Neowin.net

If they say so.........

my VAI0 came with OEM xp home. Will i need to call in to activate it or not? Thnx for honest replies!

Well... GOOD!

Companies should be able to use the OEM keys for whatever else they want because when they buy these PCs from the big manufacturers, they don't get the option to get it without an Operating System, and they have already purchased a Volume License from Microsoft for their whole site, so they are stuck with two licenses for each machine. They can't use the OEM keys instead of Volume License Keys because they use workstation images that doesn't give them the option to enter the key after the imaging has taken place, and they are not smart enough to use Unattended Installs. Also, it would be too time consuming for the technicians to enter every single OEM key one at a time.

I blame the manufacturers that don't provide the option to ship without a license to Windows for a reduced cost to business customers.

Using OEM keys on a computer different to that which it came with is legal because it isn't associated with the computer until it's initially activated. And there is nothing illegal about a company permitting it's employees to use these keys that have never been activated.

(And activated could mean turning the computer on and booting into Windows if Windows becomes preinstalled on the computer)

i like it. microsoft pulling another fast one. i understand now exactly what they are doing. they are making sure you are locked into the "restore media the big oems make". so in effect your being stolen from.

the key on the side of your pc is yours but they just took that key away.

This link explains a lot about WPA, for anyone interested.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Sounds good!

Just more GREED by the richest man on this planet.

Crackers will always find there way around these little niggles

good

I still don't quite understand the reseller's argument, but maybe I'm just uninformed. Whenever I've called MS because I either reformatted my pc or because I bought a used copy of XP, they've always given me an activation code over the phone.

Hell, most of the time, it doesn't even have to come to that, it'll just activate it via the web most of the time. I just don't get why other people are having problems with this.

Um, yes we already knew what he repeats?

What was complained about wasn't their intentions, but the implications.

That OEM people (the bulk of the home users) would now always need to call Microsoft if an upgrade triggered the activation and before they didn't, and therefore it's again mostly affecting legit users negatively, as of course pirates will get around this protection anyway. It's just one step further into putting complexity in their activation scheme that no pirate ever was bothered about.

People read your news !!
Man its very simple...only big OEM licenses are affected ! how difficult is that to understand !

This affects me in a huge way.
I reload windows on consumer machines daily, and don't normally have their system image disks. (they often are without sp2 etc). This didn't used to be a problem, just pop in any OEM cd and use the key on the side of the case, this is not illegal.

Now, however, i have to spend 15-20 minutes calling Microsoft everytime to activate the copy. Talking to the computer-voice fails the validation, so i get put on hold to talk with someone from India so i can tell them that its only installed on one machine.

Absolute pain in the rear. I Reload probably about 3-7 machines everyday. This is costing me about an hour to an hour and a half everyday on hold on he phone.

I wish they would revert.

This only effects Windows XP versions that use BIOS activation, meaning they never did Internet activation in the first place. Its not just preactivation when shipped, but everytime its installed. Its activated the second it boots for the very first time!

Have a spare Dell/Gateway/HP that came with XP? Disconnect it from the net, and reinstall. Notice the lack of any activation prompts during install, Windows Welcome, or first logon to desktop. Ecspecially with Dell/Gateway, which use a pure Windows XP install (not sure about HP/Compaq).

VLK No Activation! Its the only way to fly!

Canny down mate Jesus christ, relax.

This wont stop piracy. People will either use a volume liscence key or a crack to get around activation.

Who pirates OEM these days anyways? Its so much less of a hassle to pirate VL XP that i doubt many people are actually going to be stopped by this.

I have a legal Dell OEM version of XP home. I just backed up my activation file on floppy. That would work wouldnt it?

So... wait. I've purchased OEM copies from computer shows before (with pieces of hardware of course), so does this effect me?

The copies running on my dads desktop and laptop are OEM that I bought there.

werejag Clears Up Windows Activations Misconceptions.


1 Windows Activation has never stoped piracy
2 There is no plan to make it stop piracy
3 Piracy has increased due to Windows Activation
4 Windows Activation was a cleaver marketing ploy to make stock holders feel better

The Second my ripped off copy of m$ windows xp is blocked from updates from microsoft i will format and install mandrake so fast microsoft will think i got quad processors.

If pirate version doesn't need activation then why does MS contiune to make it harder for legit users? I doudt this will have any impact of warez.

/me doesn't really care what MS is doing with thier activation because /me gots a XP corp cd with a keygen that makes 640 PID Keys and XP SP2 and WINDOWS Update works fine

Being a Microsoft OEM System Builder and sitting through those wonderful twice yearly Builder meetings, there are some misconceptions in these comments I need to point out.

1. Volume Licensing does NOT apply to a NEW OS LOAD. Volume Licensing is a Software Assurance Plan. It may only be used as an upgrade from an existing OS for as long as you have the agreement with microsoft (Select Licensing, Open Licensing)

2. The COA sticker on a Top Tier OEMs pc has a product key that does not match what is in the PC currently. They enter a special site license key so it can be preactivated at the oem. If you need to reactive the OS then you must choose the change product key in the WPA software and enter the number off of the COA. (Did you really think someone typed in every code???)

3. It is technically ILLEGAL to use your OEM XP CD to reload the OS on a pc you did not sell even if using the COA Product key. I.e. Customer loses Dell Blue Custom XP Home cd, You insert your XP Home SP2 Hologram Disc and load OS with customers COA Product Key. THIS IS ILLEGAL as per last Oem system builder meeting. You must sell them a new copy of windows and place your OEM sticker on there case.

4. And as per Microsoft Antipiracy seminars. Activation was invented to STOP CASUAL COPIERS. MICROSOFT ISNT STUPID, THEY KNOW THEY CANT OUT SMART THE TRULY DETERMINED. They just didn't expect the Volume License Editions (Corp) to leak to every moron with a P3-500 have them load it and bitch that XP Sucks.. (Ohh good god the headaches)