Pre Installed XP Home on HP Computer

[Ron Martell]

There is a tremendous consensus that the consumer should be more than happy
to pay for the disk, as you suggest. Not sure about eMachines having a disk,
but offering a disk is no longer the default (Dell still does, and the disk
is not customized to the Dell hardware...yet).

I believe that the Dell OEM CDs are "customized" to the Dell hardware,
at least to the extent that asof March 1st they cannot be used on
anything else but Dell machines.

The Dell OEM versions are "BIOS Locked" which means they are
self-activating and do not require online or telephone activation from
Microsoft so long as the motherboard BIOS is the correct Dell version.

However if they are used on a different motherboard (e.g. a non-Dell
machine or a Dell machine where the motherboard has been replaced by
another brand) then they will not self-activate because the BIOS is
wrong, and will require activation via the Internet. And as of March
1st Microsoft has changed the activation process so that these BIOS
locked OEM versions will no longer be able to be activated over the
Internet, and manual activation by telephone will only be done if the
original motherboard has failed and has been replaced by Dell.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[T. Waters]

Thanks for the unhappy news.
There may be a moral here.

 

[kurttrail]

I believe that the Dell OEM CDs are "customized" to the Dell hardware,
at least to the extent that asof March 1st they cannot be used on
anything else but Dell machines.

The Dell OEM versions are "BIOS Locked" which means they are
self-activating and do not require online or telephone activation from
Microsoft so long as the motherboard BIOS is the correct Dell version.

However if they are used on a different motherboard (e.g. a non-Dell
machine or a Dell machine where the motherboard has been replaced by
another brand) then they will not self-activate because the BIOS is
wrong, and will require activation via the Internet. And as of March
1st Microsoft has changed the activation process so that these BIOS
locked OEM versions will no longer be able to be activated over the
Internet, and manual activation by telephone will only be done if the
original motherboard has failed and has been replaced by Dell.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2005/02/22/changes-in-windows-xp-product-activation

Look at comments #59 & 60.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Dennis M. Marks]

Your statement does not make sense. Does that mean that when Microsoft comes
out with an updated operating system that it will not work on a Compaq?

I thought that all new computers came with an OEM Windows XP. Does that
means that nothing can be updated?

 

[T. Waters]

You are right. My statement is poorly organized. I just meant to say that
what the OP wanted to do would not be possible.
The part about the uniquely configured OS was to show that a disk from MS
would not be an exact replica of the OS on the computer.
With respect to upgradability of a proprietary XP OEM, I am pondering that
right now and hope someone knowledgeable will weigh in on this. If there is
no qualifying media to show during the upgrade process, how can an upgrade
proceed?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I thought that all new computers came with an OEM Windows XP.

No. Just about all the computers built by the major OEMs do, but
you can always get a custom-built computer from a local vendor.
If you do, you can get any operating system you want on it, or
none at all. If you get it with Windows, you can specify a retail
copy, if that's what you want and are willing to pay extra for
it.

And then of course, there are Macintoshes. ;-)

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You do not need media to upgrade if the previous version is already
installed.
You only need qualifying media if you are performing a Clean Installation.
Some OEM CDs have been incapable of performing as qualifying media because
the way the manufacturers made them.
That is their choice on behalf of their customers and is not set by
Microsoft.
If people have a problem with recovery methods provided, they need to
contact the manufacturers.
These groups may be a good place to start but if that is all, the message is
unlikely to get to the ones capable of acting on it.

 

[Ron Martell]

http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2005/02/22/changes-in-windows-xp-product-activation

Look at comments #59 & 60.

Interesting.

Thanks


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[T. Waters]

"If people have a problem with recovery methods provided, they need to
contact the manufacturers."
Or vote with their credit cards next time they need a computer.
I fear that the vast majority of customers are not proactive enough even for
that.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

As far as voting with credit cards.
It is also important to let the manufacturer you did not choose exactly why
their competitor is getting your $.

You are probably correct.
And that is the reason this inexpensive system may be here to stay.