Windows XP Issue (Activation) II

[Leythos]

"1.) Will my or my Mom's PC render useless? (MS finding out and
disabling it
via Windows Update or some other technique?)"

If you used the same product Key on both machines, at some point, one or
both may be disabled - you just never know. It could also be that one or
both will not be able to gain access to updates.

"2.) Will I go to jail or get a fine?"

Unknown. Since you paid for XP on both machines, it's a semantics game,
sort of. You are technically in violation of the licensing agreement, but
you are not using more than you paid for.

"3.) My best friend bought a Dell and ran over his restoration disk with
the wheel of his chair, schmuck . Almost same scenario, he has the
right/license to run it but can't. Can I install my copy onto his PC
without getting my PC or my Mom's deactivated or rendered useless?"

Your friend can get a replacement CD from Dell. Your installation on his
computer presents the same issue that your install on your mom's computer
did. If you use HIS activation key then there is nothing to worry about,
but, if you use your key then you have two installs of the same key - see
#1 above.

"4.) Will I go to jail or get a fine if I also install it on my best
friend's PC?"

See answer to #2, he's running one install and he paid for one install
through a valid vendor - so, technically he's not running something unpaid
for, it's just the wrong version of what he paid for - as long as you
don't install your key you have little to worry about. If he calls Dell
they will send replacement media, but not a new key.

I haven't seen you answer these questions from his original post Mikey.
All I've seen you do is play little games to avoid directly answering
these questions. The OP isn't asking any questions about the BIOS he
reflashed, so stop trying to use it to divert from answering the OP's
questions, or aren't you man enough to answer them directly, and
honestly?

The OP was asking about something that he's been told is wrong and has
been told many times why it's wrong and what the consequences are of
changing an OEM system and why.

 

[daygo140]

STFU already. I'm going to say it for the last time (i think i said it over
20x but who's counting) the product key DOES NOT WORK, it came up invalid
when MS tried to activate it in turn they lead me to eMachines support to
fix the Product Key issue and they couldn't help/didn't know what to do and
MS nor eMachines for that matter never said I violated anything by flashing
the BIOS since I flashed it with the MOBO manufacturer's one that was the
correct one, YES I DID TELL THEM.

Bottom line is if anyone EVER need to flash a BIOS on an eMachines FOR
WHATEVER THE REASON, you need to go buy another copy of Windows XP. YOU
SUPPORT THIS!! You schmuck, I'd never choose you to fight for consumer
rights.

The reason why I flashed is none of your business, TRUST ME, it's legit, I
know what I'm doing. You have no CLUE what happened to this computer. I
don't have enough time to explain it, it's too long and complicated what
happened to this PC and furthermore I'd rather not have as*holes like you
pick why i did it apart, if you could even legitimately do so.

BTW don't ever by an eMachines, because of problems like this, their tech
support, and their monitors (Eview 17F) blow like a porn star. I know of 3
of these monitors manufactored in 2003 that fried. One of these monitors of
which blew when a friend had purchased it from BB and brought it home. BB
was awesome and immediately replaced it but that's beside the point, now a
little more than a year later the immediate replacement fried.

 

[kurttrail]

Lets see - the PC worked when she got it, and you're saying that
flashing the BIOS back will render it unusable again? You're not
making sense, you're actually contradicting yourself.

MORON! I am not the same person as Daygo140. But he didn't contradict
himself. He said the computer didn't stopped working and needed to
flash to a new BIOS to get it working again. Emachines wouldn't supply
the BIOS fix, but the MOBO manufacturer does.

AND telling the OP to go back DOES NOT ANSWER HIS ORIGINAL QUESTIONS.

What version of E-Machine?
What did (specifically) the BIOS flash provide?

As with many versions of XP, using the OEM CD and the product key on
the case (our e-machines PC's have them) worked many times.

So, what did the non-E-Machine BIOS fix?

What does any of that have to do with answering Daygo140's questions?

"1.) Will my or my Mom's PC render useless? (MS finding out and
disabling it
via Windows Update or some other technique?)"

"2.) Will I go to jail or get a fine?"

"3.) My best friend bought a Dell and ran over his restoration disk with
the
wheel of his chair, schmuck . Almost same scenario, he has the
right/license
to run it but can't. Can I install my copy onto his PC without getting
my PC
or my Mom's deactivated or rendered useless?"

"4.) Will I go to jail or get a fine if I also install it on my best
friend's
PC?"

These are his questions. Answer them directly, and stop getting hung up
on the BIOS!

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

 

[Steve N.]

restore your mom's computer to a working computer.<<

I did a long time ago. FOCUS and read the original post you'll see were I
"faced it".

In THIS thread, your original post contained the following detail-less
information:

Well, my Mom had a problem with her eMachines which needed it's BIOS to be
flashed, I did so.

If you reference a different thread then that is useless, nobody is
going to take the time and effort to search through the thousands of
messages in this newsgroup because you're too lazy or uninformed to keep
it the original thread, and/or post the deatails requested in THIS thread.

Steve

 

[Sam]

Apparently, _daygo140_, on 29/01/05 19:33,typed:

Well, my Mom had a problem with her eMachines which needed it's BIOS to be
flashed, I did so. The Windows XP that comes installed in an eMachine and is

This thread has really made me curious; what was the exact problem that
you were facing. IIRC, I have had to reflash my ASUS mobo only once
because suddenly my computer stopped booting from any drive. Had no clue
what was going on and just got a newer flash from ASUS's website and
reflashed and it worked. What happenend in your case?

Sam.
PS: I know I haven't answered in your aid, but I have no clue about
e-machines and their EULA.

 

[kurttrail]

If you used the same product Key on both machines, at some point, one
or both may be disabled - you just never know.

How? I have never heard of MS disabling a computer AFTER it has been
activation. Please document your answer.

It could also be that
one or both will not be able to gain access to updates.

LOL! Mandatory Validation hasn't started yet, and MS has already stated
that they won't validate computers with Automatic Updates turned on.

Unknown.

Not for jail time. Violating the EULA is not a criminal offense, so
there is absolutely no chance of jail time. And being fined would
require MS to sue the OP, and MS has NEVER sued anyone for casual
copying for non-commercial use.

Since you paid for XP on both machines, it's a semantics
game, sort of. You are technically in violation of the licensing
agreement, but you are not using more than you paid for.


Your friend can get a replacement CD from Dell. Your installation on
his computer presents the same issue that your install on your mom's
computer did. If you use HIS activation key then there is nothing to
worry about, but, if you use your key then you have two installs of
the same key - see #1 above.

The direct answer is, nothing will happen to the OP's or his mother's
computers by installing and activating XP on his friend's computer.

See answer to #2, he's running one install and he paid for one install
through a valid vendor - so, technically he's not running something
unpaid for, it's just the wrong version of what he paid for - as long
as you don't install your key you have little to worry about. If he
calls Dell they will send replacement media, but not a new key.


The OP was asking about something that he's been told is wrong

No, he was asking if there are any consequences for installing his copy
of XP on family and friends computers.

and has
been told many times why it's wrong

And he knows that technically it is, but he has already done it, and
want to know the consequences of actions he has already done.

and what the consequences are of
changing an OEM system and why.

And you answered with FUD, not reality. Once activated, MS does not
disable OS installs on purpose.

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

 

[Leythos]

STFU already. I'm going to say it for the last time (i think i said it over
20x but who's counting) the product key DOES NOT WORK, it came up invalid
when MS tried to activate it in turn they lead me to eMachines support to

And they key was tied to a BRANDED BIOS THAT YOU CHANGED ON YOUR OWN,
without questioning what else might have been impacted.

fix the Product Key issue and they couldn't help/didn't know what to do
and MS nor eMachines for that matter never said I violated anything by
flashing the BIOS since I flashed it with the MOBO manufacturer's one
that was the correct one, YES I DID TELL THEM.

And nothing you did was illegal, invalidating your license is not an
illegal action. BIOS updates from the systems vendor don't cause the
problem you specified with Activation, only unbranded BIOS updates cause
the problem.

Bottom line is if anyone EVER need to flash a BIOS on an eMachines FOR
WHATEVER THE REASON, you need to go buy another copy of Windows XP. YOU
SUPPORT THIS!! You schmuck, I'd never choose you to fight for consumer
rights.

Actually, you did a run-around update and didn't get an approved update,
and now you've seen the consequences of that action.

The reason why I flashed is none of your business, TRUST ME, it's legit, I
know what I'm doing. You have no CLUE what happened to this computer. I
don't have enough time to explain it, it's too long and complicated what
happened to this PC and furthermore I'd rather not have as*holes like you
pick why i did it apart, if you could even legitimately do so.

No one suggested that your reason for flashing was anything less than
legit - no one said anything questioning your ethics for it, people
were only asking what problem caused the need for it.

As for the last part, it's a$$holes like the support people in this group
that might have been able to fix the issue or help without running into
all the crap you have - but your attitude really sux and Usenet is one of
those places where you reap what you sow.

 

[Leythos]

How? I have never heard of MS disabling a computer AFTER it has been
activation. Please document your answer.

Did I say they would? Nope, I said "You just never know". How many people
thought they would move to Activation in the 98 days. How many people have
Activated XP and then found that an Update declared their Activation was
not good? I've had several instances where we updated XP with SP1 and the
activation was checked and we were told we could not install SP1 based on
our key - had to blow it away and start again with new keys from MS.

LOL! Mandatory Validation hasn't started yet, and MS has already stated
that they won't validate computers with Automatic Updates turned on.

Yea, but, as I said, you never know. If you look closely I never declared
that the system would become unactivated, I said you never know what they
will do.

Not for jail time. Violating the EULA is not a criminal offense, so
there is absolutely no chance of jail time. And being fined would
require MS to sue the OP, and MS has NEVER sued anyone for casual
copying for non-commercial use.

But the threat is there, which is what I said - you seem to have confirmed
that MS CAN sue for it.

The direct answer is, nothing will happen to the OP's or his mother's
computers by installing and activating XP on his friend's computer.

Your answer is WRONG - you have no clue what MS will do in the future or
how the duplication of keys/activation will impact their systems.

No, he was asking if there are any consequences for installing his copy
of XP on family and friends computers.

Yes, and he was told it's the wrong path to take - and again for various
reasons in replies that he and you don't accept.

And he knows that technically it is, but he has already done it, and
want to know the consequences of actions he has already done.

See above - it's already been said.

And you answered with FUD, not reality. Once activated, MS does not
disable OS installs on purpose.

You are the one spreading FUD, you have no clue what MS will do with
people that activate more than one install with the same key, you can ONLY
HOPE what you think is going to happen. The correct answer is that
installations in violation of the EULA should be considered unstable for
updates and support of any type.

 

[Leythos]

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:19:58 -0500, kurttrail wrote:
[snip]

What crap did he run into? He fixed his mother's problems on his own.
The only crap he has run into is morons like you, who are such
MicroBots, that they get hung up on Bullsh*t and FUD when it comes to
answering legitimate questions regarding Product Activation.

I hate to tell you this, but I'm posting from a Red Hat Linux machine
running PAN and don't have Windows on this system. Sure, I have about 30
Windows based systems here and make a living installing MS solutions, but
I don't exist solely on MS or their beliefs. You can continue to be a
snot, but it's not helping you or anyone else.

As for your reply - he didn't fix the problem, he created a problem that
was bigger than the original problem. Now, he doesn't have a valid install
of the OS, has a unbranded BIOS that was not designed for the vendors
system, and has no support path except his own ability (and we've seen
where that got him).....

Funny that he won't list why he flashed the BIOS - I suspect he really
didn't need it, but I don't really care at this point.

 

[daygo140]

Face it.! It did break the eMachines restore media's ability to restore
your mom's computer to a working computer.<

I did a long time ago. FOCUS and read the original post you'll see were I
"faced it".<

______________________________________________


Steve N's punk as* wrote the following regarding to the comments above from
another post (yes another hopeless ding-a-ling picking crap apart):

In THIS thread, your original post contained the following detail-less
information:<

______________________________________________

I JUST WROTE: You STFU too! Here will this make your pansy as* feel
better:
______________________________________________

For you lazy people and people who can't comprehend and retain it when they
read it for the first time:

ORIGINAL THREAD
to be flashed, I did so. The Windows XP that comes installed in an
eMachine and is contained in the system restore disks uses "System
Locked Pre-installation" (SLP) which at boot, Windows XP compares the
PC's BIOS to the SLP information. If it matches, no activation is
required.

Well since I have flashed her BIOS the information does not add up and
eMachines can't do anything for my Mom.<<

_______________________________________________

again so I don't get chastised:
20x but who's counting) the product key DOES NOT WORK, it came up invalid
when MS tried to activate it in turn they lead me to eMachines support to
fix the Product Key issue and they couldn't help/didn't know what to do and
MS nor eMachines for that matter never said I violated anything by flashing
the BIOS since I flashed it with the MOBO manufacturer's one that was the
correct one, YES I DID TELL THEM.<<<

 

[kurttrail]

And they key was tied to a BRANDED BIOS THAT YOU CHANGED ON YOUR OWN,
without questioning what else might have been impacted.


And nothing you did was illegal, invalidating your license is not an
illegal action. BIOS updates from the systems vendor don't cause the
problem you specified with Activation, only unbranded BIOS updates
cause the problem.


Actually, you did a run-around update and didn't get an approved
update, and now you've seen the consequences of that action.


No one suggested that your reason for flashing was anything less than
legit - no one said anything questioning your ethics for it, people
were only asking what problem caused the need for it.

As for the last part, it's a$$holes like the support people in this
group that might have been able to fix the issue or help without
running into all the crap you have - but your attitude really sux and
Usenet is one of those places where you reap what you sow.

What crap did he run into? He fixed his mother's problems on his own.
The only crap he has run into is morons like you, who are such
MicroBots, that they get hung up on Bullsh*t and FUD when it comes to
answering legitimate questions regarding Product Activation.

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

 

[Alias]

| Alias,
|
| NOTE: I am not being sarcastic when I say this:
|
| YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
|
| THANK-YOU

You're welcome.
--
Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.
|
|
| | >
| >
| > | My questions that need to be answered so I can get sleep at night:
| > |
| > | 1.) Will my or my Mom's PC render useless? (MS finding out and
disabling
| > it
| > | via Windows Update or some other technique?)
| >
| > Not if you installed and activated XP 120 days after you did yours,
which
| > you obviously did or it wouldn't activate.
| > |
| > | 2.) Will I go to jail or get a fine?
| >
| > Not a chance.
| >
| > | 3.) My best friend bought a Dell and ran over his restoration disk
with
| > the
| > | wheel of his chair, schmuck . Almost same scenario, he has the
| > right/license
| > | to run it but can't. Can I install my copy onto his PC without getting
| > my
| > PC
| > | or my Mom's deactivated or rendered useless?
| >
| > 120 days ...
| >
| > | 4.) Will I go to jail or get a fine if I also install it on my best
| > friend's
| > | PC?
| >
| > Not a chance.
| > --
| > Alias
| >
| > Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
| > Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Bruce Chambers]

daygo140 wrote:


First of all, your mother had a license to use the eMachines-provided
OEM WinXP license and *no* other. She got what she paid for, as
unfeeling as that may sound.

My questions that need to be answered so I can get sleep at night:

1.) Will my or my Mom's PC render useless? (MS finding out and disabling it
via Windows Update or some other technique?)

Not at this time, but Microsoft would be well within its legal
prerogatives to institute such a measure, if they so desired, at some
time in the future. Personally, I doubt this will happen. It would be
a PR nightmare, as well as technically difficult to implement without
adversely affecting legitimate Windows users.

2.) Will I go to jail or get a fine?

Jail? No. Copyright infringement, as long as there are less than 10
copies involved, and reneging on a contract (the EULA is a legally
binding contract in most jurisdictions) are violations of civil code,
not penal code. A fine? It's possible, but pretty unlikely. Large
corporations often hesitate to prosecute their legal rights against
individuals, because of the potential public relations backlash.
However, with the RIAA now successfully suing individuals for illegally
downloading music, it could be that the BSA (Business Software
Alliance), of which Microsoft is a member, could decide to follow suit.
Currently, fines paid by companies that do this can range up to
$150,000.00 per copy.

3.) My best friend bought a Dell and ran over his restoration disk with the
wheel of his chair, schmuck . Almost same scenario, he has the right/license
to run it but can't. Can I install my copy onto his PC without getting my PC
or my Mom's deactivated or rendered useless?

No, you can't. It's illegal, regardless of the technical issues. Your
friend has a license to use only the Dell OEM version provided with his
computer, and no other. Why doesn't you friend just call Dell to get a
replacement CD?

4.) Will I go to jail or get a fine if I also install it on my best friend's
PC?

Same as #2 above.


For a more valid assessment of your legal situation, consult an
attorney well-versed in copyright and contract law for your specific locale.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

The BIOS flash fixed the problem.

How can you possibly call rendering the computer unusable -which is
what you really did -- "fixing the problem?"

I didn't come here to have you question
my PC knowledge, refer to the original post.

Of which you obviously have very little, or you'd not be in this
situation, in the first place.






--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I just wanted what my Mom
paid for.

You already had that - an OEM license that *you* deliberately rendered
invalid.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[daygo140]

Actually, you did a run-around update and didn't get an approved update,
If I waited for an approved update, I might as well go buy a new computer
let alone ANOTHER copy of XP.

You can't let it go, can you?

____________________________

YOU SAID YOURSELF:
computer dead in the water.<<

I THEN SAID:
answered. I didn't come here to be questioned about anything or critized. I
wanted ANSWERS to the questions.<<

JUST LET IT GO!! Damn!

I wonder why I have an attitude "Computer RANGERS" like yourself
questioning irrelevant information and knit picking this thread apart. ARE
YOU TRYING TO PROVE SOMETHING? I just wanted answers to my questions, I GOT
THEM, now STFU!!

THANKS TO ALL who DIDN'T try to analize everything and actually helped me by
answering my questions.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Ok so you suppose my Mom should have to pay for ANOTHER copy of Windows XP?
That's BS!!!!

No, your mother shouldn't have to buy a new license; she's not the one
who deliberately rendered her OEM restoration CD useless. This
situation is entirely *your* fault, so *you* should be the one to
reimburse your mother, by buying her a new license. Oh, and then it
might be a good idea for you to offer her a sincere apology and a
promise to never, ever "fix" her computer again.

I also think eMachines, HP, IBM, Sony, etc. should be blamed also with these
stupid as* "restoration disks". Save money, save money, save money, like you
don't have enough? "Restoration disks" suck as* bad, no setup console, no
repair installation, etc.

As long as people keep buying computers from such companies, and
thereby rewarding their business practices, these companies will
continue to offer sub-standard support options. You get what you pay for.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[kurttrail]

You already had that - an OEM license that *you* deliberately rendered
invalid.

And what good was valid license gonna do on a computer that wouldn't
run?

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

 

[kurttrail]

How can you possibly call rendering the computer unusable -which is
what you really did -- "fixing the problem?"

It works now, Brucey, but was unusable before he fixed the BIOS problem.
Deal with the reality of the situation.

Of which you obviously have very little, or you'd not be in this
situation, in the first place.

What situation? The computer works now, didn't work before.

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bottom line here is, I HAD to flash the BIOS, plain and simple.

No, it isn't plain and simple. We've only your word for this, and,
given the content of your other posts, we've absolutely no reason the
believe that you're technically qualified to make such a decision.
Quite the opposite, in fact.

EMachines
does not offer the updated version with the fix I needed, I believe they
don't even offer BIOS's period.

Did you even contact them and ask? Somehow, I doubt it.

My decision to do what I did,

Correct. Your decision, and your responsibility to accept the
consequences of that decision.

was not because I was ignorant and didn't do
any research,

Then you already knew that this would happen.

because I'll be damned if I'm going to pay or have my Mom pay
for another copy of Windows XP.

Ah, now the truth rears it's head. You had every intention of
distributing illegal copies, all along.

I'm not passing out copies of the OS.

What part of your own posts have you not been reading. That's
*exactly* what you're doing.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH