upgrading hardware and activating windows xp

[Nada Tapu]

I've heard that recently Microsoft set it up that when you upgrade your
motherboard that you have to buy a new Windows XP, not just re-activate your
old one. Does anyone know about this?

They might have been referring to WGA. WGA sends a fingerprint of
your motherboard's BIOS to MS at regular intervals, along with other
info about your PC. If only the motherboard has been replaced, it
probably won't do anything. However, if you make multiple changes, I
suspect that it would generate a non-genuine notification. This is
simply a guess.. I haven't seen that much history surrounding this
issue so far.

If anyone else has experience in this area, I'd be happy if you'd
share your tales with us.

NT

 

[Bruce Chambers]

This is in no way completely rubbish. Some if not all preinstalls are locked to specific
hardware. If there is a hardware change they will not activate with the restore DVD.
The product code will come up as invalid. I just this week went through this scenario
with a preinstalled Toshiba Laptop.

That's true of some OEM installations, yes. But it has nothing to do
with Microsoft, and only applies to some OEM installation; it doesn't
apply to retail licenses at all.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[cuba]

They might have been referring to WGA. WGA sends a fingerprint of
your motherboard's BIOS to MS at regular intervals, along with other
info about your PC. If only the motherboard has been replaced, it
probably won't do anything. However, if you make multiple changes, I
suspect that it would generate a non-genuine notification. This is
simply a guess.. I haven't seen that much history surrounding this
issue so far.

If anyone else has experience in this area, I'd be happy if you'd
share your tales with us.

Now there's a can of worms! People have been calling WGA a trojan -- as
it fits the technical definition of one.

http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/04/workarounds-to-disable-non-genuine.html

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=31281

http://www.elecboy.com/index.php/20...ructions-on-how-to-disable-wga-notifications/

http://cybermoney.wordpress.com/2006/08/25/windows-genuine-advantage-validation-v155400-cracked/

 

[Frank]

Frank;

Were you denied an activation by phone? If so, please elaborate on
the circumstances involved.

Elaboration:
Up until here recently I used to do a clean install with a XPHome slipstreamed
CD. I would then enter the product code from the box. It usually just activated
over the net, very seldom needed a phone call. I tried this the other day in order
to get rid of all the extras on a new Toshiba laptop. It flat out rejected the product
key from the box. I finally got to a telephone rep and they told me that I either
had to buy a new copy of XP or use the restore DVD. I worked with this for
three days, (many restores), I could get rid of most of the trial offers. I could
not get rid of the Office 2003 trial, MSWorks trial, or AOL. The way that XP
is preinstalled on some of these new computers is nothing more than a marketing
scam. When I pay for something I expect to use it the way that I want it to
be used without paying for another copy. However this is not the way it is.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Elaboration:
Up until here recently I used to do a clean install with a XPHome slipstreamed
CD. I would then enter the product code from the box. It usually just activated
over the net, very seldom needed a phone call. I tried this the other day in order
to get rid of all the extras on a new Toshiba laptop. It flat out rejected the product
key from the box.

Was the Slipstreamed CD made from an OEM CD originally? It would have
had to have been, for an OEM Product Key to work. Product Keys are
bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume,
retail, full, or Upgrade) 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 upgrade's
Product Key cannot be used with a full version CD, 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 types cannot be mixed & matched.

Additionally, even if your slipstreamed CD was made from an old branded
OEM CD, it may no longer work. Some time ago, Microsoft disabled the
CDs/Product Keys from most major OEMs such as Dell from activating via
the Internet. (This was in response to the large number of the branded
OEM CDs being illegally (without the computer) resold vis eBay, computer
fairs, etc.)

I finally got to a telephone rep and they told me that I either
had to buy a new copy of XP or use the restore DVD.

If the Phone rep understood you to be trying to replace the laptop's
installation with an OS that you already have admitted to using and
activating, he was correct, based on the information you've provided.
If you don't want to use the OS that came with the laptop, then you'd
need to purchase another license.

I worked with this for
three days, (many restores), I could get rid of most of the trial offers. I could
not get rid of the Office 2003 trial, MSWorks trial, or AOL. The way that XP
is preinstalled on some of these new computers is nothing more than a marketing
scam.

That's certainly true of many of the major OEMs; it requires the
purchaser to do a few minutes of product research to ensure that he
doesn't get something he doesn't want.

When I pay for something I expect to use it the way that I want it to
be used without paying for another copy. However this is not the way it is.

You seem to have it backwards, here. You purchased the product and
then subsequently determined that it wasn't the way you like. You're
supposed to decide that *before* making the purchase. It's remarkably
simple: if the vendor doesn't offer the product you want, all you have
to do is take your business elsewhere. But complaining about what you
got after you bought it is just a waste of time: you got exactly what
you paid for.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[Frank]

You seem to have it backwards, here. You purchased the product and
then subsequently determined that it wasn't the way you like. You're
supposed to decide that *before* making the purchase. It's remarkably
simple: if the vendor doesn't offer the product you want, all you have
to do is take your business elsewhere. But complaining about what you
got after you bought it is just a waste of time: you got exactly what
you paid for.

I have nothing backwards here. One XP product key, one computer.
I have been reinstalling as such for over 3 years to rid the preinstalls
of bloat.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

A motherboard is considered the heart of the system,

Considered by whom?

 

[Janet]

That chap/gal called Frish always suggests people to buy FULL Retail version
of Microsoft software. Does he/she habitually lie?

 

[Bob I]

That is frequently a good recommendation, based on the reason the user
needed a legal license.

 

[Frank]

I have five bought and paid for legal (this term is used loosely)
and five computers. Watch what you blame on people.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

That chap/gal called Frish always suggests people to buy FULL Retail version
of Microsoft software. Does he/she habitually lie?

How can a recommendation based on personal opinion possibly be
considered a "lie?" Are you saying that no one's entitled to hold
opinions that don't jibe with yours?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



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

 

[Bob I]

Seems to me any "blame" is self diagnosed. Cheers!

 

[--Alias--]

He doesn't knowingly lie that I can see. He does have some unique
recommendations, though.

How can a recommendation based on personal opinion possibly be
considered a "lie?" Are you saying that no one's entitled to hold
opinions that don't jibe with yours?

If you're rich, Retail is the way to go (or a MAC, heh, or both). If you
have to watch your budget, generic OEM is best. The fact that I am
writing this message means that the foregoing is my opinion, or at least
that's what I learned in High School Freshman English.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If you're rich, Retail is the way to go (or a MAC, heh, or both). If
you have to watch your budget, generic OEM is best.

I don't agree.

I almost always recommend the Retail Upgrade version, because almost anyone
either has a previous qualifying version, or can buy a used copy of Windows
98 very cheaply--for far less than the difference in price for the Full
version.

What I *don't* recommend is buying an OEM copy, since they are usually
around the same price as an Upgrade copy and come with several restrictions,
the most severe of which is that its license ties it permanently to the
first
computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to another
computer, sold, or given away. .

 

[cuba]

Considered by whom?

A Microsoft engineer writing on MSDN (or technet) was, as far as I
know, was the first to use that phrase when discussing how XP tries to
figure out if activation is re-required when hardware changes.

MVPs have been using it ever since.