B
bbford
Can someone tell me if all XP cd's have their own unique id number?
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B
Bruce Chambers
Buford said:Can someone tell me if all XP cud's have their own unique id number?
No, they don't. If they did, they'd have to cost a lot more.
--
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
B
bbford
OK, then this is where I get confused.
If the cd is installed with its serial number (the same serial number that
thousands of others have) and you use that same cd with its same serial
number and illegally install it into 10 other pc's.
How does Microsoft know this and deny you your Windows updates?
If the cd is installed with its serial number (the same serial number that
thousands of others have) and you use that same cd with its same serial
number and illegally install it into 10 other pc's.
How does Microsoft know this and deny you your Windows updates?
C
choro-nik
Quite Simple. Some of those "characters" (numbers and/or letters) might be
split up from the rest. So you have 2 groups of characters. One group might
be a installation CD batch number. The second group might not in fact be on
the CD at all . Or more likely there will be a whole range of thousands of
combinations that have been assigned to that particular batch of CDs with
your particular key being one of those possible combinations.
It would thus be possible to burn, say a batch of 1,000 CDs with part/s of
the fixed sectors of the "key" being the same while the 1,000 other sets of
characters reserved for that particular batch being burnt onto the CD in
another file or files. The key for your particular CD will be a combination
of these two sets of characters.
--
choro-nik
********
split up from the rest. So you have 2 groups of characters. One group might
be a installation CD batch number. The second group might not in fact be on
the CD at all . Or more likely there will be a whole range of thousands of
combinations that have been assigned to that particular batch of CDs with
your particular key being one of those possible combinations.
It would thus be possible to burn, say a batch of 1,000 CDs with part/s of
the fixed sectors of the "key" being the same while the 1,000 other sets of
characters reserved for that particular batch being burnt onto the CD in
another file or files. The key for your particular CD will be a combination
of these two sets of characters.
--
choro-nik
********
bbford said:OK, then this is where I get confused.
If the cd is installed with its serial number (the same serial number that
thousands of others have) and you use that same cd with its same serial
number and illegally install it into 10 other pc's.
How does Microsoft know this and deny you your Windows updates?
G
Guest
The significant considerations are Product Key and Licence Agreement.
Microsoft has several agreements under which users can obtain software.
The home user generally will purchase a Single Retail version of XP [again
there are different version - Full, Upgrade for both Home and Pro] and with
it there will be a Product Key.
The product key is Unique.
During the installation porocess Windows interrogates the hardware
environment, the Product Key etc and generates a unique Installation ID.
This is what one uses to Activate Windows and a Unique Activation code is
generated.
If one attempts to reactivate the same Activation code the automatic
activation database will reject the second activation. One may be able to
speak with Microsoft and get a valid Activation code for a subsequent
installation.
For large companies, the Product Keys are managed in a different manner.
For OEM editions of XP supplied by the likes of IBM, Toshiba, Compaq etc:
activation may not be required because the OEMs take further initiatives to
prevent unauthorised duplication and reuse of the software.
In any event: one can use the same Retail CD and install it on many PCs
[OEM, Whitebox - Desktop or Laptop] just so long as one has a unique Product
Key for each PC.
You may find that the Software has:
Serial number of: 552XX-XX3-02434XX-222XX
Product Key: XP88T-R4488-XQH88-XY988H-G8867
if one looks to other PCs then of course the Product Key will be different
for each PC.
NB.
Both the numbers above are totally fictitious and no one should even
consider attempting to se either of them during installation.
Microsoft then manages its own software updates and the installtion process
to ensure that it checks the environment into which it is being applied. If
there are incompatibilities we hope that the update will halt and report
this. Again if the Software is considered 'illegal' it will also halt and
report the error.
Microsoft has several agreements under which users can obtain software.
The home user generally will purchase a Single Retail version of XP [again
there are different version - Full, Upgrade for both Home and Pro] and with
it there will be a Product Key.
The product key is Unique.
During the installation porocess Windows interrogates the hardware
environment, the Product Key etc and generates a unique Installation ID.
This is what one uses to Activate Windows and a Unique Activation code is
generated.
If one attempts to reactivate the same Activation code the automatic
activation database will reject the second activation. One may be able to
speak with Microsoft and get a valid Activation code for a subsequent
installation.
For large companies, the Product Keys are managed in a different manner.
For OEM editions of XP supplied by the likes of IBM, Toshiba, Compaq etc:
activation may not be required because the OEMs take further initiatives to
prevent unauthorised duplication and reuse of the software.
In any event: one can use the same Retail CD and install it on many PCs
[OEM, Whitebox - Desktop or Laptop] just so long as one has a unique Product
Key for each PC.
You may find that the Software has:
Serial number of: 552XX-XX3-02434XX-222XX
Product Key: XP88T-R4488-XQH88-XY988H-G8867
if one looks to other PCs then of course the Product Key will be different
for each PC.
NB.
Both the numbers above are totally fictitious and no one should even
consider attempting to se either of them during installation.
Microsoft then manages its own software updates and the installtion process
to ensure that it checks the environment into which it is being applied. If
there are incompatibilities we hope that the update will halt and report
this. Again if the Software is considered 'illegal' it will also halt and
report the error.
choro-nik said:Quite Simple. Some of those "characters" (numbers and/or letters) might be
split up from the rest. So you have 2 groups of characters. One group might
be a installation CD batch number. The second group might not in fact be on
the CD at all . Or more likely there will be a whole range of thousands of
combinations that have been assigned to that particular batch of CDs with
your particular key being one of those possible combinations.
It would thus be possible to burn, say a batch of 1,000 CDs with part/s of
the fixed sectors of the "key" being the same while the 1,000 other sets of
characters reserved for that particular batch being burnt onto the CD in
another file or files. The key for your particular CD will be a combination
of these two sets of characters.
C
choro-nik
Thanks for the explanation. Though at this time in the morning (it is nearly
3 am local time here -- and I have yet to go to bed) I will have to read it
again to grasp it.
--
choro-nik
********
3 am local time here -- and I have yet to go to bed) I will have to read it
again to grasp it.
--
choro-nik
********
BAR said:The significant considerations are Product Key and Licence Agreement.
Microsoft has several agreements under which users can obtain software.
The home user generally will purchase a Single Retail version of XP [again
there are different version - Full, Upgrade for both Home and Pro] and
with
it there will be a Product Key.
The product key is Unique.
During the installation porocess Windows interrogates the hardware
environment, the Product Key etc and generates a unique Installation ID.
This is what one uses to Activate Windows and a Unique Activation code is
generated.
If one attempts to reactivate the same Activation code the automatic
activation database will reject the second activation. One may be able to
speak with Microsoft and get a valid Activation code for a subsequent
installation.
For large companies, the Product Keys are managed in a different manner.
For OEM editions of XP supplied by the likes of IBM, Toshiba, Compaq etc:
activation may not be required because the OEMs take further initiatives
to
prevent unauthorised duplication and reuse of the software.
In any event: one can use the same Retail CD and install it on many PCs
[OEM, Whitebox - Desktop or Laptop] just so long as one has a unique
Product
Key for each PC.
You may find that the Software has:
Serial number of: 552XX-XX3-02434XX-222XX
Product Key: XP88T-R4488-XQH88-XY988H-G8867
if one looks to other PCs then of course the Product Key will be different
for each PC.
NB.
Both the numbers above are totally fictitious and no one should even
consider attempting to se either of them during installation.
Microsoft then manages its own software updates and the installtion
process
to ensure that it checks the environment into which it is being applied.
If
there are incompatibilities we hope that the update will halt and report
this. Again if the Software is considered 'illegal' it will also halt and
report the error.
choro-nik said:Quite Simple. Some of those "characters" (numbers and/or letters) might
be
split up from the rest. So you have 2 groups of characters. One group
might
be a installation CD batch number. The second group might not in fact be
on
the CD at all . Or more likely there will be a whole range of thousands
of
combinations that have been assigned to that particular batch of CDs with
your particular key being one of those possible combinations.
It would thus be possible to burn, say a batch of 1,000 CDs with part/s
of
the fixed sectors of the "key" being the same while the 1,000 other sets
of
characters reserved for that particular batch being burnt onto the CD in
another file or files. The key for your particular CD will be a
combination
of these two sets of characters.
B
bbford
So, if the product key (the 25 character code that is used to initially
install the cd) is unique, then every cd (or batch of cd's) has its own
code, correct?
install the cd) is unique, then every cd (or batch of cd's) has its own
code, correct?
C
choro-nik
But a unique product key does NOT mean that parts of the whole are also
unique individually. It is unique as a whole but not necessarily sections of
it.
Ain't that right?
--
choro-nik
********
unique individually. It is unique as a whole but not necessarily sections of
it.
Ain't that right?
--
choro-nik
********
bbford said:So, if the product key (the 25 character code that is used to initially
install the cd) is unique, then every cd (or batch of cd's) has its own
code, correct?
BAR said:The significant considerations are Product Key and Licence Agreement.
Microsoft has several agreements under which users can obtain software.
The home user generally will purchase a Single Retail version of XP
[again
there are different version - Full, Upgrade for both Home and Pro] and
with
it there will be a Product Key.
The product key is Unique.
During the installation porocess Windows interrogates the hardware
environment, the Product Key etc and generates a unique Installation ID.
This is what one uses to Activate Windows and a Unique Activation code is
generated.
If one attempts to reactivate the same Activation code the automatic
activation database will reject the second activation. One may be able
to
speak with Microsoft and get a valid Activation code for a subsequent
installation.
For large companies, the Product Keys are managed in a different manner.
For OEM editions of XP supplied by the likes of IBM, Toshiba, Compaq etc:
activation may not be required because the OEMs take further initiatives
to
prevent unauthorised duplication and reuse of the software.
In any event: one can use the same Retail CD and install it on many PCs
[OEM, Whitebox - Desktop or Laptop] just so long as one has a unique
Product
Key for each PC.
You may find that the Software has:
Serial number of: 552XX-XX3-02434XX-222XX
Product Key: XP88T-R4488-XQH88-XY988H-G8867
if one looks to other PCs then of course the Product Key will be
different
for each PC.
D
D.Currie
You've got it backward. The CDs are identical for each version of XP, but
the serial numbers are all different.
the serial numbers are all different.
bbford said:OK, then this is where I get confused.
If the cd is installed with its serial number (the same serial number that
thousands of others have) and you use that same cd with its same serial
number and illegally install it into 10 other pc's.
How does Microsoft know this and deny you your Windows updates?
D
D.Currie
No part of the serial number is on the CD. The differences are in the
version Windows -- OEM, retail, upgrade, etc., that will only recognize the
corresponding set of serial numbers. But other than that, the CDs are
interchangeable as far as the serial numbers are concerned.
version Windows -- OEM, retail, upgrade, etc., that will only recognize the
corresponding set of serial numbers. But other than that, the CDs are
interchangeable as far as the serial numbers are concerned.
choro-nik said:Quite Simple. Some of those "characters" (numbers and/or letters) might be
split up from the rest. So you have 2 groups of characters. One group
might be a installation CD batch number. The second group might not in
fact be on the CD at all . Or more likely there will be a whole range of
thousands of combinations that have been assigned to that particular batch
of CDs with your particular key being one of those possible combinations.
It would thus be possible to burn, say a batch of 1,000 CDs with part/s
of the fixed sectors of the "key" being the same while the 1,000 other
sets of characters reserved for that particular batch being burnt onto the
CD in another file or files. The key for your particular CD will be a
combination of these two sets of characters.
C
choro-nik
That was my original thinking too but now that you have corroborated my
original view, how can I ever be sure that the key for the OEM Win XP I
bought recently has not been used before by someone else? After all the
serial number was visible inside the shrink wrap. Shouldn't all such numbers
be hidden from view until one breaks the seal?
original view, how can I ever be sure that the key for the OEM Win XP I
bought recently has not been used before by someone else? After all the
serial number was visible inside the shrink wrap. Shouldn't all such numbers
be hidden from view until one breaks the seal?
D
D.Currie
It's hard enough to read the number when you're installing it, it's doubtful
someone could have casually read & remembered it if they happened to glance
at it.
Retail versions have the number hidden in the packaging; oem versions come
in sealed multipacks. So if you trust whoever you bought the oem version
from that they didn't copy down the number and use it, you should be fine.
someone could have casually read & remembered it if they happened to glance
at it.
Retail versions have the number hidden in the packaging; oem versions come
in sealed multipacks. So if you trust whoever you bought the oem version
from that they didn't copy down the number and use it, you should be fine.
C
choro-nik
It was merely a theoretical assumption. Obviously I am the only user of my
OEM version as I managed to register and activate it with no problem. But it
is obviously something that one has to be aware of when buying the software.
OEM version as I managed to register and activate it with no problem. But it
is obviously something that one has to be aware of when buying the software.
D
D.Currie
If you're buying from a legitimate source, you should be okay. The
multipacks shouldn't be opened until the box gets to the seller (and the
authorized distributors won't take them back if they are opened), and if the
seller is legit, they aren't going to let people copy the numbers. One
problem might be people who buy the oem version, copy down the code, then
return the product, but many of the resellers won't take back oem product
because of that. Other problem might be employees who steal the code for
their own use. But most legit businesses are going to keep the codes safe.
If you're in the business, you really don't want to start getting letters
from MSs legal department.
The reason the sticker's outside the packaging is that most builders don't
install from that CD anyway, so they aren't going to open the package at
all. The CD is there for the customer, if a repair or reinstall is needed.
So the sticker has to be easy to get at.
I remember when the whole oem sticker thing started, and some people were
concerned that people would be able to casually read the sticker on the side
of a case and steal the code. Yeah, right. If you have superman eyes, maybe.
Then try to remember it long enough to copy it unseen. That's not likely to
be very easy to do without getting caught.
multipacks shouldn't be opened until the box gets to the seller (and the
authorized distributors won't take them back if they are opened), and if the
seller is legit, they aren't going to let people copy the numbers. One
problem might be people who buy the oem version, copy down the code, then
return the product, but many of the resellers won't take back oem product
because of that. Other problem might be employees who steal the code for
their own use. But most legit businesses are going to keep the codes safe.
If you're in the business, you really don't want to start getting letters
from MSs legal department.
The reason the sticker's outside the packaging is that most builders don't
install from that CD anyway, so they aren't going to open the package at
all. The CD is there for the customer, if a repair or reinstall is needed.
So the sticker has to be easy to get at.
I remember when the whole oem sticker thing started, and some people were
concerned that people would be able to casually read the sticker on the side
of a case and steal the code. Yeah, right. If you have superman eyes, maybe.
Then try to remember it long enough to copy it unseen. That's not likely to
be very easy to do without getting caught.