Product (CD) keys

[Bill Ridgeway]

The purpose of a product (CD) key is to ensure a piece of software is legal.
CDs are produced en masse so it would be impossible to make every one unique
to match its product (CD) key.

Would it, therefore, be possible to install, say, Windows XP Professional
from any Windows XP Professional CD (of the same 'type') if you had a valid
product (CD) key. I am thinking here of a (common) situation where a
computer (which has a Windows XP Professional product key sticker) has been
passed on without the Windows XP Professional CD. I am asking in respect of
the capability of doing so NOT the legality of doing so which is another
(complex) area.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[David B.]

As long as you match the version (OEM, retail, upgrade) it will work.

 

[Andrew E.]

Actually that would not work.Once one begins to install xp from xp cd,it
requires
the product key before it will install,the key data must match to the
cd,product
key data is diffrent with every cd.

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Andrew wrote <<key data is different with every cd.>> That's what I thought
should happen - especially with the number of differs on the code. Then I
queried just how do they mass produce CDs with everyone a different code?
Is the code just padded out to give the impression that everyone is
different?

Do you know as a matter of fact that everyone is different or, like me, just
assumed that?

Bill Ridgeway

 

[John John]

That's not so, Andrew. As long as the version is the same the key will
work, all cds from the same version are identical, there is nothing on
the cd to differentiate keys from one to the next.

John

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

That ties in with Andrew B's comment <<As long as you match the version
(OEM, retail, upgrade) it will work.>>

The next question is how do you identify the different versions? Windows XP
Professional and Window XP Home are always identified as such on the label.
(Is this presumption correct?) Is OEM, retail, upgrade as easy to identify?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Example: If you have a Dell computer that comes with the Dell Windows XP
OEM disk, you can use it on another Dell computer.

Is OEM, retail, upgrade as easy to identify?
:
: Thanks.
:
: Bill Ridgeway
:
: : > That's not so, Andrew. As long as the version is the same the key will
: > work, all cds from the same version are identical, there is nothing on
the
: > cd to differentiate keys from one to the next.
: >
: > John
: >
: > Andrew E. wrote:
: >
: >> Actually that would not work.Once one begins to install xp from xp
: >> cd,it requires
: >> the product key before it will install,the key data must match to the
: >> cd,product
: >> key data is diffrent with every cd.
: >>
: >> "Bill Ridgeway" wrote:
: >>
: >>
: >>>The purpose of a product (CD) key is to ensure a piece of software is
: >>>legal. CDs are produced en masse so it would be impossible to make
every
: >>>one unique to match its product (CD) key.
: >>>
: >>>Would it, therefore, be possible to install, say, Windows XP
Professional
: >>>from any Windows XP Professional CD (of the same 'type') if you had a
: >>>valid product (CD) key. I am thinking here of a (common) situation
where
: >>>a computer (which has a Windows XP Professional product key sticker)
has
: >>>been passed on without the Windows XP Professional CD. I am asking in
: >>>respect of the capability of doing so NOT the legality of doing so
which
: >>>is another (complex) area.
: >>>
: >>>Regards.
: >>>
: >>>Bill Ridgeway
: >>>
: >>>
:
:

 

[David B.]

Another clueless answer from Andrew, ignore him, he has no idea what he's
talking about.

 

[Ghostrider]

That ties in with Andrew B's comment <<As long as you match the version
(OEM, retail, upgrade) it will work.>>

The next question is how do you identify the different versions? Windows XP
Professional and Window XP Home are always identified as such on the label.
(Is this presumption correct?) Is OEM, retail, upgrade as easy to identify?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

Succinctly, the 25-alphanumeric Product Key is used to generate a Product
ID of 20 characters (or 17 numbers plus OEM for an OEM product), strung
out like this: AAAAA-BBB-CCCCCCC-DDDDD. "BBB" may be numeric or "OEM".
"AAAAA" identifies the specific product.

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Succinctly, the 25-alphanumeric Product Key is used to generate a Product
ID of 20 characters (or 17 numbers plus OEM for an OEM product), strung
out like this: AAAAA-BBB-CCCCCCC-DDDDD. "BBB" may be numeric or "OEM".
"AAAAA" identifies the specific product.

Belarc Adviser (belarc.com/free_download.html) (and, no doubt, others) will
show both the Product Key and the Product ID.

I would presume that, given the occurance of Windows upgrade is low, it
could be reasonably assumed that unless you see 'OEM' it must be the retail
version. However, it is unsafe to assume so how do you identify a retail
version and an upgrade version please.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[GHalleck]

Belarc Adviser (belarc.com/free_download.html) (and, no doubt, others) will
show both the Product Key and the Product ID.

I would presume that, given the occurance of Windows upgrade is low, it
could be reasonably assumed that unless you see 'OEM' it must be the retail
version. However, it is unsafe to assume so how do you identify a retail
version and an upgrade version please.

Bill Ridgeway

The differentiation is in the 5-digit product code that heads the
20-digit ProductID. How does one identify it on the cdrom? The
cdrom will have different SKU numbers. Somewhere in the Microsoft
website is a key for all of the different releases of Microsoft
Windows XP.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

.....,the key data must match to the
cd,product
key data is diffrent with every cd.

Wrong, as usual.


--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Andrew wrote <<key data is different with every cd.>> That's what I thought
should happen - especially with the number of differs on the code. Then I
queried just how do they mass produce CDs with everyone a different code?
Is the code just padded out to give the impression that everyone is
different?

Do you know as a matter of fact that everyone is different or, like me, just
assumed that?

Bill Ridgeway

You can pretty much count on Andrew E. being wrong roughly 95% of the
time. (Even a broken clock is right twice a day.) Since he continues to
post incorrect information after having been corrected numerous times,
it's apparent that he's deliberately posting bad advice.

Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license
(OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased. For
example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version
of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An OEM
Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian
Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys
and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported that the Product
Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.

--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

The next question is how do you identify the different versions? Windows XP
Professional and Window XP Home are always identified as such on the label.
(Is this presumption correct?) Is OEM, retail, upgrade as easy to identify?

Yes, the CDs are labeled appropriately.

The quickest way to tell the difference between an installed OEM
license and an installed retail license is to right-click the My
Computer icon and select Properties. On the General Tab, below the
"Registered to:" information is a 20 character Product ID in the format
of 12345-678-9876543-21234. If the Product ID is all numeric, you have
a retail license. If the Product ID is something like
12345-OEM-6789876-54321, then you have an OEM license.

Another indication would be to look at the original installation
CD. Does it bear the brand of a specific computer manufacturer? Or does
it say, "For distribution with a new PC only. For product support,
contact the manufacturer of your PC?" If so, you have an OEM license.


--

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

 

[steve]

I am installing a new harddrive in my laptop and the product key comes up
invalid but i know its a legal cd, what can i do?

 

[hairdrsr1121]

I am also having trouble with my XP CD!!!! I know that it is a legal CD
because It is mine. My orginaial comnputer crashed so I had to use a older
one until I could get a new one. It had windows 98 on it so I wanted to at
least upgrade it to my XP. Now I can't even get on it because I couldn't get
it actaviated in time! The online guys couldn't help me & I could never get
in on the phone line at the right times for their office hours!!!! So now I'm
locked out altogether. I cgot sick of it & went out & bought a vista CD & it
won't even let me install it until I activate the XP that is mine to start
out with. Do you think that any of you can answer my question & do it without
fighting among yourselves? I would truly appreciate it & do need the help. I
can't seem to get it from microsoft!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!

 

[David B.]

First, you should start your own thread on your problem rather than
hijacking someone else's, second, we aren't fighting amongst ourselves,
we're making it known to anyone that reads this thread that Andrew has no
clue what he's talking about, he almost always provides bad or incorrect
info.
Have you tried activating by phone? What were the results?