A Question About Licenses for Windows

[dragon wench]

Several months ago I bought a copy of XP Home.

Now, as people are aware, Microsoft, in its fight against piracy, requires you to register the license numbers of their Windows products.
Okay, fair enough.

But, what happens if I decide to completely rebuild my hard drive (including removing Windows entirely) or if I purchase a new computer? I have already registered my license, so presumably if I want to reinstall the same legitimately acquired software on either this machine or if I install it on a new one I'll get some kind of message stating that the license is already in use.

Does anyone know anything about this? Would I need to contact Microsoft and demonstrate proof of purchase?

I have this nasty feeling I could be asking a self-evident question or that I might be experiencing a "blonde moment." I have a bad cold which is seriously affecting my ability to think clearly

[Kipi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon wench Several months ago I bought a copy of XP Home. Now, as people are aware, Microsoft, in its fight against piracy, requires you to register the license numbers of their Windows products. Okay, fair enough. But, what happens if I decide to completely rebuild my hard drive (including removing Windows entirely) or if I purchase a new computer? I have already registered my license, so presumably if I want to reinstall the same legitimately acquired software on either this machine or if I install it on a new one I'll get some kind of message stating that the license is already in use. Does anyone know anything about this? Would I need to contact Microsoft and demonstrate proof of purchase? I have this nasty feeling I could be asking a self-evident question or that I might be experiencing a "blonde moment." I have a bad cold which is seriously affecting my ability to think clearly

Actually, me and my dad have been wondering same thing lately.
I don't have any other ideas that you just contact Microsoft and simply ask how that kind of situations will be handled.

Oh, and aren't the registeration done using you .NepPassport? It could be that you .NetPassport -username and/or password is used to identificate that it's really you, just installing it second time.

he last is just guessing, so don't count on it. But I would recommend that you simply contact custom-service. And oh, if you find it out, please tell me also

[Ravager]

I think I remember one of my relatives going through this kind of thing, maybe having to phone Microsoft or something. They have your details on file, so I suppose you prove your identity somehow, then they give you the details to reregister it.
I'll try and remember to check tomorrow.

[Ripe]

About a month ago I had a complete system crash that I could resolve in only one way - by re-formating my Hard Drive (luckily I was able to save some data from it, but not all).

After format, I simply instaled my version of XP and it asked me to register it within next 25 days. I cliked on the link provided by XP and did it without a problem. They didn't check for my identity in any way (other than that usual questions XP ask during first setup).

Now, I instal my XP on the same computer as before. I'm not sure what would happen if I tryed to install it on another computer if I bought myself a new one.

[Kipi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripe About a month ago I had a complete system crash that I could resolve in only one way - by re-formating my Hard Drive (luckily I was able to save some data from it, but not all). After format, I simply instaled my version of XP and it asked me to register it within next 25 days. I cliked on the link provided by XP and did it without a problem. They didn't check for my identity in any way (other than that usual questions XP ask during first setup). Now, I instal my XP on the same computer as before. I'm not sure what would happen if I tryed to install it on another computer if I bought myself a new one.

The only reason why it would recognize the computer to the same is that your IP didn't change, but if you are using changing IP or very good wirefall, then that wont be possible, cause when re-formating, you clear everything, so only data in your BIOS is saved, but no register -data, no files, nothing. SO, I can only assume that either your computer's IP-address is same as it was before re-formating, so that the registeration would confirm you identification by that way, or that while answering those questions you actually inserted some information what they use to identify you.

I would go for second option

[Ripe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipi The only reason why it would recognize the computer to the same is that your IP didn't change, but if you are using changing IP or very good wirefall, then that wont be possible, cause when re-formating, you clear everything, so only data in your BIOS is saved, but no register -data, no files, nothing. SO, I can only assume that either your computer's IP-address is same as it was before re-formating, so that the registeration would confirm you identification by that way, or that while answering those questions you actually inserted some information what they use to identify you. I would go for second option

Well, the only question XP ask is my name, my company and registration key and that is the same as before. I can't remember any other question.
Oh, yes, XP also wanted to know what name will I choose for my computer.

So it could be my IP-address, but what if I buy another PC and set it on my existing connection? It should have same IP-address as before.

It could be that they use BIOS setting for identifying individual PC's.

[Xandax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon wench Several months ago I bought a copy of XP Home. Now, as people are aware, Microsoft, in its fight against piracy, requires you to register the license numbers of their Windows products. Okay, fair enough. But, what happens if I decide to completely rebuild my hard drive (including removing Windows entirely) or if I purchase a new computer? I have already registered my license, so presumably if I want to reinstall the same legitimately acquired software on either this machine or if I install it on a new one I'll get some kind of message stating that the license is already in use. Does anyone know anything about this? Would I need to contact Microsoft and demonstrate proof of purchase? I have this nasty feeling I could be asking a self-evident question or that I might be experiencing a "blonde moment." I have a bad cold which is seriously affecting my ability to think clearly

Well - it depends on what type of Windows you bought.

Basically there are two types: OEM versions and retail versions.
OEM versions are tied to a machine and often bought in connection with new computers or hardware - some companies sell these versions with a new mouse because then they can sell them withouth having to sell a computer, thus giving people the change to buy legit versions of Windows.
A retail is not tied to a specific machine.

Because OEM versions are tied to hardware, then when you registre you give Microsoft a socalled hashkey of your machine (basically a long keystring) containing what hadware the windows version is tied to. I'd expect the retail to do the same, but it has less consequence.
Then Microsoft allows some upgrading - I can't recall excatly, but you can read this at Microsofts website - 3 to 5 key components defined as amount of RAM, Motherboard, CPU and such things. The reasoning is because if you change your machine hardware to much it is no longer the computer the OEM version is tied to. The price you pay for buying it cheaper.

There is no such restrictions that I know of with the retail versions, although I'd guess you still need to registre your version due to piracy issues. But I doubt there would be much control over if you have previously registred it with one hardware setting and then registre it with another - afterall the license is tied to you and not a specific machine. The thing Microsoft could check - although I doubt they do so currently for privacy issues - is if the license is used to update more then one machine (Genuine Windows check could do this if they wanted to).


If you can no longer registre your version over the Internet via automatic registring, you can call a number supplied by Microsoft which can do it for you.

So - to make a short story longer, then it is depending on what version you operate with. But I know Microsoft has this information on their website, and I can only advice you to read up on it there. When legit - I doubt you'll run into many problems.

Me personally, I rely mostly on OEM versions, because they are cheaper (cost about 1/3 to 1/4 of retail in Denmark), and then I can afford to buy more as I change my computer or need an extra license for a secondary computer (I for instance recently shifted from Home to Prof on my computer). It is a loophole, but it is legit enough, but as mentioned the negative is that if I change machine or uprade much, I need a new license to be running legal.


I hope this helps a little.

[SyntheticD]

they made me call in a to get a new key after 5 time s in 6 months they said if i tried more then five time a year the would have to re issue a key.

[Rookierookie]

Microsoft does not check by your IP. I know this for a fact because I have ADSL, and my IP changes every time I go on the web.

[yrthwyndandfyre]

Dragon Wench mentioned the possibility of a "blonde moment". Fair enough, but you have to consider the "Bill Gates moment". In 1981, Bill said, "Nobody in their right mind will ever need more than 640 K". This year, he said, "High Resolution DVD is the last storage media we will ever need". Bill has a rather rank track record as a prognosticator, and he has been increasingly moving towards the direction of, "If you've bought a computer using Windows, then that is the last computer you'll ever own".

It may be possible that you can re-use your Windows on another computer, but for my money, I would not bet on that lasting long. I already know that Windows is constructed on the *assumption* that every computer in the world has an internet connection. As unwarranted optimism goes, that's pretty much equivalent to panning for gold in your toilet.

[stramoski]

OEM version

I also know that some OEM versions check your bios for the type of PC you have... My Dell at home doesn't even require me to enter an activation code... I tried it on an antique Dell laptop, and it didn't ask for anything there, either...

Oh, and I had no i-net connection upon install on either machine.

When I tried to install on another, non-dell pc, I was prompted for authentication, and it failed...