Windows XP licensing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jamie
  • Start date Start date
J

Jamie

I'm trying to decide between buying Windows 2000 and XP,
for the full version, academic version, or to have it come
with the machine I'm going to buy (OEM) and have a few
questions:

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

I've found instructions that say to backup the wpa.dbl
file, and restore it following a reformat. Does this work
ok, and does it conflict with the license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP Full version
license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP academic
version license?

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 Full
license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 academic
version license?

As I understand it, OEM products don't have tech. support
from Microsoft. Is this true? Can I still download
updates from Microsoft?

Does the academic version have Microsoft provided tech.
support?

Does the academic version have all the same features as
the full version?

Does the OEM version have all the same features as the
full version?

What kind of information does Windows XP gather and send
to Microsoft?

Is there anything about the XP license that should cause
me to go with 2000?

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Thank you,
Jamie
 
Jamie said:
I'm trying to decide between buying Windows 2000 and XP,
for the full version, academic version, or to have it come
with the machine I'm going to buy (OEM) and have a few
questions:

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

I've found instructions that say to backup the wpa.dbl
file, and restore it following a reformat. Does this work
ok, and does it conflict with the license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP Full version
license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP academic
version license?

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 Full
license?

Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 academic
version license?

As I understand it, OEM products don't have tech. support
from Microsoft. Is this true? Can I still download
updates from Microsoft?

Does the academic version have Microsoft provided tech.
support?

Does the academic version have all the same features as
the full version?

Does the OEM version have all the same features as the
full version?

What kind of information does Windows XP gather and send
to Microsoft?

Is there anything about the XP license that should cause
me to go with 2000?

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Thank you,
Jamie
Click to expand...

Why do you need to format the drive regularly? XP is far stabler than
Win9x versions, and there is no need to format and reinstall.

The issue you will run into with XP is that you will need to re-activate it.
This may involve a telephone call if you do this often enough, otherwise it
will go quickly online. You should *not* run into a problem activating
over the phone; you are not violating the license agreement by re-installing
on the same machine. The licenses do not expire.

The OEM and academic versions have the same features, in some cases the
install script will be slightly different.

OEM products are not supported by Microsoft, no.

XP or 2000? that depends on your needs.

The one thing to be careful of with getting an OEM copy - some vendors
reduce costs by hot-loading the machine and either not including an
installation CD or including a 'system restore' CD that restores the system
to factory configuration. This is not really helpful if you ever need to
do a repair install or run the recovery console. Be sure that you get a
bootable CD, not a restore CD.

HTH
-pk
 
Save yourself a lot of aggravation and purchase the
"full retail version" of Windows XP Professional.
It does not expire, it can be reinstalled without a problem,
you'll have access to Microsoft technical support, and
you can transfer it to another computer in the future.

--
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


| I'm trying to decide between buying Windows 2000 and XP,
| for the full version, academic version, or to have it come
| with the machine I'm going to buy (OEM) and have a few
| questions:
|
| I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
| with the XP license?
|
| I've found instructions that say to backup the wpa.dbl
| file, and restore it following a reformat. Does this work
| ok, and does it conflict with the license?
|
| Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP Full version
| license?
|
| Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP academic
| version license?
|
| I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
| with the XP license?
|
| Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 Full
| license?
|
| Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 academic
| version license?
|
| As I understand it, OEM products don't have tech. support
| from Microsoft. Is this true? Can I still download
| updates from Microsoft?
|
| Does the academic version have Microsoft provided tech.
| support?
|
| Does the academic version have all the same features as
| the full version?
|
| Does the OEM version have all the same features as the
| full version?
|
| What kind of information does Windows XP gather and send
| to Microsoft?
|
| Is there anything about the XP license that should cause
| me to go with 2000?
|
| Sorry for the lengthy post.
|
| Thank you,
| Jamie
 
Nicholas said:
Save yourself a lot of aggravation and purchase the
"full retail version" of Windows XP Professional.
It does not expire, it can be reinstalled without a problem,
you'll have access to Microsoft technical support, and
you can transfer it to another computer in the future.
Click to expand...

And don't forget the best part, MS gets more of the OP's money by buying
the retail version! What an ass you are, Carey!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.kurttrail.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"
 
Please see inside your message for the awnsers:
I'm trying to decide between buying Windows 2000 and XP,
for the full version, academic version, or to have it come
with the machine I'm going to buy (OEM) and have a few
questions:

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

No, not if your hardware does not keep changing.

I've found instructions that say to backup the wpa.dbl
file, and restore it following a reformat. Does this work
ok, and does it conflict with the license?

It works if put on the same machine and the hardware has not changed
Click to expand...
too much. I will post a link at the end of the e-mail how WPA works.
Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP Full version
license?

Not unless you have a trial version

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP academic
version license?

I do not know. I would guess from the past when I was in school, it
Click to expand...
is the same minus Tech support. You will have to use
nntp://news.microsoft.com for support.
I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?

Not if you keep changing your hardware, it should re-activate over
Click to expand...
the internet just fine. Or backup the WBL file.
Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 Full
license?

In general? The Retail? No, but Windows runs on a product cycle at
Click to expand...
which point Microsoft will stop supporting it.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx
Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 academic
version license?
??

As I understand it, OEM products don't have tech. support
from Microsoft. Is this true? Can I still download
updates from Microsoft?

What it is saying you cannot e-mail or call Microsoft for support.
Click to expand...
You can still install the patches.
Does the academic version have Microsoft provided tech.
support?

Nope.

Does the academic version have all the same features as
the full version?

As far as I know, Yes, unless they changed something in the past 4 years.

Does the OEM version have all the same features as the
full version?

Yes, but you will have to call the place you bought it from for
Click to expand...
support. Plus it must come with a New PC and maybe if you buy a
Motherboard and HD. Otherwise you void your licience. (EULA)
What kind of information does Windows XP gather and send
to Microsoft?

Crash reports, unless you turn it off. Microsoft does use this data
Click to expand...
to improve Windows. If you have something open that is personal that
is open and something crashes, say no, as that info could be in the
RAM when Dr. Watson captures it and sends it in. (It will not send
hard drive content, so if the document is not open, then it will not
be send. And even if it is in RAM it maynot send it, and even so, I
am sure Microsoft ignores it and probably has a server strip the info
out.)
Is there anything about the XP license that should cause
me to go with 2000?

Read it yourself to make sure. Nothing sticks out in my head.

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Don't worry about it.
Thank you,
Jamie
Click to expand...

Posted via http://www.xpMCE.com
Windows XP Media Center Edition Forums
 
Comments inline.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment


Jamie said:
I'm trying to decide between buying Windows 2000 and XP,
for the full version, academic version, or to have it come
with the machine I'm going to buy (OEM) and have a few
questions:

I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?
Click to expand...

You shouldn't necessarily have a reason to format your hard drive so
regularly with Windows XP, but no, you shouldn't have a problem with
formatting it. It's relatively common for OEM systems to come with a
restore partition or restore CD - not necessarily a CD that you can do a
clean install from. If this is a concern for you, you'll probably want to
stick with a retail copy.
I've found instructions that say to backup the wpa.dbl
file, and restore it following a reformat. Does this work
ok, and does it conflict with the license?
Click to expand...

There's honestly no reason to do it. If you're activating Windows XP on the
same hardware, the activation will succeed. If you've changed a few things,
you may be required to call Microsoft for activation - just explain the
situation and you'll be given a new activation code. The worst case
scenerio is a 5 minute phone call.
Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP Full version
license?
No.

Is there an expiration date on the Windows XP academic
version license?
Click to expand...

I believe that it depends - the license I got from my old college was a
perpetual use license - I could continue to use it even after I was no
longer a student. I've heard that some licenses terminate when you no
longer meet the qualifications for owning it. Make sure you read the
license agreement for that information.
I reformat my hard drive regularly. Will I have a problem
with the XP license?
Click to expand...

Since you asked this already, I assume you mean Windows 2000. The answer is
the same.
Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 Full
license?
No.

Is there an expiration date on the Windows 2000 academic
version license?
Click to expand...

Again, it depends on your license.
As I understand it, OEM products don't have tech. support
from Microsoft. Is this true? Can I still download
updates from Microsoft?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is true. Microsoft does not offer support for OEM versions of it's
products. That's why the cost is lower than retail. You can still download
updates from Microsoft.
Does the academic version have Microsoft provided tech.
support?
Click to expand...

I think so, but I really don't know. Again, check your license.
Does the academic version have all the same features as
the full version?
Yes.

Does the OEM version have all the same features as the
full version?
Yes.

What kind of information does Windows XP gather and send
to Microsoft?
Click to expand...

You can read about what information is sent during the Activation process
here:
http://www.tecchannel.com/security/client/105/index.html
Is there anything about the XP license that should cause
me to go with 2000?
Click to expand...

I don't believe so, but that's me. You may have some concerns with the
terms of the EULA that I don't. It really depends on you.
 
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