win xp oem number

[rick]

I purchased a windows xp pro disk from a now closed computer shop. I admit I
installed it on a few computers that I had...but those computers have been
destroyed or used for parts. I purchased a computer from my son..and it is my
dream computer.. I used my disk to instal windows on it and now WGA says it
is a volume disk and I cant do any updates with it. I registered it when I
first installed it on a now destroyed computer. What can I do to be able to
download the updates on my new computer?.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I purchased a windows xp pro disk from a now closed computer shop. I admit
I
installed it on a few computers that I had...but those computers have been
destroyed or used for parts. I purchased a computer from my son..and it is
my
dream computer.. I used my disk to instal windows on it and now WGA says
it
is a volume disk and I cant do any updates with it. I registered it when
I
first installed it on a now destroyed computer. What can I do to be able
to
download the updates on my new computer?.

If it's a OEM installation then you can't do anything about it.
If it's a Retail licence then you can ring your nearest Microsoft
office and explain the situation.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

If it is a volume licensing cd then you need to purchase a fresh copy of XP
Pro retail full edition. You will not have to reinstall everything but you
will need to perform a repair install in order to apply the new product key.

 

[Bob Harris]

The OEM license is good for one, and only one, computer.

For practical purposes that means one motherboard. Even two motherboards of
the same brand/model may have different on-board NICs, which count heavily
in XP activation.

So, as others have said, you need to purchase a new XP license (CD) and
perform a repair install to update the license.

Note that if you had a retail version of XP, it could have been installed
and activated many times, on different hardware (of course, only on one PC
at a time). But, OEM versions are cheaper, and now you understand why.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I purchased a windows xp pro disk from a now closed computer shop. I admit I
installed it on a few computers that I had...but those computers have been
destroyed or used for parts. I purchased a computer from my son..and it is my
dream computer.. I used my disk to instal windows on it and now WGA says it
is a volume disk and I cant do any updates with it. I registered it when I
first installed it on a now destroyed computer. What can I do to be able to
download the updates on my new computer?.

Since you say in the subject line, that this is an OEM version, you're
out of luck. The biggest disadvantage of an OEM version 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
without that computer.

It's for that reason that I recommend retail Upgrade copies instead of
OEM ones. They usually cost only slightly more than OEM versions, and
come without the OEM version's restrictions. Moreover, despite what
many people think, Upgrade versions *can* do clean installations as
long as you own a CD of a previous qualifying version to show it when
prompted. Most people have such CDs, but worst case, if you don't,
they can be bought used inexpensively someplace like eBay.

 

[Alias]

The OEM license is good for one, and only one, computer.

Generic OEM licenses *may* not be moved. They *can*, however, be moved
if it's been over 120 days since the last activation and/or hardware
change. Or, if it's been less than 120 days and you don't mind lying to
Microsoft, do a phone activation and say a virus hit your computer and
you had to reinstall and you don't understand what's going on.

Alias

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I purchased a windows xp pro disk from a now closed computer shop. I admit I
installed it on a few computers that I had...but those computers have been
destroyed or used for parts. I purchased a computer from my son..and it is my
dream computer.. I used my disk to instal windows on it and now WGA says it
is a volume disk and I cant do any updates with it. I registered it when I
first installed it on a now destroyed computer. What can I do to be able to
download the updates on my new computer?.

Purchase a legitimate license for the new computer, of course. Did you
really think we'd help you continue stealing software? What kind of an
example are you trying to set for your son?

--

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

 

[Gordon]

The OEM license is good for one, and only one, computer.

For practical purposes that means one motherboard.

Absolute RUBBISH.
My OEM EULA makes NO MENTION of motherboards at all, in fact it goes to
GREAT pains NOT to define what a "new" computer is.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

But that is how the personnel in the activation center are going to
interpret it and its those folks you need to get past.

 

[Gordon]

But that is how the personnel in the activation center are going to
interpret it and its those folks you need to get past.

No they don't - They do NOT ask ANY questions about the hardware other than
"is this installed on another computer" and "is this the first time you have
activated".

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The OEM license is good for one, and only one, computer.

Correct.


For practical purposes that means one motherboard.

But that is not correct. The EULA does *not* specify what constitutes
a different computer.

Also read
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/a...
or http://tinyurl.com/384gx5

which says,

"If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a
major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment
Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you
replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM."

It's about Vista in particular, not XP, but I assume if they say it
about Vista, the same very likely applies to Windows XP. Since
replacing a motherboard requires reactivation, that implies that
replacing the motherboard and using the same OEM copy of Windows *is*
permitted by the EULA.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

They should when the pk shows up as OEM.

No they don't - They do NOT ask ANY questions about the hardware other
than "is this installed on another computer" and "is this the first time
you have activated".

 

[Gordon]

They should when the pk shows up as OEM.

Well I have OEM on this machine, when I re-installed a short while ago had
to telephone activate. I was not asked any question about the hardware
configuration...

 

[Gordon]

They should when the pk shows up as OEM.

See Ken's response.

 

[norm]

But that is how the personnel in the activation center are going to
interpret it and its those folks you need to get past.

Colin, with all due respect, since the eula is the only document the
user is required to agree with, then the activation people cannot and
should not be permitted the liberty of "interpreting" anything.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

A mobo contains enough of the hardware characteristics that MS uses to
determine what constitutes a new computer for MS to consider the OEM license
invalid. This is at the discretion of the agent. The mobo itself is not a
hardware characteristic but devices on the mobo are. If at the time you
replace a mobo you also replace the cpu, add more or different ram, etc. you
in fact have a new computer. Keeping the same case and hard drive is
insufficient.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

They have to in determining the validity of an OEM license in these cases.
They run into all sorts of issues. For example, the EULA makes no mention
of new technologies that have become common since the XP EULA was written in
2001 like virtualization and the agents have to have guidelines for things
like that as well.

 

[Alias]

A mobo contains enough of the hardware characteristics that MS uses to
determine what constitutes a new computer for MS to consider the OEM
license invalid. This is at the discretion of the agent. The mobo
itself is not a hardware characteristic but devices on the mobo are. If
at the time you replace a mobo you also replace the cpu, add more or
different ram, etc. you in fact have a new computer. Keeping the same
case and hard drive is insufficient.
Bullsh¡t.

Alias

 

[Ghostrider]

They have to in determining the validity of an OEM license in these
cases. They run into all sorts of issues. For example, the EULA makes
no mention of new technologies that have become common since the XP EULA
was written in 2001 like virtualization and the agents have to have
guidelines for things like that as well.

<<snipped>>

Yes, it is extremely arbitrary as a result but neither Microsoft nor
the end-user can afford the outcome of a civil trial that ends up in
the US Supreme Court. This is the consequence of selling licenses and
rights instead of a [defined] end-product.

 

[norm]

They have to in determining the validity of an OEM license in these
cases. They run into all sorts of issues. For example, the EULA makes
no mention of new technologies that have become common since the XP EULA
was written in 2001 like virtualization and the agents have to have
guidelines for things like that as well.

Again, with due respect, those issues should not penalize the user, who
agreed to a specific set of terms in a contract at the time of purchase.
If making a determination of validity requires the need for
interpretation by the activation agent of answers which result from what
effectively has become an interrogation, a "fishing expedition" is
really what has taken place and the user could possibly be wrongly
penalized on a capricious whim, with no recourse available. Basically,
the benefit of doubt (if proof cannot be certain) should always favor
the consumer.