XPINFO Activation and Product Key

[TK]

I have just started to install an OEM version of XP PRO on a computer I have
just built.
I am nearly at the stage of activation: however before doing so, I decided
to check on what configuration was being recognised, so I invoked XPINFO.
First screen stated:
XPINFO - Error
(a) You are running a value-licensed version or OEM release of Windows
XP.
(b) You have not activated your installation of Windows XP yet.
OK.

This seems fair enough, however when I pressed OK the screen read:
(the hardware items were greyed out). but where the Product code would
normally be I got 3 groups of apparently valid characters and 2 groups of
question marks. This was in the usual format of:
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-?????-?????. The x's represent the "valid" characters.
My question: As I haven't yet activated, where has the Product Key come
from. Is it some general key this program displays?
Help please.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

An OEM release of Window only installs on computers manufactured by the OEM.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Open the Command Prompt and type: systeminfo
Look at: "Product ID"

The Product ID number is created after installing
Windows XP. It is not the Product Key number
used to install with.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:

| I have just started to install an OEM version of XP PRO on a computer I have
| just built.
| I am nearly at the stage of activation: however before doing so, I decided
| to check on what configuration was being recognised, so I invoked XPINFO.
| First screen stated:
| XPINFO - Error
| (a) You are running a value-licensed version or OEM release of Windows
| XP.
| (b) You have not activated your installation of Windows XP yet.
| OK.
|
| This seems fair enough, however when I pressed OK the screen read:
| (the hardware items were greyed out). but where the Product code would
| normally be I got 3 groups of apparently valid characters and 2 groups of
| question marks. This was in the usual format of:
| xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-?????-?????. The x's represent the "valid" characters.
| My question: As I haven't yet activated, where has the Product Key come
| from. Is it some general key this program displays?
| Help please.

 

[TK]

Open the Command Prompt and type: systeminfo
Look at: "Product ID"

The Product ID number is created after installing
Windows XP. It is not the Product Key number
used to install with.

So is the Product ID no. also 5 blocks of 5 characters. I know that when I
run XPINFO on my activated systems it shows 3 groups of 5 characters which
agree with my Product KEY, and then 2 groups of question marks.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

An OEM release of Window only installs on computers manufactured by
the OEM.

No, not true. There are two types of OEM Windows CDs:

1. Those distributed with computers manufactured by the large major OEMs
(Dell, Gateway, etc.) Most (but not all) of these companies, if they provide
an OEM installation CD, use BIOS-locked versions that as you say, will
install only on their computers.

2. There are also generic OEM installation CDs that are either sold by
themselves (supposedly with some piece of hardware) or distributed with PCs
manufactured by smaller manufacturers (such as the typical local mom-and-pop
store). These can install on any computer with adequate hardware to support
Windows.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Vis. a vis. #2 (generic OEM installation CDs): I would be surprised to learn
that Microsoft would allow this to work.

 

[Alias]

Vis. a vis. #2 (generic OEM installation CDs): I would be surprised to learn
that Microsoft would allow this to work.

It works. All three of my computers have a generic OEM installed on
them. Two of the computers are new and one is an old HP. The only
advantage to buying a retail version is that you can be within MS' rules
if you want to move it to another computer and it can do an upgrade. Oh,
and the price is considerably different.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Vis. a vis. #2 (generic OEM installation CDs): I would be surprised
to learn that Microsoft would allow this to work.

Well, sorry to surprise you, but they do. They are completely legitimate and
widely sold.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Interesting. If I ran Microsoft -- and believe me, everyone is glad that I
don't -- and I was really serious about product activation, I would keep
track of which OEM keys were sold to which OEMs and then make sure that I
didn't activate an OEM key that didn't come from that OEM's computer.