30 days to activate????? XP!

OK i have a genuine copy of xp home and i load it on ym laptop, well Little did i know that i did it on my desktop too but the key code says error or it has been used already, so does this mean that my computer will not boot up after 30 days?? or will it run normally w/o being able to update? Sigh... (hope i don't have to buy another xp disc for my desktop just to keep it running )

 

If it's genuine, call Microsoft, because someone has used your key on another computer. Otherwise, your computer will keep complaining after 30 days, I'm not sure how the functionality will change, though.

 

oh i used it on ym laptop but they again i also booted it up on my desktop... so it was me but i didn't know that i can only have it on 1 comp per disc.

 

The disc you use doesn't matter. You can use the same disc on 10 different computers if you'd like. The license, however, does matter. As you know, it's 1 computer per license.

Matt

 

If you already have it installed on your laptop, you can't legally have it on your desktop as well with the same license. MS will not like you for trying to do that.

 

Once license, one computer...you need to pick which computer will have that license and get a second one for the other machine.

 

I'm just wondering what is going to happen after the 30 day is up? thanks

 

You can't log on anymore. It will ask you to activate or you shutdown. You won't be able to have access to anything.

 

Call Microsoft and see if you can purchase another license.

 

just pick urself up an OEM version, it is the cheapest way to go legit

cheers ...

 

I don't think that is the type of software modification that should be talked about around here.

OEM licenses (usually the ones that come with pre-built systems) allow you to use it on only one computer and it is tied to that particular computer (motherboard).

It won't allow you to activate it on another computer. If the license is not activated the computer will ask you to register or shut down.

Retail Windows licenses allow you to move it from one computer to another and even use it on a laptop and a desktop system.

Having a Windows license does not allow you to "multiply" it and install it on say, 4 or 5 computers.

 

You can register the software if you didn't exceed the number it was activated which I believe is 4. You can have a copy on your desktop and laptop but the EULA states you can't run both at the same time... go figure. If you do get the dreaded unable to activate then you have to call (toll free) a rep and they'll reactivate, you just have to put the numbers they give you in the activation box. Just inform them you're re-installing the software.. crashed. They will also ask how many computers the software is installed in (tell them one) and will ask if you bought it retail. They're very accommodating.

When the 30 days is up it will nag you and will minimize some use of features.

 

Well, if it's retail purchase, you can install it on one machine at a time. So if you want to install it on your laptop, you have to erased the one on your desktop. Otherwise, you are doing something illegal.

If it's oem, then you can't transfer it to another machine. It is tied to the first machine you installed it on.

That's the agreement on the software, created by Microsoft. So don't go blowing people off in case you don't like the rule, because they didn't create it, MS did.

 

But the phone activation always fix that problem. The XP online activator is messed up really. Each time I re-format my desktop, I need to do a phone activation. One day, I loaded the same OEM copy on my C90S, activated online no problems.

This usually is the procedure
"Hi, why are you calling"
"I just re-installed windows and I'm getting the error...."
"okay, what's the installation code?"
"..."
"So, in how many computers have you installed this copy?"
"1"
"Okay, copy what I tell you into the box!"

 

However, if you purchase another OEM copy then it's perfectly legal, and OEM copies cost less than retail copies, so the statement "Pick up another OEM copy, it's the cheapest way" is still true.

You can only use one license on one machine simultaneously. If your machine dies and you need to reinstall the license, then the calling method works. However, you cannot use any license on two computer simultaneously, and you cannot install an OEM license on any computer except for the first one that it was installed on.

 

I dunno for Vista but the Phone always worked for me, 2 mobos in my desktop + my C90S (although when the motherboard was different, the online system transfered the activation, If I re-install on the same computer, it doesn't want to activate)

 

The Online Activation stops working if you keep on activating your key multiple times. This happened in my case because I keep on reformatting. Thus once you have activated a certain number of times you will have to call Microsoft to have it activated again.

 

I've read somewhere that oem doesn't really need to a manufacturer (Like installing Dell OEM XP on another brand).. what's the con and pro?

We paid that much money for that much hassle? M$, Stop bugging ppl will legit install plz..

 

OEM just means the install disc doesn't come with a manual or box. That's the only physical difference. Unlike a retail license, the OEM license doesn't allow you to transfer the license to any other computer other than the first one that it's installed on.

To think that if Microsoft took off the licensing system then people will do everything legally is stupid. No one would ever buy another copy of Windows if they did that. People think that stealing isn't really stealing when they're online and anonymous. Just ask the music industry.

 

Well i wouldnt mind them take note of how many serial number of the same kind is online at the same time.. they can disable them if they found out. The point of getting a computer is to get online right, so this would work 75% of the time i guess.

 

you really should just stop posting on this topic

 

Like i said.. i DID NOT start this thread.. go to the first post and you ll see that it's not me. Plus both threads are discussing about different things. The other thread i started, is to ask about the difference of OEM and Retail (The packaging and etc). This one is about Dell OEM, whether if I can only install it in a Dell. I wonder if you can understand me at all. If you can't i dun blame ya since english is not my native language anyway.

 

To answer your question: The only way you can get a hold of a DELL OEM OS is by purchasing a computer with it preinstalled. The OEM license prohibits installing the OS on any other computer than the first one, so NO, you canNOT use a DELL OEM OS on a different computer.

 

Thank you! ^^ So now I least I know what should I be getting... BTW, somehow some guys in ebay (yea.. ebay, i know it sux) have tons of DELL/FUJITSU OEM disc that he claim can be installed on any computer. Now i know it might be a hoax then.. Thx again!

 

You can install these OEM discs but when you boot up it will show the branded OS, ie Dell, since they were originally made for Dell systems. Yes it's illegal but people do it all the time. So you're basically getting free activation. There are OEM discs that are sold with hardwares and those are non-branded and have to activate but supposedly only to be installed on one system. I find that you can activate these OEM non-branded OS more than once.

 

Except for the fact that it's illegal, I guess then it's ok...

 

I think this thread is just going to end here. Look, OEM stuff says on the first PC its installed on. Anything else breaks the law, period.