Re: [Xnew] Overriding score of 9999

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Magus <Nope@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>
I assume with "serial number", you mean the (Windows XP) Product Key.

If so, AFAIK, a *pre-installed/OEM* Product Key - which is what most
people have (to use) - is also tied to the actual hardware, i.e. the
CPU, the disk, etc.. AFAIK, if you try to move such a pre-installed/OEM
Product Key to another machine, the Windows validation (WGA et al) will
fail sooner or later and you will be left with a crippled system or at
least one which nags you that it's illegal. If so, how do you solve that
problem?


Yep, meant "product key".

As for it being tied to the hardware... if you use the one on the sticker, I've never ran across one that is tied to any particular hardware. I've used the method I've described two dozen or more times and have never had a computer fail WGA--at install or later.

Manufactures use a pool of keys to install windows--and believe it or not, the one they used to install the OS might not be the one on the sticker. Sometimes the product key in the registry will be different than the key on the Product Key sticker--some larger manufactures have an OEM 'pool' of keys they use. There are several programs that will fetch the product key from the registry--do not use the key from the registry unless it matches the one on the sticker [but if you have one on the sticker why dig it out of the registry?].

How can I retrieve my Windows 2000/XP/2003 or Office 2000/XP CD Key?
http://www.petri.co.il/quickly_retrieve_windows_cd_key.htm

The OEM pool keys could be tied to the hardware--I don't know and have never tried to use one to re/install Windows.

The only time I've seen a reused product key fail is when someone is still using the same key on the old computer and that computer was connected to the internet.

If by some stroke of misfortune you do wind up with one that fails sometime later [and you're not using the same key on two computers], simply call Microsoft [the number is on the screen that says you have an invalid installation] and tell them you'd replaced your old system and installed the OS on a new computer--if the license agreement for your version of Windows didn't forbid transferring the OS to a new computer then you're good to go.

I have a "hobby" computer that I've changed motherboards/hardware/hard drives on so many times that the version of Win XP Pro OEM I use on it will not validate via the internet. I have to call MS to get the validation number every time I reinstall the OS--I've never had a problem validating that way and I've had to call them 7 or 8 times now.

If you don't like the concept of WGA to begin with:
WindizUpdate
http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Product counterfeiting - Not Genuine
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