OEM Licensing

[Michael Stevens]

In

I recently had a case like that. The customer brought in a eMachine
to be fixed. Troubleshooted the machine and found that the
motherboard is bad, Replaced the motherboard and when I started the
computer, it said that I have to activate the XP. Called the
activation line and I could not activate it because of an invalid
instalation id. Talked to microsoft tech support and they tell me
that I hava a valid product key, but I need to talk to eMachine
manufacturer in order to solve my activation problem.
Talked to the customer first. Customer does not undestand the problem
we are having. Customer said it paid for the license, and microsoft
said that it is a valid product key. But the eMachine refuses to
solve the problem.
In my opinion it is Microsoft fault, because Microsoft allowed and
sold licenses for OEM. The old motherbord is dead, dead. iti will
never be used. customer paid money for the license, and microsoft is
responsable for that, If microsoft does not rezolve the issues, than
microsoft is not a honest company. Ultimately XP is a microsoft
product.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

I recently had a case like that. The customer brought in a eMachine
to be fixed. Troubleshooted the machine and found that the
motherboard is bad, Replaced the motherboard and when I started the
computer, it said that I have to activate the XP. Called the
activation line and I could not activate it because of an invalid
instalation id. Talked to microsoft tech support and they tell me
that I hava a valid product key, but I need to talk to eMachine
manufacturer in order to solve my activation problem.
Talked to the customer first. Customer does not undestand the problem
we are having. Customer said it paid for the license, and microsoft
said that it is a valid product key. But the eMachine refuses to
solve the problem.
In my opinion it is Microsoft fault, because Microsoft allowed and
sold licenses for OEM. The old motherbord is dead, dead. iti will
never be used. customer paid money for the license, and microsoft is
responsable for that, If microsoft does not rezolve the issues, than
microsoft is not a honest company. Ultimately XP is a microsoft
product.

The customer purchased a eMachines computer with a highly discounted OEM XP
license. eMachines sells systems at rock bottom prices and will not support
systems that have non-eMachines upgraded hardware. Reduced support costs are
one of the ways they cut costs to the consumer.
As a computer technician, you should have known this would happen and
explained it to the customer BEFORE replacing the motherboard with a
non-eMachines replacement.
You could have offered them the options of using an approved eMachines
motherboard that would have been approved for activation, or use a
non-approved motherboard and purchase a new XP license and any software
needed that was included in the original eMachine bundle, but no longer
available from the restore media.
Both options would probably be close to the same cost.
Or as my brother who is an avid eMachines fan <sigh> would do, just buy a
new eMachines for not much more than the other options.
Or as a technician you could install a Linux distro at no cost for the OS
license. The learning curve might be a bit extreme, but you get what you pay
for.
You need to research OEM licensing and Microsoft licensing in general before
laying the blame for your lack of knowledge on the subject. You owe this to
your customers to know licensing restrictions and what options are
available.
--
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

 

[Uncle Joe]

It seems to me that because you installed a non-eMachines
motherboard--thereby invalidating the customer's OEM
license--that the least your firm could do is give the
customer a generic OEM license. He/she shouldn't be
held liable for your mistake in not taking the non-eMachines
motherboard/license issue into consideration when you sold
it to the customer. This would be the right thing to do.

 

[Plato]

I recently had a case like that. The customer brought in a eMachine to be
fixed. Troubleshooted the machine and found that the motherboard is bad,
Replaced the motherboard and when I started the computer, it said that I have
to activate the XP. Called the activation line and I could not activate it
because of an invalid instalation id. Talked to microsoft tech support and

Right. You now need to buy a new cd and key. The old key was mated with
the old mobo, that's why it was cheap to buy when new.

 

[Apee]

Not for sure if this is right place to ask my question, but it pertains to
OEM Licensing. BTW Jim you seem to really know your stuff. I have built a
few computers. Right now I have a computer that was self built running a
legal copy of Windows XP Home OEM. I have another self built pc running a
different legal copy of XP Home OEM. I would like to network these 2
computers with a wireless network. The question is can I upgrade one of
these 2 machines with a legal copy of XP Pro? I would prefer to do an
upgrade so I don't lose data or spend mind numbing hours reinstalling stuff.
I have heard yes and no answers on this so I thought I would try this site.

 

[David B.]

The answer is yes, you can use an XP Pro upgrade disk on an OEM XP Home
installation.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Not for sure if this is right place to ask my question, but it pertains to
OEM Licensing. BTW Jim you seem to really know your stuff. I have built a
few computers. Right now I have a computer that was self built running a
legal copy of Windows XP Home OEM. I have another self built pc running a
different legal copy of XP Home OEM. I would like to network these 2
computers with a wireless network. The question is can I upgrade one of
these 2 machines with a legal copy of XP Pro?

You do realize that you don't actually *need* to upgrade the OS for
this purpose, though, don't you?

I would prefer to do an
upgrade so I don't lose data or spend mind numbing hours reinstalling stuff.
I have heard yes and no answers on this so I thought I would try this site.

Yes, certainly you could use an Upgrade license (1 per computer, of
course) to upgrade from WinXP Home to WinXP Pro.

WinXP is designed to install and upgrade the existing operating system
while simultaneously preserving your applications and data, and
translating as many personalized settings as possible. The process is
designed to be, and normally is, quite painless. That said, things can
go wrong, in a small number of cases. If your data is at all important
to you, back it up before proceeding.

Normally, the upgrade from WinXP Home to WinXP Pro, in particular,
almost always goes smoothly, as both operating systems use the same kernel.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Not for sure if this is right place to ask my question, but it pertains to
OEM Licensing. BTW Jim you seem to really know your stuff. I have built a
few computers. Right now I have a computer that was self built running a
legal copy of Windows XP Home OEM. I have another self built pc running a
different legal copy of XP Home OEM. I would like to network these 2
computers with a wireless network. The question is can I upgrade one of
these 2 machines with a legal copy of XP Pro?

The question is, why would you do this?

XP Pro will give you networking features that are completely unnecessary and
irrelevant to the context you describe. You won't be creating a domain.

Yes, it will work, and yes, it will be a waste of time and money.

HTH
-pk