Re: Question about Dells BIOS locked OS

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:22:41 GMT, ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net
(Ben Myers) wrote:

>First of all, a Dell XP recovery CD is little different from an OEM version of
>Windows XP. By that I mean that it can be installed on a non-Dell computer,
>provided you have a unique Certificate of Authentication (COA) code. The only
>real difference is that on a Dell computer you do not have to go through the
>product authentication process. So the differences are minor, indeed.

Not minor. It is BIOS/motherboard linked and when installed on a
non-DELL computer (or even a DELL that didn't match the expected
system) the results are interesting--it turns into a 'normal' coopy of
XP... That is it will go trhough the product activation process. Would
be OK, but Microsoft has changed the system at teh beginning of the
year so that when this OEM version comes in as a different computer,
it will *not* automatically authenticate. Instead it will tell thte
user to call in. Assuming that you don't have a history of abusing the
system, a good reason why the computer changed (and upgrading the
motherboard is *not* considered a good reason!) the operator will
provide the authentication key. Otherwise you are stuck... <g>

This is why you should never buy OEM versions of Windows (or office)
on eBay! BTW, Windows can be sold with a non-periphal hardware item
(drive, motherboard, etc.) but few (if any) OEMs follow this route.
OEM Office *must* be sold with a complete computer, including a piece
of hardware is not allowed.

The license is basically tied to the motherboard. If the motherboard
fails, it can be legally and properly replaced. The preference is to
replace with the same motherboard. If the failed motherboard is
replaced with a different one, then the operator authentication is the
only route.

If you are tired of the slow performance of your (somewhat older?) PC
and upgrade the motherboard, you are required to get a new license.
The Windows license is tied to the motherboard (not the box, hard
drive, or whatever).

This is for large OEM Windows installations. Smaller OEMs (as I am)
are different, and we use different versions of Windows than a company
such as DELL, HP or Sony... Same basic rules however.


>
>In short, the XP CD provided by dell is not "locked" to the Dell BIOS at all.
>

Yes, it is. Not the BIOS necessarily but to somethign that is unique
to the motherboard. This is true of all large OEMs who include
Windows, and who's Windows installations do not require activation.

.

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