the refurbished PC.

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-gb

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

:

Hello!
I work for a company which deals with support contracts for many schools.
One of the issues we have is when these PC's need reformatting and the old
CD's have been lost. Does Microsoft sell XP Pro OEM cd's which aren't
manufacturer locked and don't come with a licence, I'm getting sick of trying
to get individual CD's for each manchine.

Thanks!

 

[DL]

A visit to your local friendly PC repair shop, thats where I got mine - FOC

 

[Donald Newcomb]

Hello!
I work for a company which deals with support contracts for many schools.
One of the issues we have is when these PC's need reformatting and the old
CD's have been lost. Does Microsoft sell XP Pro OEM cd's which aren't
manufacturer locked and don't come with a licence, I'm getting sick of
trying
to get individual CD's for each manchine.

I think it depends on the OEM setup. For instance some IBM XP CDs will work
for many different models of IBM PC. Similar thing for Dell. But I think
the way the licensing works the CDs are keyed generally to the ID chips of a
group of computers that were all licensed for a particular version of XP.
This way you can't use a retail XP Pro disk with an IBM or Dell license key
and vice versa. You can pick up media everywhere. The trick is finding the
media that works with the key on the sticker on the machine.

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Quote from Microsoft:

If the refurbisher does not have the original recovery media, they may be able
to obtain the recovery media from the original manufacturer of that PC.

A new Windows license is required for a refurbished PC if:
The refurbisher cannot obtain the original recovery media,

or

The PC does not have a hard-disk based recovery image.
In this case, the refurbisher must purchase a new license in order to deliver
a genuine Windows operating system experience with the refurbished PC.

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-gb

i.e., "Microsoft does NOT sell installation disks without a license of
some sort."

Those who do sell such disks are doing it CONTRARY to Microsoft's
EULA, since a license for XP or Vista includes the following:
1) The original installation media.
2) The COA supplied with the media (Certificate of Authenticity).

If EITHER are missing, there is NO authentic license for Windows.

Now, if you need more than a single seat, you may purchase a Volume
License for the number of seats you need (at least 5, by the way),
which will contain a single installation key for them all, which
should help to uncomplicate matters to a large degree. This license
may be installed and administered from a single location via a
network, and usually is.


--
Donald L McDaniel

How can so many otherwise very intelligent people screw up
something so simple so badly? If you stick a computer
keyboard in front of most people, they'll suddenly drop
30 points off their IQs. Much like placing a "Pork Barrel"
bill in front of a politician: He'll forget all about
"cooperation" the minute he counts the zeroes before the
decimal point.

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Hello!
I work for a company which deals with support contracts for many schools.
One of the issues we have is when these PC's need reformatting and the old
CD's have been lost. Does Microsoft sell XP Pro OEM cd's which aren't
manufacturer locked and don't come with a licence, I'm getting sick of trying
to get individual CD's for each manchine.

Thanks!

In answer to your question:

Microsoft does NOT sell (or allow to be distributed) Windows
installation media which does NOT accompany a license. PERIOD.

Therefore, ANYONE who DOES sell or distribute such media is VIOLATING
the Microsoft OEM Licensing Agreement.

By the way, there is no such thing as an "unbranded" OEM CD.

What you are referring to WOULD be branded, since only Microsoft
produces such CDs, and they are ALL branded with the Microsoft
branding.


A possible solution for you:

Rather than trying to keep CDs and licenses in the same place
physically, just keep a single copy of the CD, and put the CD keys in
a database, with each key related to a physical machine.

Of course, this will not be possible if all of your machines are not
identical models.

Which is why I suggest purchasing a Multiple-seat license (Windows
Volume license.)

Contact Windows Licensing to find out more.


--
Donald L McDaniel

How can so many otherwise very intelligent people screw up
something so simple so badly? If you stick a computer
keyboard in front of most people, they'll suddenly drop
30 points off their IQs. Much like placing a "Pork Barrel"
bill in front of a politician: He'll forget all about
"cooperation" the minute he counts the zeroes before the
decimal point.

 

[C9R Inc]

Yes. Microsoft does resell CD's through distributors then through resellers
without licenses. You are legally required to have a license first OR at the
time of purchase, but you can buy a CD separately usually for less than $30.

There are "unbranded" OEM licenses, however the local pc builders, i.e.,
www.localpcbuilder.com, are requried to brand the PC's before selling. Their
OEM CD's will work with each others assuming the SKU's match the license on
the computer. Those OEM CD's do NOT generally work with large resellers such
as DELL and HP.

The local PC builders provide a CD with the purchase of the license and
system. It can be quite a pain, but unfortunately people pirating software
has required more strigent requirements.

Matthew