retail license

[Freebie]

Hi:
I'm considering building a system for resale. Is there a way I can load and
configure my copy of windows in the machine and then when the machine sells
add in a retail copy of WinXPpro activate the retail copy with the machine?
I do not want to install or activate the retail copy until I know the
machine is going to be sold but want to have the machine set up and
configured just before the sale. How can I learn more about installing
Windows on machines for resale? Thanks.
Scott

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Welcome to the System Builder Web Site
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/default.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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:

| Hi:
| I'm considering building a system for resale. Is there a way I can load and
| configure my copy of windows in the machine and then when the machine sells
| add in a retail copy of WinXPpro activate the retail copy with the machine?
| I do not want to install or activate the retail copy until I know the
| machine is going to be sold but want to have the machine set up and
| configured just before the sale. How can I learn more about installing
| Windows on machines for resale? Thanks.
| Scott

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Hi:
I'm considering building a system for resale. Is there a way I can load
and
configure my copy of windows in the machine and then when the machine
sells
add in a retail copy of WinXPpro activate the retail copy with the
machine?
I do not want to install or activate the retail copy until I know the
machine is going to be sold but want to have the machine set up and
configured just before the sale. How can I learn more about installing
Windows on machines for resale? Thanks.
Scott

As long as the types of CD used are the same - one to build and one to sell
with it.
You can use SYSPREP and all the documentation in the deploy.cab and the
other files in the SUPPORT\TOOLS folder on the CD.
This will allow you to build the PC with media and then unroll the setup to
the point of the new user entering the product key etc.


--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Freebie]

Thanks for the info. This sounds like what I want to do. Can you clarify "As
long as the types of CD used are the same"? Are all XP Pro CDs the same?
Scott

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Thanks for the info. This sounds like what I want to do. Can you clarify
"As
long as the types of CD used are the same"? Are all XP Pro CDs the same?
Scott

As regards what you want to do there are 2 type of XP CD the OEM CD or the
retail one (big blue or green box).
If you intend to install the machine and then roll back to allow for the new
user to enter their key you must use the same media as the one you supply
the new user.


--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Freebie]

It sounds like I would have both types and have a problem. If I install the
Retail copy and don't activate it because the machine doesn't get sold will
it (the retail copy) still be one I can sell with a differently configured
machine? In otherwords, can I just install and configure the retail copy
that is going out with the machine and save activation to the last moment.
Then if the machine doesn't sell and is torn down for parts can I reinstall,
activate and resell the retail copy?

I'm a noob when it comes to resale. Any advice you have would be
appreciated. I've built systems for others but always did it with a new
retail copy for people that had pretty specific requests for special
hardware. This person doesn't know enough to know what he needs so I may
just have to buy some hardware and risk that he'll jump at it once it's
built. The hardware will recycle well to my own computer at some point but
I'm not keen on having an extra copy of Windows.

Scott

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

It sounds like I would have both types and have a problem. If I install
the
Retail copy and don't activate it because the machine doesn't get sold
will
it (the retail copy) still be one I can sell with a differently
configured
machine?

If you are going to sell this machine I thought you were goinng to build it
then using tools like SYSPRE roll back the setup so the new user can enter
the product activationkey.
Why are you now planning to activate it ?

In otherwords, can I just install and configure the retail copy
that is going out with the machine and save activation to the last moment.

Once installed you have a period of time to activate after which time the
logon process is disrupted until the machine is activated - if you sell the
machine like this the new user will not have a good user experience.

Then if the machine doesn't sell and is torn down for parts can I
reinstall,
activate and resell the retail copy?

Yes ONLY if it is a retail copy. Unless you are going to become a proper
OEM System Builder.

I'm a noob when it comes to resale. Any advice you have would be
appreciated.

The Best advice if you are going to make a business out of this is to go to
the link Carey provide to become a proper OEM system builder.
You may also need an accountant and possibly a lawyer. Also be advised that
if you do become a System Builder you will be responsible for the provision
of operating system support to the end users if you are pre-installing OEM
media. If you use Retail media then there is no requirement for OS support
although you may be liable for support fo the hardware system.

I've built systems for others but always did it with a new
retail copy for people that had pretty specific requests for special
hardware. This person doesn't know enough to know what he needs so I may
just have to buy some hardware and risk that he'll jump at it once it's
built. The hardware will recycle well to my own computer at some point but
I'm not keen on having an extra copy of Windows.

Scott

I am confused by what you are trying to do here. Are you getting into the
business of building and reselling system with our OS preinstalled in which
case you are getting into the OEM System Builder space.
Or are you just building the odd system or your friends or is this still for
sale to third parties ?

--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Freebie]

Your prior post indicates that I will not be able to use an OEM CD to build
and roll back so that a retail copy can go with the machine. Did I misread
this? I only want to activate the retail copy if I have to use it to
configure the machine.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Your prior post indicates that I will not be able to use an OEM CD to
build
and roll back so that a retail copy can go with the machine. Did I misread
this? I only want to activate the retail copy if I have to use it to
configure the machine.

That is correct if you use for example an OEM to build then roll back and
then ship the PC with a Retail the new user will not be able to enter the
Product Activation Key from the Retail to the OEM install and vice versa
(and so on with other build types)

There is also a basic (legal) licensing issue in that you cannot install one
license type and sell another.

--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Freebie]

Do you think my safest route from a copyright perspective is to just install
the retail copy and not activate it until I'm sure the machine will sell?