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Thread ID: 64995	2006-01-04 02:25:00	Windows Product Activation	aidanmaz (7180)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1357636	2006-01-08 10:38:00	clearly your activation experience was very different to mine. at the completion of my degree, I was given the computer I was working on along with the origional OEM pack that had never been touched. I did a clean install of XP home (there is no way I'd use the compaq restore CD) using the serial on the case sticker, went to activate it online, and it failed - it didn't even tell me why it failed. . Greven, the reason your OEM pack would not activate was becuase last year Microsoft blocked OEM packs from activating except via telephone, this was becuase OEMs bulk purschase liseneces along with one good copy of XP, then burn or press their own XP Cds, and Microsoft gives OEMs a standard, one kind for all activation code. And somebody discovered that code, made it public enabling piracy of XP OEM disks. I dont recall the full story, but i got that from "Windows XP made easy" magazine last year. You will likely have the same trouble in future with the OEM pack, while the Compaq restore CD would work better. Lateral Thinker, back on line after he thought of an answer to Greven's question.:D	Lateral Thinker (17185)
1357637	2006-01-08 10:55:00	RockXP	Rob99 (151)
1357638	2006-01-08 19:36:00	Greven, the reason your OEM pack would not activate was becuase last year Microsoft blocked OEM packs from activating except via telephone, this was becuase OEMs bulk purschase liseneces along with one good copy of XP, then burn or press their own XP Cds, and Microsoft gives OEMs a standard, one kind for all activation code. And somebody discovered that code, made it public enabling piracy of XP OEM disks. I dont recall the full story, but i got that from "Windows XP made easy" magazine last year. Shall we clarify? OEM as in a CD pack marked OEM, to be sold with a new PC as opposed to whatever "OEM" method the likes of Dell, Compaq etc use. Because I buy and install OEM copies of Windows all the time for my customers new PCs - or upgrade PCs and I have never had any problem activating them.	pctek (84)
1357639	2006-01-08 23:11:00	Shall we clarify? OEM as in a CD pack marked OEM, to be sold with a new PC as opposed to whatever "OEM" method the likes of Dell, Compaq etc use. Because I buy and install OEM copies of Windows all the time for my customers new PCs - or upgrade PCs and I have never had any problem activating them. The OEM pack is the microsoft supplied CD withiout any documentation which should never be sold on its own, but only with a new PC. The OEM restore system for all of a OEM's PCs come off one Microsoft suppiied master disk, and the OEM adds things like Norton and its own specials. Then the OEM creates a restore CD or partition. I learnt this morning about the XP restore files, either on a HDD partition or supplied with a new PC. These files are locked to one particuar HDD, I am told a restore CD will only work on the HDD that it was sold with. My HP PC with restore files on a partition allowed me to make one! set of CD restore files, as a back up to the restore files on my HDD, it came with a warning that this set of CD would only work with my HDD from where I got them off. I do not belive Bill Gates reqires reactivation at all after the OEM first set up my PC, becuase after first activation by the OEM, the restore files become tied to my HDD so any other hardware changes wont reqire reactivation. the run around last year was becuase somebody found a way around the OEM OS locked to one particular HDD. If my HDD expodes therefore, i have lost also my OS permanetly. A friend brought a HP PC from Harvey Norman 3 years ago with a 5-year service contract. after 2 years her HDD failed permantly. The servive contract replaced the HDD. But her XP OS was not covered. And he self burnt restore CD would not work on her new HDD. There was legal action, but she choose to buy a new XP OS. Dont good customers of Bill Gates get premier service? such as retailers of their software? And is it legal for you to use OEM packs on old PCs? lateral Thinker	Lateral Thinker (17185)
1357640	2006-01-08 23:30:00	OEM XP is different to the OS bundled with a HP computer or similar. OEM XP is no different to the normal version, apart from a fancy box, price, and you are surpose to purchase with computer components. The OS that comes with big brand computers is still XP, but can content altered to suit the company. There are many versions of this, some are the normal windows disc with their lable on it while others have altered/added/removed content from the origional disc.	Rob99 (151)
1357641	2006-01-08 23:57:00	OEM XP is different to the OS bundled with a HP computer or similar. OEM XP is no different to the normal version, apart from a fancy box, price, and you are surpose to purchase with computer components. The OS that comes with big brand computers is still XP, but can content altered to suit the company. There are many versions of this, some are the normal windows disc with their lable on it while others have altered/added/removed content from the origional disc. does XP Backup come with XP Home? if so that is one item removed, while HP put a lot of their digital imaging software on it. While restoring, i had to uninstall Norton, (i use Xtra's Macffee) and old versions of 3rd party stuff. The whiole idea of Bill Gates doing OEM versions is to get XP onto PCs so a OEM gets a really cheap no frills pack (But full XP) and Bill plans to make that up with his upgrade CDs. As for Norton, i guess they would almost give it free to OEMs, becuase after 90 days, you start paying Norton, a lot of people would not shop around, but just click on Ok and enter their credfit card. As for HP, i have set up a few PCs out of the box, when Windows desktop comes up, the first thing you see is Xtra saying click here for internet access. A friend did, and was on the hour rate as she edid not know better. As this bit from Xtra has really no value, i guess Xtra pays to have it on new PCs. And didnt Bill Gates get into trouble for bundling IE with Windows? and not allowing OEMs to install other browsers with Windows? I think PCs are so compeively priced becuase of such arrangemets. almost like the free give away PCs in the States, the supllier gets paid from elsewhere. My next PC will be a custom built, i will get XP seperate even if it costs more, the bigest HDDs I can, so i can LAN from my other PCs and use it as storeage. maybe dual boot with another OS but maybe Linex to use as server. Lateral Thinker	Lateral Thinker (17185)
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