OEM version license can be transfered with some of the original hardware I think.
But yes, OEM versions sold like that are not legal.
But they won't rise any alarm at MS.

How could it not? If they maintain a database through this product activation, aren't they going to know it was once installed on another machine?

AFAIK OEM versions will only activate 3 times. If the key is used and the machine won't activate, you'll have to call MS and explain to them how you got it 😀

From what I have seen and found on ebay, you get a lot of bullshit from sellers who either lie or don't know what they have got.

Supposed "full versions" arrive and they are upgrade versions for example [whereas I would have expected an OEM version]. But in practice it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. We have an OEM version and an upgrade version that have each been shifted to new hardware a few times. The upgrade wants to see an old Windows CD but that's about it. A lot less annoying than 98SE where my version refuses to install over 95 or 98FE because it's not the upgrade version.

With XP you do have to ring Microsoft to activate if you change a certain amount of hardware [possibly within a certain timeframe - I think if you reactivate within 6 months you cannot fo it online?]. Sometimes this means typing a long sequence of characters in and getting a readout back [all automated by phone]. At least once I have had to talk to a Microsoft rep to confirm the software is mine etc but it's no big deal, they don't want to know what's up a monkey's backside etc.

[Currently I'm having an issue with Office 2007 where we've got it on 3 machines [cos it's a 3-machines licence] but it gets really weird when you shift licences. If you say you have the software on other machines [it's a 3 machine licence ffs!] it refuses to licence it. Bah.]

The other thing I notice is that when I took the install of XP from my Thinkpad to use on a PC, it didn't need to validate. So I am guessing I have some corporate key on the sticker. [FWIW it's not on the PC any more, but back on the laptop, without issues or needing to validate.]

All this is EXACTLY why I stayed away from XP as long as I could

ncmark wrote:

All this is EXACTLY why I stayed away from XP as long as I could

I totally get that and it's too bad as XP, both 32-bit and 64-bit are great OS's for a lot of general uses including gaming.

I would rather keep using Win 2K Pro however as I prefer how much less of a footprint it has but it is limited in security fixes/patches and I don't think it supported more then 2 or 4 CPU's/Cores.

any OEM branded discs, such as Dells will only activate on Dell machines... Windows looks for a SLP ID string encoded in the system BIOS along with a matching checksum before it activates... those Dell (or whatever) OEM branded CDs have special OEMBIOS files in the I386 directory and if you tried to use a normal OEM or other OEM product key to activate, it will fail and you will need to do a phone or web activation. COA stickers on computer cases have keys that must be phone activated

the discs don't pose any copyright issue as they don't have product keys included except for the one that is specific to the OEM, so long as you have a brand name system that matches that disc, it should activate LEGALLY.... all brand name systems are activated with the same key using this SLP method... mom and pop shops don't and use a different key for each machine they (legally) sell

there are no activation limits using the SLP key with matching OEMBIOS files and no transfer restrictions as all machines for a specific brand of machine use the same key as I said!

if your brand name machine came with XP but you lost the disc or can't find the OEM disc to buy, then you can create your own brand name specific XP install disc... it is perfectly legal as you already have a license for XP, but only if you're installing the correct matching edition... so for example if your machine came with Home Edition, you can't just go installing Pro, even though it will activate!

there are guides and info out there on reputable forums that tell you how to make this disc

The thing about W2k is that it doesn't distinguish between CPUs and cores.
W2k Pro has indeed a limit of 2 CPUs so you can't use more than a dual-core. (I don't know if it won't install/run or if it will only use 2.)

In theory you could use the server editions to use more CPU's (vanilla 2000 Server: 4 CPUs, Advanced Server: 8 CPUs, Datacenter Server: 32 CPUs) but the scheduler won't work particularly good for multi-core/multithreading CPUs. (XP is not that in this respect either, better use 7 or 8.)
This probably is not such a great idea because a lot of programs will complain when run on a server OS because of licensing issues.

Besides, when you have at least a dual-core that you probably will have enough RAM to make the difference between W2k and XP negligible.

idspispopd wrote:

but the scheduler won't work particularly good for multi-core/multithreading CPUs. (XP is not that in this respect either, better use 7 or 8.)

That seems more of an urban myth to me. I've seen enough benchmarks where XP was actually faster.

Well I can tell you guys what happens after you try and activate the system more than 3 times using a standard oem disc.

My parents live in a area with a lot of thunderstorms and lightning, and every so often it will hit the house and kill something, they have tried everything from surge protectors to U.P.S, but if you have to replace them every two months or so, its just not cost effective, especially UPSes.

In a two year I had to replace the motherboard in one of there pcs 4 or more times (covered under insurance luckily) each time re-installing windows as I couldnt get the exact board they had, after the 3rd online activation, it would just refuse to activate , and you have to call Microsoft with a reason why your installing windows on a "new system" so many times, each time I had to explain why, (lightning damage to motherboard) but they will allways have me read out the phone activation code and give me the long activation code, without any hassle 😀

So as long as its a normal non-vendor O.E.M and your prepared to phone in its not a problem...

PS this is in South Africa though, but it sounded like the call was forwarded to a international call center anyway so it should be the same.

MS don't usually give you any hassle if you phone them. I changed the motherboard in one of my PCs which is using an OEM copy of Windows 7 x64... I told them it was a replacement board and everything else in the computer remained the same. They were fine with it 😀.

I think it asks you to reactivate when you either change 3 or more components at once or just change the motherboard (the license key gets tied in with the motherboard afaik).

gulikoza wrote:

AFAIK OEM versions will only activate 3 times. If the key is used and the machine won't activate, you'll have to call MS and explain to them how you got it 😀

Actually, it was my understanding that MS does not provide support for OEM versions. If you are installing a Dell OEM version of Windows then you have to call Dell for support because MS keeps a record of which OEM's got which activation codes and it's not likely that you will be able to get ANY support for XP for very much longer from either MS or any of the OEM's including activation support so all those unused copies of XP on ebay, whether they are retail or OEM, may soon be useless if activation support ends with all other support.

Interesting idea. But given the dead weight of legacy xp systems i wouldn't be too surprised if activation support continued for a few more years. Could even be a legal challenge or enforcement if households on low incomes found their PC's unusable for example. Or is this a stated Microsoft intention?

ratfink wrote:

Interesting idea. But given the dead weight of legacy xp systems i wouldn't be too surprised if activation support continued for a few more years. Could even be a legal challenge or enforcement if households on low incomes found their PC's unusable for example. Or is this a stated Microsoft intention?

It could be their intention all along. We will have to wait until 2014 to find out if you can still activate old copies of XP or not. Seriously, though, from 2001-2014 is more than enough time to upgrade. How impoverished do you have to be that you can't scrape together a couple hundred dollars over the course of 13 years?

sliderider wrote:

How impoverished do you have to be that you can't scrape together a couple hundred dollars over the course of 13 years?

I think there's a principle of the matter that is being ignored. As long as people want to use it they should still be allowed activations. 20 years from now if someone wants to put together an XP legacy system the way we do now with DOS they need to be able to activate it.

This is the same problem I have with current trends in the gaming industry. The way developers are treating their customers lately I wouldn't be surprised if some of them fold in the coming years. What happens to their activation and always online required games then?

Microsoft set the activation precedent. Maybe they need to be taken on to rectify that.

does it really matter? I already said in this thread how a PC manufacturer activates their machine... nobody got a hint on what to do?
it's been known of different ways of how to activate windows and letting it work legit... whether you're doing it for legitimate legal means or not is a burden that lies on YOU

TheMAN wrote:

does it really matter?

Yes, it does. Consumers take a risk when buying a product. They shouldn't be met with suspicion or required to jump through hoops In order to use that product. Software developers produce a commodity yet they tie the commodity to a service. Normally I oppose making new laws but maybe there needs to be some form of consumer protection revision that ensures software survival after support from the developer is no longer viable.

As far as the question, yes the retail license is the one you want for transferability. It doesn't have to be the "full" license, "upgrade" is just as good though less convenient. "Upgrade" is a license, not an installation method. You can do a full install with the upgrade version, it just requires you to show ownership of a previous version of Windows.

==
If Microsoft doesn't want to "support" allowing me to use the OS I bought a license to use, then they need to publish a downloadable activation utility.
That is a legitimate solution. Them telling me that my paid license is voided for their own convenience, is not. They wanted this activation system, now they have to live with the consequences of it.

This is why I paid good money for a retail version and not OEM - I want to be able to transfer it as I wish in perpetuity. I bought it after Vista was out and XP was drying up, because I decided I want XP. We all know there are "workarounds", but I shouldn't have to go that route on something that I legally purchased a legitimate license for.

I agree this is a huge problem I have with Steam also. I wish players would demand that Steam/etc agree to a legal obligation to publish unlocking software in the event of their discontinuation of service. Better yet, this software should be held in escrow by a 3rd party.

I expect this all comes down to the fine print of licence agreements.

With commercial software [like SAS] you pay for the right install and use the software [sometimes on a specific machine] for a specified period.

Dave is another example closer to home:I bought a licence key from Thursby software for version 5.1. I didn't use it for a few years and went I tried to my key no longer worked and you had to buy a newer version. Mind you I threw my Mac away so it's a bit academic now 😜.

On the other hand something like Alcohol120 seems to grant you a licence in perpetuity [as long as they are still around and don't change their mind] - just resurrected a copy I bought and hadn't used for many years and it still activated.

I don't see any general principle here except that it seems to be up to the software company to define it's terms. And sometimes you even know in advance.